Devine Scripture

Romans 14:9

What does Romans 14:9 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 14:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 14:9 means

Here Paul anchors everything in the gospel: Christ died and lived again so that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. His cross and resurrection secured His universal lordship over His people in every condition. This means our disputes over food and days occur under the reign of the crucified and risen Lord Jesus. He is the One we aim to please, and He is the One who will finally judge. The verse calls us to bow before Christ’s authority and to measure our choices by His will, remembering that our brothers and sisters are His blood-bought subjects too.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And for this purpose Christ went into death and came back again, that he might be the Lord of the dead and of the living.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

for because of this Christ both died and rose again, and lived again, that both of dead and of living he may be Lord.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For to this end Christ died and rose again: that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

For to this [end] Christ has died and lived [again], that he might rule over both dead and living.

Context

After declaring that believers live and die to the Lord (verses 7–8), Paul now names Christ’s redemptive work as the basis for that lordship. This theological center supports the next exhortations against judging in verses 10–12. Since Christ’s work grounds His right to rule and assess, human courts of opinion lose their force. The flow will move from Christ’s lordship to the universal judgment before God, underscored by Scripture, and then to personal accountability, setting the stage for practical love that avoids causing others to stumble.

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.

v.9This passage

v.10But thou, why dost thou judge thy brother? or thou again, why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment-seat of God.

Cross references

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

  • John 5:27

    and he gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man.

  • 1 Peter 1:21

    who through him are believers in God, that raised him from the dead, and gave him glory; so that your faith and hope might be in God.

  • Revelation 2:8

    And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These things saith the first and the last, who was dead, and lived again:

  • Matthew 28:18

    And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth.

  • 1 Peter 4:5

    who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the living and the dead.

  • Acts 10:42

    And he charged us to preach unto the people, and to testify that this is he who is ordained of God to be the Judge of the living and the dead.

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