To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.
Parallel translations
- WEB To show partiality is not good; yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.
- BSB To show partiality is not good, yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.
- NKJV To show partiality is not good, Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.
- NASB To show partiality is not good, Because for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.
- NLT Showing partiality is never good, yet some will do wrong for a mere piece of bread.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Showing partiality is wrong, yet some will betray justice for the smallest bribe. It condemns favoritism and the corruption of integrity for trivial gain.
Overview
The proverb declares partiality evil and exposes how cheaply some will sell their integrity, doing wrong even for a piece of bread. It warns against the slow corruption that begins with small compromises. God shows no partiality, and the gospel forms a people who likewise reject favoritism and love their neighbors impartially (James 2:1).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Ezek 13:19And 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?
- Prov 24:23These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
- Prov 18:5It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
- Exod 23:2Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:
- Mic 7:3That 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.
- Exod 23:8And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.
- Rom 16:18For 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.
- Mic 3:5Thus 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.
- Hos 4:18Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye.
- 2 Pet 2:3And 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.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 28:21 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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