The Meaning of Proverbs 28:21 Explained

Proverbs 28:21

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

YLT: To discern faces is not good, And for a piece of bread doth a man transgress.

Darby: To have respect of persons is not good; but for a piece of bread will a man transgress.

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Proverbs 28:21 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 28

1  general observations of impiety and integrity

What do the individual words in Proverbs 28:21 mean?

To show partiality of persons not [is] good and because for a piece of bread will transgress a man
הַֽכֵּר־ פָּנִ֥ים לֹא־ ט֑וֹב וְעַל־ פַּת־ לֶ֝֗חֶם יִפְשַׁע־ גָּֽבֶר

הַֽכֵּר־  To  show  partiality 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Infinitive absolute
Root: נָכַר 
Sense: to recognise, acknowledge, know, respect, discern, regard.
פָּנִ֥ים  of  persons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
ט֑וֹב  [is]  good 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: טָבַב 
Sense: good, pleasant, agreeable.
וְעַל־  and  because  for 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
פַּת־  a  piece 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: פַּת 
Sense: fragment, bit, morsel (of bread), piece.
לֶ֝֗חֶם  of  bread 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֶחֶם  
Sense: bread, food, grain.
יִפְשַׁע־  will  transgress 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: פָּשַׁע  
Sense: to rebel, transgress, revolt.
גָּֽבֶר  a  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: גֶּבֶר  
Sense: man, strong man, warrior (emphasising strength or ability to fight).