Proverbs 28:21

Proverbs 28:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.
• New International Version (NIV)To show partiality is not good— yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread.
• English Standard Version (ESV)To show partiality is not good, but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.
• New King James Version (NKJV)To show partiality is not good, Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.

Context of Proverbs 28:21

19The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty. 20A faithful man will abound with blessings, but one eager to be rich will not go unpunished. To show partiality is not good, yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread. 22A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty awaits him. 23He who rebukes a man will later find more favor than one who flatters with his tongue.

Proverbs 28:21 word by word

הַֽכֵּר־פָּנִ֥ים לֹא־ט֑וֹב וְעַל־פַּת־לֶ֝֗חֶם יִפְשַׁע־גָּֽבֶר׃Read the interlinear

• To show partialityנָכַרnâkar · to recognizeH5234
• To show partialityפָּנֶהpânîym · face: kindnessH6440
• notלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• goodטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• yet a manגָּבֶרgeber · great manH1397
• will do wrongפָּשַׁעpâsha‛ · to transgressH6586
• forעַל‛al · uponH5921
• a pieceפַּתpath · morselH6595
• of breadלֶ֫חֶםlechem · food: breadH3899

Cross-references for Proverbs 28:21

• Proverbs 18:5Showing partiality to the wicked is not good, nor is depriving the innocent of justice.
• Proverbs 24:23These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.
• Exodus 23:2You shall not follow the crowd in wrongdoing. When you testify in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd.
• Ezekiel 13:19You have profaned Me among My people for handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. By lying to My people who would listen, you have killed those who should not have died and spared those who should not have lived.
• Hosea 4:18When their liquor is gone, they turn to prostitution; their rulers dearly love disgrace.
• Micah 3:5This is what the LORD says: “As for the prophets who lead My people astray, who proclaim peace while they chew with their teeth, but declare war against one who puts nothing in their mouths:
• Micah 7:3Both hands are skilled at evil; the prince and the judge demand a bribe. When the powerful utters his evil desire, they all conspire together.
• Romans 16:18For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
• 2 Peter 2:3In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.

Commentaries on Proverbs 28:21

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21Dishonest partiality leads men who have enslaved themselves to it to transgress, even when the inducement is altogether disproportionate. A “piece of bread” was proverbial at all times as the most extreme point of poverty (compare the marginal reference).Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21Verse 21 Judgment is perverted, when any thing but pure right is considered.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21Giving a wrong verdict because of a bribe is wrong (Proverbs 17:23; 22:16).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. respect of persons--(Pr 24:23). Such are led to evil by the slightest motive.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 28:21

• Bribery
• Justice
• Respect of Persons

In the dictionaries

• Respect of Persons
• Accept
• Cover
• Mercy
• Prosper
• Rise
• Face
• Hezekiah (2)
• Proverbs, the Book of

Commentaries on Proverbs 28

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings