Proverbs 28:21

21 To discern faces is not good, And for a piece of bread doth a man 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 Whoso is tilling his ground is satisfied [with] bread, And whoso is pursuing vanity, Is filled [with] poverty.
20 A stedfast man hath multiplied blessings, And whoso is hasting to be rich is not acquitted.
21 To discern faces is not good, And for a piece of bread doth a man transgress.
22 Troubled for wealth [is] the man [with] an evil eye, And he knoweth not that want doth meet him.
23 Whoso is reproving a man afterwards findeth grace, More than a flatterer with the tongue.
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.