Proverbs 28:21

To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress. TO HAVE RESPECT OF PERSONS IS NOT GOOD - (note, ; .) FOR, FOR A PIECE OF BREAD THAT MAN WILL TRANSGRESS. The judge who at first was induced only by a great price to transgress by favouring one side, through the habit of sinning comes at last to do so for a mere trifle....

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)....

EXPOSITION This chapter is still part of the Hezekiah collection, and not a new series by another author. It may be regarded as describing the various destinies of the powerful and the weak, the sinner and the righteous. PROVERBS 28:1 THE WICKED FLEE WHEN NO MAN PURSUETH. The unreasoning terror of the sinner arises partly from his uneasy conscience, which will not permit him to transgress without warning of consequences, and partly from the judgment of God, according to the threats denounced in Leviticus 26:36, Leviticus 26:37. A terrible picture of this instinctive fear is drawn in...

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; nor in religious assemblies, making a difference between the rich and the poor, James 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, "t

CHAPTER 28 WARNINGS AND INSTRUCTIONS CONTINUED The wicked is a coward; the righteous man, because he trusteth in the Lord and knows the Lord is on his side, is as bold as a lion. It is the conscience which makes a coward of the wicked man. This chapter has many sharp contrasts and important warnings and exhortations. We point out a few. Those who forsake the law, turn their backs upon the revelation of God, refuse obedience to Him, praise the wicked, they make common cause with them. Those who keep the law, obey God's Word, are contenders for the faith Proverbs 28:4. Evil men are blind, but with seeking the Lord comes understanding, the blind eyes are opened Proverbs 28:5. A wise son is he who keepeth the law; such was Solomon till he plunged into apostasy and darkness...

SECOND DIVISION, PROVERBS 28 F. In general character this division resembles Section II., consisting chiefly of antithetic couplets. PROVERBS 28:2 B. The text is uncertain, and various renderings are possible. The translation state is very doubtful. If MT be retained, connect the word for state with the preceding, and translate by men of understanding who know what is right it is prolonged. LXX reads Through the sin of the ungodly disputes arise, but a prudent man quenches them, possibly the original text. Proverbs 28:3. A needy man: so MT, but the thought is not in keeping with the conception of the poor in Pr. or in the OT. We should probably read a wicked man who, etc. (LXX), or possibly a rich man who, etc. The simile seems to be that of a heavy unseasonable rain which flood

PERSONS. Hebrew "faces", put by Figure of speech _Synecdoche_ (of Part), App-6, for persons. THAT MAN. [even]. strong man. TRANSGRESS. Hebrew. _pasha'._ App-44....

_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....

TEXT Proverbs 28:19-28 19. He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread; But he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough. 20. A faithful man shall abound with blessings; But he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be unpunished. 21. To have respect of persons is not good; Neither that a man should transgress for a piece of bread. 22. He that hath an evil eye hasteth after riches, And knoweth not that want shall come upon him. 23. He that rebuketh a man shall afterward find more favor Than he that flattereth with the tongue. 24. Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression, The same is the companion of a destroyer. 25. He that is of a greedy spirit stirreth up strife; But he that putteth his trust in

OBSERVATIONS RELATING CHIEFLY TO SOCIAL LIFE 2. Cp. the many changes of rulers during the unsatisfactory period described in 2K15....