English Standard Version
Proverbs 28:21
21To show partiality is not good, but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.
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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)To show partiality is not good, Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Showing partiality is never good, yet some will do wrong for a mere piece of bread.
Context of Proverbs 28:21
19Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty. 20A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished. To show partiality is not good, but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong. 22A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty will come upon him. 23Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he 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 be partial to the wicked or to deprive the righteous of justice.
- Proverbs 24:23These also are sayings of the wise. Partiality in judging is not good.
- Exodus 23:2You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice,
- Ezekiel 13:19You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, putting to death souls who should not die and keeping alive souls who should not live, by your lying to my people, who listen to lies.
- Hosea 4:18When their drink is gone, they give themselves to whoring; their rulers dearly love shame.
- Micah 3:5Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who cry "Peace" when they have something to eat, but declare war against him who puts nothing into their mouths.
- Micah 7:3Their hands are on what is evil, to do it well; the prince and the judge ask for a bribe, and the great man utters the evil desire of his soul; thus they weave it together.
- Romans 16:18For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
- 2 Peter 2:3And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries