Devine Scripture

Romans 14:17

What does Romans 14:17 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 14:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 14:17 means

Paul re-centers priorities: God’s kingdom is not about eating and drinking. Its core is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Righteousness points to living rightly before God and others; peace to harmonious relationships within the body; joy to the gladness the Spirit gives to those walking in God’s will. Food and drink are small things compared to these spiritual realities. When believers prize the kingdom’s essence, they will gladly adjust their preferences to protect peace and promote joy. The Spirit’s presence empowers this value shift, making unity and holiness more compelling than asserting personal liberties.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

for the reign of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink: but justice and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

for the kingdom ofGod is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in [the] Holy Spirit.

Context

This verse provides the theological rationale for restraining liberty: the kingdom’s true goods far surpass menu freedoms. It follows the warning about reputation (verse 16) and leads to verse 18, which promises God’s pleasure and human approval for those who serve Christ in this way. The sequence shows Paul moving from love’s demand to the Spirit-shaped character of the kingdom, grounding the call to peace and edification that will follow in verse 19.

v.16Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

v.17This passage

v.18For he that herein serveth Christ is well-pleasing to God, and approved of men.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Colossians 1:11

    strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, unto all patience and longsuffering with joy;

  • 1 Corinthians 4:20

    For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

  • Galatians 5:22

    But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

  • John 16:33

    These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye may have peace. In the world ye have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

  • Philippians 4:7

    And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.

  • 1 Peter 1:8

    whom not having seen ye love; on whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

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