Proverbs 28:21

21 To have respect of persons in judgment is not good; even for a piece of bread, man will transgress.

Proverbs 28:21 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 28:21

To have respect of persons [is] not good, &c,
In courts of judicature, to give a cause or pass sentence in favour of a person, because he is rich, or is a relation, a friend, an acquaintance, or has done a kindness; and against another, because of the reverse, ( Leviticus 19:15 ) ( Deuteronomy 16:19 ) ; nor in religious assemblies, making a difference between the rich and the poor, ( James 2:1 James 2:2 ) ; this is not good in itself, nor productive of good effects, and cannot be well pleasing to God, who himself is no respecter of persons; for for a piece of bread [that] man will transgress;
the laws of God and men; having used himself to such unrighteous methods of proceeding, he will do any base action for a small gain, he will stick at nothing, and do it for anything; as Cato used to say of M. Coelius the tribune,

``that he might be hired, for a morsel of bread, to speak or hold his peace;''
see ( Ezekiel 13:19 ) .

Proverbs 28:21 In-Context

19 He that tills his land shall be filled with bread, but he that follows after vain persons shall be filled with poverty.
20 The man of truth shall abound with blessings, but he that makes haste to be rich shall not be absolved.
21 To have respect of persons in judgment is not good; even for a piece of bread, man will transgress.
22 He that hastens to be rich has an evil eye and does not consider that poverty shall come upon him.
23 He that rebukes a man, afterwards shall find more favour than he that flatters with the tongue.
The Jubilee Bible (from the Scriptures of the Reformation), edited by Russell M. Stendal, Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2010