Romans 14 · Verse 4

Romans 14:4

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.

Romans 14:4, King James Version

Romans 14:4 in other translations

BSB	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.
WEB	Who are you who judge another’s servant? To his own lord he stands or falls. Yes, he will be made to stand, for God has power to make him stand.
ASV	Who 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.
YLT	Thou--who art thou that art judging another's domestic? to his own master he doth stand or fall; and he shall be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.
DARBY	Who art thou that judgest the servant of another? to his own master he stands or falls. And he shall be made to stand; for the Lord is able to make him stand.
BBE	Who are you to make yourself a judge of another man's servant? it is to his master that he is responsible for good or bad. Yes, his place will be safe, because the Lord is able to keep him from falling.
Webster	Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth: and he shall be held up: for God is able to make him stand.

What does Romans 14:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

4. Who art thou that judges another man's--rather, "another's" servant?--that is, Christ's, as the whole context shows, especially Ro 14:8, 9. Yea, &c.--"But he shall be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand"; that is, to make good his standing, not at the day of judgment, of which the apostle treats in Ro 14:10, but in the true fellowship of the Church here, in spite of thy censures.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 4. Who art thou, etc. That is, who gave you this right to sit in judgment on others? Comp. Lk 12:14. There is reference here particularly to the Jew, who on account of his ancient privileges, and because he had the law of God, would assume the prerogative of judging in the case, and insist on conformity to his own views. See Acts 15. The doctrine of this epistle is, uniformly, that the Jew had no such privilege, but that in regard to Salvation he was on the same level with the Gentile.

That judgest, etc. Comp. Jas 4:12. This is a principle of common sense and common propriety. It is not ours to sit in judgment on the servant of another man. He has the control over him; and if he chooses to forbid his doing anything, or to allow him to do anything, it pertains to his affairs, not ours. To attempt to control him, is to intermeddle improperly, and to become a "busy-body in other men's matters," 1Pet 4:15. Thus Christians are the servants of God; they are answerable to him; and we have no right to usurp his place, and to act as if we were "lords over his heritage," 1Pet 5:3.

To his own master. The servant is responsible to his master only. So it is with the Christian in regard to God.

He standeth or falleth. He shall be approved or condemned. If his conduct is such as pleases his master, he shall be approved; if not, he will be condemned.

Yea, he shall be holden up. This is spoken of the Christian only. In relation to the servant, he might stand or fall, he might be approved or condemned. The master had no power to keep him in a way of obedience, except by the hope of reward, or the fear of punishment. But it was not so in regard to the Christian. The Jew, who was disposed to condemn the Gentile, might say that he admitted the general principle which the apostle had stated about the servant; that it was just what he was saying, that he might fall, and be condemned. But no, says the apostle, this does not follow in relation to the Christian. He shall not fall. God has power to make him stand; to hold him; to keep him from error, and from condemnation, and he shall be holden up.

He shall not be suffered to fall into condemnation, for it is the purpose of God to keep him. Comp. Ps 1:3. This is one of the incidental but striking evidences that the apostle believed that all Christians should be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

Is able. See Jn 10:29. Though a master cannot exert such an influence over a servant as to secure his obedience, yet God has this power over his people, and will preserve them in a path of obedience.

(l) "Who art thou that" Jas 4:12 (m) "God is able" Isa 40:29

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? - Who has ever given thee the right to condemn the servant of another man, in things pertaining to his own master? To his own master he standeth or falleth. He is to judge him, not thou; thy intermeddling in this business is both rash and uncharitable. Yea, he shall be holden up - He is sincere and upright, and God, who is able to make him stand, will uphold him; and so teach him that he shall not essentially err. And it is the will of God that such upright though scrupulous persons should be continued members of his Church.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Romans 14:1-6

Differences of opinion prevailed even among the immediate followers of Christ and their disciples. Nor did St. Paul attempt to end them. Compelled assent to any doctrine, or conformity to outward observances without being convinced, would be hypocritical and of no avail. Attempts for producing absolute oneness of mind among Christians would be useless. Let not Christian fellowship be disturbed with strifes of words…

Read the full comment on Romans 14:1-6 →

Romans 14:4 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

σὺsuYou yourselfG4771

τίςtiswhoG5101

εἶeiareG1510

ὁhowhoG3588

κρίνωνkrinōnis judgingG2919

ἀλλότριονallotrionanother’sG245

οἰκέτην;oiketēnservant?G3610

τῷtōTo theG3588

ἰδίῳidiōownG2398

κυρίῳkuriōmasterG2962

στήκειstēkeihe standsG4739

ἢēorG2228

πίπτει.pipteifalls.G4098

σταθήσεταιstathēsetaiHe will be upheldG2476

δέ,dehowever,G1161

δυνατεῖdunateiable isG1414

γὰρgarforG1063

ὁhotheG3588

κύριοςkuriosLordG2962

στῆσαιstēsaito upholdG2476

αὐτόν.autonhim.G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Romans 14:4

James 4:11-12
Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
Romans 9:20
Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Romans 8:31-39
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. …
Jude 1:24
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
1 Corinthians 4:4-5
For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
John 10:28-30
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.
Psalms 37:24
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.
Hebrews 7:25
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Romans 14:3
Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
Deuteronomy 33:27-29
The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them. Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew. Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.
Isaiah 40:29
He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
Romans 16:25
Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Who.
9:20; Ac 11:17; 1Co 4:4,5; Jas 4:11,12
he shall.
3; 11:23; 16:25; De 33:27-29; Ps 17:5; 37:17,24,28; 119:116,117
Joh 10:28-30; Ro 8:31-39; Heb 7:25; 1Pe 1:5; Jude 1:24
for.
Isa 40:29

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Romans 14:3
Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
Romans 14:4
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.
Romans 14:5
One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

Read all of Romans 14

Romans 14:4 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	¿Tú quién eres que juzgas al siervo ajeno? para su señor está en pie, ó cae: mas se afirmará; que poderoso es el Señor para afirmarle.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Qui es-tu, toi qui juges le domestique d’autrui? Il se tient debout ou il tombe pour son propre maître; et il sera tenu debout, car le Seigneur est puissant pour le tenir debout.
German Elberfelder 1871	Wer bist du, der du den Hausknecht eines anderen richtest? Er steht oder fällt seinem eigenen Herrn. Er wird aber aufrecht gehalten werden, denn der Herr vermag ihn aufrecht zu halten.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Tu quis es, qui judicas alienum servum? domino suo stat, aut cadit: stabit autem: potens est enim Deus statuere illum.