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.
Original Language Analysis
τίς
Who
G5101
τίς
Who
Strong's:
G5101
Word #:
2 of 22
an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions)
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
4 of 22
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἀλλότριον
another man's
G245
ἀλλότριον
another man's
Strong's:
G245
Word #:
6 of 22
another's, i.e., not one's own; by extension foreign, not akin, hostile
τῷ
G3588
τῷ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
8 of 22
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἰδίῳ
to his own
G2398
ἰδίῳ
to his own
Strong's:
G2398
Word #:
9 of 22
pertaining to self, i.e., one's own; by implication, private or separate
κυρίῳ
master
G2962
κυρίῳ
master
Strong's:
G2962
Word #:
10 of 22
supreme in authority, i.e., (as noun) controller; by implication, master (as a respectful title)
στήκει
he standeth
G4739
στήκει
he standeth
Strong's:
G4739
Word #:
11 of 22
to be stationary, i.e., (figuratively) to persevere
στῆσαι
he shall be holden up
G2476
στῆσαι
he shall be holden up
Strong's:
G2476
Word #:
14 of 22
to stand (transitively or intransitively), used in various applications (literally or figuratively)
δυνατὸς
able
G1415
δυνατὸς
able
Strong's:
G1415
Word #:
16 of 22
powerful or capable (literally or figuratively); neuter possible
γάρ
for
G1063
γάρ
for
Strong's:
G1063
Word #:
17 of 22
properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
19 of 22
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Θεὸς
God
G2316
Θεὸς
God
Strong's:
G2316
Word #:
20 of 22
a deity, especially (with g3588) the supreme divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by hebraism)
Cross References
Romans 9:20Nay 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?Jude 1:24Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,Psalms 37:24Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.Hebrews 7:25Wherefore 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.Isaiah 40:29He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.Psalms 17:5Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.Psalms 37:28For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.Romans 14:3Let 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.Acts 11:17Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?Psalms 37:17For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.
Historical Context
Roman household servants (oiketai) were under the paterfamilias (head of household), not subject to other servants' judgment. Paul applies this to believers—we're God's household, accountable to Him. This democratizes judgment: neither strong nor weak has authority to condemn the other. Only the Master evaluates His servants (1 Corinthians 4:3-5). This counters both authoritarianism (imposing conscience on others) and judgmentalism (condemning those who differ). The Reformation's 'priesthood of all believers' drew on this—individual conscience before God, not ecclesiastical tyranny.
Questions for Reflection
- In what areas are you judging 'another man's servant' (<em>allotrion oiketēn</em>)—matters where God alone is judge?
- How does confidence that 'God is able to make him stand' (<em>dynatei ho kyrios stēsai</em>) free you from anxiously policing other believers' disputable decisions?
- What's the difference between appropriate church discipline for sin and inappropriate judgment over disputable matters—where's the line?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Who art thou that judgest another man's servant?—Sy tis ei ho krinōn allotrion oiketēn? (σὺ τίς εἶ ὁ κρίνων ἀλλότριον οἰκέτην;). The rhetorical question rebukes presumption. Allotrion oiketēn (another's household servant) emphasizes you're judging someone else's employee, not your own. Oiketēs (οἰκέτης, household servant) belonged to the master, answerable only to him. Believers are God's oiketai (servants), accountable to Him alone on disputable matters. You have no jurisdiction over another's servant—only their Master does.
To his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand—Tō idiō kyriō stēkei ē piptei. stathēsetai de, dynatei gar ho kyrios stēsai auton (τῷ ἰδίῳ κυρίῳ στήκει ἢ πίπτει. σταθήσεται δὲ, δυνατεῖ γὰρ ὁ κύριος στῆσαι αὐτόν). The servant's standing (stēkei) or falling (piptei) concerns the idios kyrios (his own master), not fellow servants. The future stathēsetai (he will stand) expresses confidence—God will uphold His servant. Dynatei ho kyrios (the Lord is able) grounds assurance in divine power, not human performance.