Romans 14:4

Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul addresses the "strong" in the Roman church, those who dismiss the dietary and day-observance practices of weaker believers. He interrupts their self-appointed role as arbiter of another's standing before God.

The words — allotrion (ἀλλότριον), "belonging to another," marks the servant as not yours to manage; the judgment you are passing is on someone else's property.

The thread — The "who are you" rebuke echoes Romans 9:20, where the creature is checked before its Maker; James 4:11 extends the same logic to speech, equating judgment of a brother with judgment of the law.

Why it lands — It removes your authority to decide whether another believer stands or falls; that verdict belongs to the Master, and your role is to stand yourself.

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

Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

Cross-references

James 4:11 Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. And if you judge the law, you are not a practitioner of the law, but a judge of it.
Romans 9:20 But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, “Why did You make me like this?”
Romans 8:31 What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Jude 1:24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished in His glorious presence, with great joy—
1 Corinthians 4:4 My conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who judges me.
Psalms 37:24 Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand.
John 10:28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand.
Romans 14:3 The one who eats everything must not belittle the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted him.
Hebrews 7:25 Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.
Deuteronomy 33:27 The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He drives out the enemy before you, giving the command, ‘Destroy him!’