Proverbs 28:21

Pro 28:21 To have respect of persons [is] not good: for for a piece of bread [that] man will transgress.

Ver. 21. To have respect of persons is not good.] {See Trapp on "Pro 24:23"}

For, for a piece of bread.] For a trifle he will transgress, and sell his soul dog cheap for a groat, or less money. Cato in Gellius hits Marcus Coelius in the teeth with his baseness, that for a morsel of bread he would sell either his tongue or his silence. And the false prophets in Ezekiel’s days would do the like. {Eze 13:19}

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Pro 28:21. To have respect of persons is not good — It is a fundamental error in the administration of justice, and that which will lead men to many transgressions, to consider the quality of the parties concerned more than the merits of the cause; for a piece of bread that man will transgress — When a man hath once accustomed himself to take bribes, a very small advantage will make him sell justice, and his own soul into the bargain. The design of this proverb is to warn men to take heed of the beginnings of that sin, and consequently of all other sins.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

28:21 Rendering a wrong verdict based on a bribe is evil (17:23; 22:16).

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

He will be abused for nothing.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Note, 1. It is a fundamental error in the administration of justice, and that which cannot but lead men to abundance of transgression, to consider the parties concerned more than the merits of the cause, so as to favour one because he is a gentleman, a scholar, my countryman, my old acquaintance, has formerly done me a kindness, or may do me one, or is of my party and persuasion, and to bear hard on the other party because he is a stranger, a poor man, has done me an ill turn, is or has been my rival, or is not of my mind, or has voted against me. Judgment is perverted when any consideration of this kind is admitted into the scale, any thing but pure right. 2. Those that are partial will be paltry. Those that have once broken through the bonds of equity, though, at first, it must be some great bribe, some noble present, that would bias them, yet, when they have debauched their consciences, they will, at length, be so sordid that for a piece of bread they will give judgment against their consciences; they will rather play at small game than sit out.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

respect of persons-- (Pro 24:23). Such are led to evil by the slightest motive.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

(21) For, for a piece of bread.—A thing proverbially of little value. (Comp. Eze_13:19.)

That man will transgress.—So degrading is the habit of servility.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

21. For … that man will transgress] Or, Neither that a man should transgress, R.V. The rendering of A.V., however, which is retained substantially in R.V. marg., has the support both of LXX. and Vulg.

a piece of bread] Dean Plumptre, in Speaker’s Comm., and others quote the words of Cato with reference to M. Cœlius, “frusto panis conduci potest, vel uti taceat, vel uti loquatur,” A. Gell., Noct. Att. i. 15.

transgress] i.e., as the former clause indicates, pervert justice by shewing partiality.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

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, Lev 19:15; nor in religious assemblies, making a difference between the rich and the poor, Jam 2:1; 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 Eze 13:19.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Dishonest partiality leads men who have enslaved themselves to it to transgress, even when the inducement is altogether disproportionate. A “piece of bread” was proverbial at all times as the most extreme point of poverty (compare the marginal reference).

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Forsaketh. Hebrew, "oppresseth (Septuagint, selleth) a man." (Calmet) --- Neither small nor great bribes must be taken. (Justinian)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

When a man hath once vitiated his conscience, and accustomed himself to take bribes, a very small advantage will make him sell justice, and his own soul into the bargain. The design of the proverb is to warn men to take heed of the beginnings of that sin, and consequently of other sins.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

21. To have respect of persons — Literally, to know faces.

For a piece of bread — That is, for the smallest bribe. While this proverb has special application to magistrates, it is also applicable to others. Compare Eze_13:19. Cato said of M. Caelius: “With a crust of bread he can be hired either to speak or to keep silent.” Comp. Pro_6:26; 1Sa_2:36. The Septuagint varies in the first clause: “He that reverences not the person of the just is not good.”

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The first hemistich occurs a little fuller in Pro_24:23, referring there, as here, to the administration of justice. For a piece of bread that man will transgress. Thus translated, this clause confirms the former, and says that a judge given to favouritism will swerve from right under the smallest temptation. But to bribe a judge with a morsel of bread seems an unlikely idea; and the gnome is of general application, "And for a morsel of bread a man not "that man will transgress." As some men in responsible positions are often swayed by low and unworthy considerations, so in social life a very insignificant cause is sufficient to warp the judgment of some persons, or draw them aside from the line of rectitude. (For "a piece of bread," as denoting abject poverty or a thing of no value, see on Pro_6:26) The commentators cite Aul. Gell., "Noct. Att.," 1:15, "Frusto panis conduci potest vel uti taceat vel uti loquatur." Septuagint, "He that regards not the persons of the just is not good; such a cue will sell a man for a morsel of bread."

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

For - When a man hath once accustomed himself to take bribes, a very small advantage will make him sell justice.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

With a proverb, in the first half of which is repeated the beginning of the second appendix, Pro 24:23, a new group commences:

21 Respect of persons is not good;

And for a morsel of bread a man may become a transgressor.

Line first refers to the administration of justice, and line second - the special generalized - to social life generally. The "morsel of bread," as example of a bribe by means of which the favour of the judge is purchased, is too low a conception. Hitzig well: "even a trifle, a morsel of bread (Sa1 2:36), may, as it awakens favour and dislike within us, thus in general call forth in the will an inclination tending to draw one aside from the line of strict rectitude." Geier compares A Gellius' Noct. Att. i. 15, where Cato says of the Tribune Coelius: Frusto panis conduci potest vel ut taceat vel ut loquatur.

Keil & Delitzsch — Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (1861–1891) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API. (Old Testament only.)

This Proverb has been more than once repeated.†1 The act itself is not good. It is positive transgression. The principle is worse — sordid selfishness. Here is perhaps a man, not of slavish or of naturally degraded mind, but — such is the debasing influence of lust! — a man of weight and influence; and yet abusing his power for his own ends. It is a rich man, or a relation, or he is under some obligation, and therefore he has respect of judgment. Now what is right to the rich, is right to the poor. Thus to trample the poor under foot, the Judge of all counts rebellion against his own just standard.†2 Principle once overpowered seldom regains its ascendancy. Each successive trial proves its weakness; till he, who once thought himself able to resist a large bribe, for the veriest trifle will break with God and his conscience. For a piece of bread that man will transgress.†3

Is not this, alas! a pulpit sin? Is the Minister never drawn away from godly simplicity by some interested motive? — to transgress his broadly-marked obligation for a piece of bread? In olden times this was a besetting temptation of the sacred office.†4 Let the beacon be solemnly regarded.

In ordinary life, a man’s bread hanging upon favor, is a strong temptation to transgress upright principles. Cowardice and unbelief shelter themselves under the cover of prudence. Christian reproof is neglected from fear of losing custom or advantage. Our interest is preferred to God’s. And a plain scripture obligation is put away for a piece of bread. (Lev 19:17 .) Are Christians wholly guiltless in this matter? Is not conduct sometimes ruled by the fear of man, rather than by "trust in God"? (Pro 29:25 .) Let the temptation be resisted at the first step, manfully, prayerfully, in the Lord’s strength; and the victory is gained.

Footnotes:

†1 Pro 18:5; Pro 24:23, and references.

†2 Transgression in this place is the same word as rebellion. Isa 1:2 . See also 1Ki 12:19 . 2Ki 1:1 ; 2Ki 3:5 .

†3 Amo 2:6. Cato used to say of M. Cœlius the Tribune, that ’he might be hired for a piece of bread to speak, or to hold his peace.’

†4 Eze 13:19. Mic 3:5 . 2Pe 2:3 .

Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs (1846) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

for a piece of bread a man will do wrong

"A piece of bread" here is an exaggeration for a very small bribe or reward. AT: "a man will sin for very little gain" (See: Hyperbole and Generalization)

do wrong

"sin"

A stingy man

"A selfish man." This is a person who does not like to share his possessions or spend money.

hurries after riches

The stingy man is spoken of as if he was chasing after wealth. AT: "is greedy for riches" (See: Idiom)

poverty will come upon him

The result of being stingy is spoken of as if poverty was overtaking the stingy person. The abstract noun "poverty" can be translated as an adjective. AT: "he will suddenly become poor" (See: Idiom and Abstract Nouns)

translationWords

good

partial

bread

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

a man will sin one who perverts justice.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.