Proverbs 28 · Verse 21

Proverbs 28:21

To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.
Proverbs 28:21, King James Version

Proverbs 28:21 in other translations

BSBTo show partiality is not good, yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.
WEBTo show partiality is not good, yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.
ASVTo have respect of persons is not good; Neither that a man should transgress for a piece of bread.
YLTTo discern faces is not good, And for a piece of bread doth a man transgress.
DARBYTo have respect of persons is not good; but for a piece of bread will a man transgress.
BBEIt is not good to have respect for a man's position: for a man will do wrong for a bit of bread.
WebsterTo have respect of persons is not good: for, for a piece of bread that man will transgress.

What does Proverbs 28:21 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
21. respect of persons--(Pr 24:23). Such are led to evil by the slightest motive.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
Judgment is perverted, when any thing but pure right is considered.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 28:21 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

הַֽכֵּר\־ha.ker-to pay regard toH5234
פָּנִ֥יםpa.NimfaceH6440
לֹא\־lo'-notH3808
ט֑וֹבTov[is] goodH2896
וְעַל\־ve.'al-and onH5921
פַּת\־pat-a piece ofH6595
לֶ֝֗חֶםLe.chembreadH3899
יִפְשַׁע\־yif.sha'-he will transgressH6586
גָּֽבֶר\׃Ga.vera manH1397

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 28:21

  • Proverbs 24:23

    These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

  • Ezekiel 13:19

    And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies?

  • Proverbs 18:5

    It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.

  • Exodus 23:2

    Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:

  • Micah 3:5

    Thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him.

  • Micah 7:3

    That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.

  • Exodus 23:8

    And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.

  • Romans 16:18

    For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

  • Hosea 4:18

    Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye.

  • 2 Peter 2:3

    And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
respect.
18:5; 24:23; Ex 23:2,8
for.Erasmus observes that this expression probably originated from the circumstance of holding out a piece of bread to a dog, in order to soothe him.
Eze 13:19; Ho 4:18; Mic 3:5; 7:3; Ro 16:18; 2Pe 2:3

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 28:20

    A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.

  • Proverbs 28:21

    To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.

  • Proverbs 28:22

    He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.

Read all of Proverbs 28

Proverbs 28:21 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Tener acepción de personas, no es bueno: hasta por un bocado de pan prevaricará el hombre.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Faire acception des personnes n’est pas bien; même pour un morceau de pain un homme commettra une transgression.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Die Person ansehen ist nicht gut, und um einen Bissen Brot kann ein Mann übertreten.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Qui cognoscit in judicio faciem non bene facit; iste et pro buccella panis deserit veritatem.