The Meaning of Proverbs 21:3 Explained

Proverbs 21:3

KJV: To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

YLT: To do righteousness and judgment, Is chosen of Jehovah rather than sacrifice.

Darby: To exercise justice and judgment is more acceptable to Jehovah than sacrifice.

ASV: To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to Jehovah than sacrifice.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

To do  justice  and judgment  [is] more acceptable  to the LORD  than sacrifice. 

What does Proverbs 21:3 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 21

1  The king's heart in the hand of the Lord

What do the individual words in Proverbs 21:3 mean?

to do righteousness and justice [Is] more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice
עֲ֭שֹׂה צְדָקָ֣ה וּמִשְׁפָּ֑ט נִבְחָ֖ר לַיהוָ֣ה מִזָּֽבַח

עֲ֭שֹׂה  to  do 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
צְדָקָ֣ה  righteousness 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: צְדָקָה  
Sense: justice, righteousness.
וּמִשְׁפָּ֑ט  and  justice 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִשְׁפָּט  
Sense: judgment, justice, ordinance.
נִבְחָ֖ר  [Is]  more  acceptable 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: בָּחוּר 
Sense: to choose, elect, decide for.
לַיהוָ֣ה  to  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
מִזָּֽבַח  than  sacrifice 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: זֶבַח  
Sense: sacrifice.