Proverbs 28:21

21 He that knoweth a face in doom, doeth not well; this man forsaketh truth, yea, for a morsel of bread. (He who knoweth the person whom he is judging, doeth wrongly; this person deserteth the truth, yea, for a morsel of bread.)

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 worketh his land, shall be filled with loaves; he that followeth idleness (but he who is idle, or lazy), shall be filled with neediness.
20 A faithful man shall be praised much; but he that hasteth to be made rich, shall not be innocent. (A faithful person shall be much praised; but he who hasteneth to be made rich, shall not be innocent.)
21 He that knoweth a face in doom, doeth not well; this man forsaketh truth, yea, for a morsel of bread. (He who knoweth the person whom he is judging, doeth wrongly; this person deserteth the truth, yea, for a morsel of bread.)
22 A man that hasteth to be made rich, and hath envy to other men (and hath envy of others), knoweth not that neediness shall come [up]on him.
23 He that reproveth a man, shall find grace afterward with him (He who rebuketh someone, shall find favour afterward with him); more than he that deceiveth by flatterings of (the) tongue.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.