Charles Ellicott Commentary Romans 14:11

"For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, to me every knee shall bow, And every tongue shall confess to God." — Romans 14:11 (ASV)

As I live.—The original has, I have sworn by Myself, for which St. Paul, quoting from memory, substitutes another common Hebrew formula—As I live, or, by my life.

Shall confess . . .—The Greek word is capable of two renderings—“confess” and “praise”: Most commentators prefer the latter, but it is not quite clear that the English version is wrong. That the word can bear this meaning is, especially in view of James 5:16, unquestionable, and the sense seems to agree better with the next verse.