Romans 14:5
What does Romans 14:5 mean?
A plain-English look at Romans 14:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Romans 14:5 means
Paul introduces another area of conscience: special days. Some believers set apart certain days; others treat every day alike. His counsel is not to enforce uniformity but to call each person to be fully convinced before God. This is not a license for carelessness; it is a summons to thoughtful conviction. Believers should test their motives, seek Scripture’s guidance, and act with integrity, not from pressure or imitation. In disputable matters, unity is found not by erasing differences but by ensuring each practice springs from a clear, informed conscience that aims to honor the Lord. God values sincerity aligned with truth over mere external conformity.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let each man be fully assured in his own mind.
KJV
King James Version · 1611One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let each man be fully assured in his own mind.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949This man puts one day before another: to that man they are the same. Let every man be certain in his mind.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862One doth judge one day above another, and another doth judge every day <FI>alike<Fi> ; let each in his own mind be fully assured.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For one judgeth between day and day: and another judgeth every day. Let every man abound in his own sense.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890One man esteems day more than day; another esteems every day [alike]. Let each be fully persuaded in his own mind.
Context
After addressing food, Paul turns to calendars—another common point of contention in mixed Jewish-Gentile congregations. This sets up verse 6, where he will show that both the observer and the non-observer can act for the Lord’s sake with gratitude. The flow reinforces the core issue: who we do it for, not merely what we do. Verses 7–9 will deepen this by tying all of life and death to the Lord’s ownership, grounding these practical differences in the larger doctrine of Christ’s lordship over His people.
v.4Who art thou that judgest the servant of another? to his own lord he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be made to stand; for the Lord hath power to make him stand.
v.5This passage
v.6He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord: and he that eateth, eateth unto the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, unto the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Galatians 4:9
but now that ye have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how turn ye back again to the weak and beggarly rudiments, whereunto ye desire to be in bondage over again?
- 1 Corinthians 8:11
For through thy knowledge he that is weak perisheth, the brother for whose sake Christ died.
- Colossians 2:16
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a feast day or a new moon or a sabbath day:
- 1 John 3:19
Hereby shall we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our heart before him:
- 1 Corinthians 8:7
Howbeit there is not in all men that knowledge: but some, being used until now to the idol, eat as of a thing sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
- Romans 14:14
I know, and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean of itself: save that to him who accounteth anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
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