Romans 14 · Verse 7

Romans 14:7

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

Romans 14:7, King James Version

Romans 14:7 in other translations

BSB	For none of us lives to himself alone, and none of us dies to himself alone.
WEB	For none of us lives to himself, and none dies to himself.
ASV	For none of us liveth to himself, and none dieth to himself.
YLT	For none of us to himself doth live, and none to himself doth die;
DARBY	For none of us lives to himself, and none dies to himself.
BBE	For every man's life and every man's death has a relation to others as well as to himself.
Webster	For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.

What does Romans 14:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Romans 14:7-8

7-8. For none of us--Christians liveth to himself--(See 2Co 5:14, 15), to dispose of himself or shape his conduct after his own ideas and inclinations. and no man--"and none" of us Christians "dieth to himself."

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 7. For none of us, etc. Whether by nature Jews or Gentiles. In the great principles of religion we are now united. Where there was evidence of a sincere desire to do the will of God there should be charitable feeling, though there was difference of opinion and judgment in many smaller matters. The meaning of the expression is, that no Christian lives to gratify his own inclinations or appetites. He makes it his great aim to do the will of God; to subordinate all his desires to his law and gospel; and though, therefore, one should eat flesh, and should feel at liberty to devote to common employments time that another deemed sacred, yet it should not be uncharitably set down as a desire to indulge his sensual appetites, or to become rich. Another motive may be supposed, and where there is not positive proof to the contrary, should be supposed. See the beautiful illustration of this in 1Cor 13:4-8. To live to ourselves is to make it the great object to become rich or honoured, or to indulge in the ease, comfort, and pleasures of life. These are the aim of all men but Christians; and in nothing else do Christians more differ from the world than in this. See 1Pet 4:1,2, 2Cor 5:15, 1Cor 6:19,20, Mt 10:38; Mt 16:24, Mk 8:34, 10:21, Lk 9:23. On no point does it become Christians more to examine themselves than on this.

To live to ourselves is an evidence that we are strangers to piety. And if it be the great motive of our lives to live at ease, (Amos 6:1)--to gratify the flesh, to gain property, or to be distinguished in places of fashion and amusement--it is evidence that we know nothing of the power of that gospel which teaches us to deny ourselves, and take up our cross daily.

No man. No one, the same Greek word (ουδεις) which is used in the former part of the verse. The word is used only in reference to Christians here, and makes no affirmation about other men.

Dieth to himself. See Rom 4:8. This expression is used to denote the universality or the totality with which Christians belong to God. Everything is done and suffered with reference to his will. In our conduct, in our property, in our trials, in our death, we are his; to be disposed of as he shall please. In the grave, and in the future world, we shall be equally his. As this is the great principle on which all Christians live and act, we should be kind and tender towards them, though in some respects they differ from us.

(o) "none of use" 1Pet 4:2

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 7 None of us liveth to himself - The Greek writers use the phrase, ἑαυτῳ ζῃν, to signify acting according to one's own judgment, following one's own opinion. Christians must act in all things according to the mind and will of God, and not follow their own wills. The apostle seems to intimate that in all the above cases each must endeavor to please God, for he is accountable to him alone for his conduct in these indifferent things. God is our master, we must live to him, as we live under his notice and by his bounty; and when we cease to live among men, we are still in his hand. Therefore, what we do, or what we leave undone, should be in reference to that eternity which is ever at hand.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Romans 14:7-13

Though some are weak, and others are strong, yet all must agree not to live to themselves. No one who has given up his name to Christ, is allowedly a self-seeker; that is against true Christianity. The business of our lives is not to please ourselves, but to please God. That is true Christianity, which makes Christ all in all. Though Christians are of different strength, capacities, and practices in lesser things, yet they are all the Lord's; all are looking and serving, and approving themselves to Christ. He is Lord of those that are living, to rule them; of those that are dead, to revive them, and raise them up. Christians should not judge or despise one another, because both the one and the other must shortly give an account. A believing regard to the judgment of the great day, would silence rash judgings. Let every man search his own heart and life; he that is strict in judging and humbling himself, will not be apt to judge and despise his brother. We must take heed of saying or doing things which may cause others to stumble or to fall. The one signifies a lesser, the other a greater degree of offence; that which may be an occasion of grief or of guilt to our brother.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Romans 14:7 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.

οὐδεὶςoudeisNo [one]G3762

γὰρgarforG1063

ἡμῶνhēmōnof usG3165

ἑαυτῷhe'autōto himselfG1438

ζῇzēalivesG2198

καὶkaiandG2532

οὐδεὶςoudeisno [one]G3762

ἑαυτῷhe'autōto himselfG1438

ἀποθνῄσκει.apothnēskeidies.G599

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

Cross references for Romans 14:7

1 Peter 4:2
That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
2 Corinthians 5:15
And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Titus 2:14
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
1 Thessalonians 5:10
Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
Philippians 1:20-24
According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: …
Galatians 2:19-20
For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Romans 14:9
For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

9; 1Co 6:19,20; 2Co 5:15; Ga 2:19,20; Php 1:20-24; 1Th 5:10
Tit 2:14; 1Pe 4:2

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

Context

Romans 14:6
He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
Romans 14:7
For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
Romans 14:8
For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.

Read all of Romans 14

Romans 14:7 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Porque ninguno de nosotros vive para sí, y ninguno muere para sí.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Car nul de nous ne vit ayant égard à lui-même, et nul ne meurt ayant égard à lui-même:
German Elberfelder 1871	Denn keiner von uns lebt sich selbst, und keiner stirbt sich selbst.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Nemo enim nostrum sibi vivit, et nemo sibi moritur.