Proverbs 28:21

21 To show partiality is not good— yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread.

Proverbs 28:21 in Other Translations

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

21 To show partiality is not good, but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.

21 Showing partiality is never good, yet some will do wrong for a mere piece of bread.

21 Playing favorites is always a bad thing; you can do great harm in seemingly harmless ways.

21 To have respect of persons is not good; Neither that a man should transgress for a piece of bread.

21 Showing partiality is not good, because some people will turn on you even for a piece of bread.

21 It is not good to show partiality- yet a man may sin for a piece of bread.

21 Favoring one person over another is not good. But some men will do wrong for a piece 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 Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.

20 A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.

21 To show partiality is not good— yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread.

22 The stingy are eager to get rich and are unaware that poverty awaits them.

23 Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor rather than one who has a flattering tongue.

Cross References

• 1. S Leviticus 19:15
• 2. S Psalms 94:21; S Proverbs 18:5
• 3. Ezekiel 13:19