Devine Scripture

Romans 14:7

What does Romans 14:7 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 14:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 14:7 means

Paul broadens the scope: no Christian lives or dies as an independent agent. We are not self-owned or self-directed. Our choices, affections, and ultimate destiny are bound up with the Lord. This truth humbles the autonomous spirit and comforts the anxious soul. It means daily decisions about doubtful matters are not about personal image or tribal loyalty, but about pleasing the One to whom we belong. Even death, the great separator, cannot break this bond. If we are the Lord’s in life and in death, then our posture toward one another must reflect that shared allegiance and dependence.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For none of us liveth to himself, and none dieth to himself.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For none of us liveth to himself, and none dieth to himself.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For every man's life and every man's death has a relation to others as well as to himself.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

For none of us to himself doth live, and none to himself doth die;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For none of us liveth to himself: and no man dieth to himself.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

For none of us lives to himself, and none dies to himself.

Context

Flowing from the principle that practices should be done “unto the Lord,” Paul now states the foundational reality: believers are the Lord’s in both life and death. This sets up the explicit Christ-centered grounding in verse 9—Christ died and lived again to be Lord. The logic is tightening: because we belong to the Lord, we must not make ourselves judges over one another, and we must aim all we do toward Him. The coming verses will apply this to final judgment and personal accountability (verses 10–12).

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.

v.7This passage

v.8For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; or whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.

Cross references

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

  • 2 Corinthians 5:15

    and he died for all, that they that live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto him who for their sakes died and rose again.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:10

    who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

  • 1 Corinthians 6:19

    Or know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have from God? and ye are not your own;

  • Galatians 2:19

    For I through the law died unto the law, that I might live unto God.

  • 1 Peter 4:2

    that ye no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

  • Philippians 1:20

    according to my earnest expectation and hope, that in nothing shall I be put to shame, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether by life, or by death.

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