Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 21:3
3Doing what is righteous and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
Proverbs 21:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
- New International Version (NIV)To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
- English Standard Version (ESV)To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
- New King James Version (NKJV)To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
Context of Proverbs 21:3
1A king’s heart is like channeled water in the Lord’s hand: He directs it wherever he chooses. 2All a person’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs hearts. Doing what is righteous and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. 4The lamp that guides the wicked — haughty eyes and an arrogant heart — is sin. 5The plans of the diligent certainly lead to profit, but anyone who is reckless certainly becomes poor.
Read all of Proverbs 21Proverbs 21:3 word by word
עֲ֭שֹׂה צְדָקָ֣ה וּמִשְׁפָּ֑ט נִבְחָ֖ר לַיהוָ֣ה מִזָּֽבַח׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 21:3
- Proverbs 15:8The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
- 1 Samuel 15:22Then Samuel said: Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? Look: to obey is better than sacrifice, to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.
- Psalms 50:8I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices or for your burnt offerings, which are continually before me.
- Isaiah 1:11“What are all your sacrifices to me?” asks the Lord. “I have had enough of burnt offerings and rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I have no desire for the blood of bulls, lambs, or male goats.
- Jeremiah 7:21This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Add your burnt offerings to your other sacrifices, and eat the meat yourselves,
- Hosea 6:6For I desire faithful love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
- Micah 6:6What should I bring before the Lord when I come to bow before God on high? Should I come before him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves?
- Mark 12:33And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is far more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
Commentaries on Proverbs 21:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3To do justice and judgment - The words of Samuel to Saul. See note on 1 Samuel 15:23.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Compare the marginal reference. The words have a special significance as coming from the king who had built the temple, and had offered sacrifices that could not be numbered for multitude” 1 Kings 8:5.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 3Verse 3 Many deceive themselves with a conceit that outward devotions will excuse unrighteousness.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3God wants worship to come from a sincere heart and lead to good actions (see Psalm 40:6–8; Micah 6:6–8).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. (Compare Psa 50:7-15; Is 1:11, 17).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 21:3
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 21
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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