Bible Strands
Romans 14:21
It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything to cause your brother to stumble.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Roman church concerning disputes over dietary practices and religious observances. He speaks during a period of theological friction where personal liberty clashes with communal conscience.
The words — καλὸν (kalon) literally means "good" or "better," establishing a comparative ethical standard. φαγεῖν (phagein) denotes the specific act of eating that Paul advises suspending to protect another believer.
The thread — The prohibition against causing a fellow believer to stumble appears in 1 Corinthians 8:13 and Romans 14:13. It connects directly to the command in Romans 15:1 to bear with the weak rather than pursue self-pleasing.
Why it lands — The text commands readers to voluntarily forgo lawful actions when their exercise would cause a brother to stumble. It requires concrete restraint over personal rights to preserve another's faith.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
Cross-references
- 1 Corinthians 8:13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to stumble.
- Romans 14:13 Therefore let us stop judging one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.
- Romans 15:1 We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
- Luke 17:1 Jesus said to His disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks will come, but woe to the one through whom they come!
- Malachi 2:8 But you have departed from the way, and your instruction has caused many to stumble. You have violated the covenant of Levi,” says the LORD of Hosts.
- Matthew 16:23 But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
- Matthew 18:7 Woe to the world for the causes of sin. These stumbling blocks must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!
- Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
- Philippians 1:10 so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
- Hebrews 12:13 Make straight paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.