Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 28:21
21It is not good to show partiality — yet even a courageous person may sin for a piece of bread.
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 person will have many blessings, but one in a hurry to get rich will not go unpunished. It is not good to show partiality — yet even a courageous person may sin for a piece of bread. 22A greedy one is in a hurry for wealth; he doesn’t know that poverty will come to him. 23One who rebukes a person will later find more favor than one who flatters with his tongue.
Read all of Proverbs 28Proverbs 28:21 word by word
הַֽכֵּר־פָּנִ֥ים לֹא־ט֑וֹב וְעַל־פַּת־לֶ֝֗חֶם יִפְשַׁע־גָּֽבֶר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 28:21
- Proverbs 18:5It is not good to show partiality to the guilty, denying an innocent person justice.
- Proverbs 24:23These sayings also belong to the wise: It is not good to show partiality in judgment.
- Exodus 23:2“You must not follow a crowd in wrongdoing. Do not testify in a lawsuit and go along with a crowd to pervert justice.
- Ezekiel 13:19You profane me among my people for handfuls of barley and scraps of bread; you put those to death who should not die and spare those who should not live, when you lie to my people, who listen to lies.
- Hosea 4:18When their drinking is over, they turn to promiscuity. Israel’s leaders fervently love disgrace.
- Micah 3:5This is what the Lord says concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who proclaim peace when they have food to sink their teeth into but declare war against the one who puts nothing in their mouths.
- Micah 7:3Both hands are good at accomplishing evil: the official and the judge demand a bribe; when the powerful man communicates his evil desire, they plot it together.
- Romans 16:18because such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites. They deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting with smooth talk and flattering words.
- 2 Peter 2:3They will exploit you in their greed with made-up stories. Their condemnation, pronounced long ago, is not idle, 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
In the dictionaries
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
Christian Standard Bible — © 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Commentaries