Proverbs 21:3
WEB
To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.
BSB
To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.
KJV
To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Matthew Henry
Hebrew interlinear
H6213
v — do, make
Derivation: a primitive root;
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
KJV: accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, × certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, feast, (fight-) ing man, finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, hinder, hold (a feast), × indeed, be industrious, journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, × sacrifice, serve, set, shew, × sin, spend, × surely, take, × thoroughly, trim, × very, vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
vb — do
עָשָׂה 2622 vb. do, make
Qal 2524
I.
1. do (1560 t.)
2. deal with
3. oft. in phr. do kindness with
4. abs. act, act with effect
II.
1. make (670 t.)
2. produce, yield
3. prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food
4. make offering
5. attend to, put in order
6. observe, celebrate, religious festival
7. acquire property of various kinds
8. appoint priests
9. bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance
10. use
11. spend, pass, days of life
Niph. 97
1. be done
2.
a. be made, of concr. things
b. be produced from vine
c. be prepared, of food
d. be offered
e. be observed, passover
f. be used
Pu. I was made
vb — press
[עָשָׂה] vb. Pi. press, squeeze
H6666
n-f — rightness, rectitude, justice, virtue, prosperity
Derivation: from 6663;
rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue) or figuratively (prosperity)
KJV: justice, moderately, right(-eous) (act, -ly, -ness).
n.f — righteousness
צְדָקָה 157 n.f. righteousness
1. righteousness, in government
2. God's attribute as sovereign
3. righteousness, in a case or cause
4. righteousness = truthfulness
5. righteousness, as ethically right
6. righteousness as vindicated, justification, salvation, etc.
7. pl. righteous acts
H4941
n-m — verdict, sentence, law, justice, right, privilege, style
Derivation: from 8199;
properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, individual or collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty; abstractly, justice, including a participant's right or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style
KJV: adversary, ceremony, charge, × crime, custom, desert, determination, discretion, disposing, due, fashion, form, to be judged, judgment, just(-ice, -ly), (manner of) law(-ful), manner, measure, (due) order, ordinance, right, sentence, usest, × worthy, wrong.
n.m — judgment
מִשְׁפָּט 422 n.m. judgment
1. judgment
2. justice, right, rectitude
3. ordinance
4. decision
5. one's (legal) right, privilege, due
6.
a. proper, fitting, measure
b. custom, manner
c. what manner of
d. plan
H977
v — try, select
Derivation: a primitive root;
properly, to try, i.e. (by implication) select
KJV: acceptable, appoint, choose (choice), excellent, join, be rather, require.
vb — choose
בָּחַר vb. choose
Qal
1. with בְּ,
a. divine choice
b. man’s choice
2. with אֲשֶׁר:
a. divine choice
b. man’s choice
3. with acc. & לְ, choose some one or something for
4. with acc. and מִן, choose, select from
5. acc.
a. divine choice
b. man’s choice
6. with עַל, for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction
7. with לְ of acc. chosen
8. test, try
Niph. to be chosen
Pu. chosen, selected
H3068
n-pr — Existent, Jeho-vah
Derivation: from 1961;
(the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God
KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
n.pr.dei — God
יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)
I. יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb
II.
1. יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D
2. the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy
3. יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh
H2077
n-m — slaughter, flesh, sacrifice
Derivation: from 2076;
properly, a slaughter, i.e. the flesh of an animal; by implication, a sacrifice (the victim or the act)
KJV: offer(-ing), sacrifice.
n.m — sacrifice
זֶ֫בַח 162 n.m. sacrifice
I. general name for all sacrifices eaten at feasts
1. of the God of Israel
2. of other deities
II. there are several kinds which are gradually distinguished
1. the covenant sacrifice, between Jacob and Laban
2. the passover
3. annual sacrifice
4. thank offering
5. in ritual of H & P
6. the slaughter of hostile nations
7. the verb used
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Verse 3
Proverbs 21:3
Here, 1. It is implied that many deceive themselves with a conceit that, if they offer sacrifice, that will excuse them from doing justice, and procure them a dispensation for their unrighteousness; and this makes their way seem right, Pro 21:2. We have fasted, Isa 58:3. I have peace-offerings with me, Pro 7:14. 2. It is plainly declared that living a good life (doing justly and loving mercy) is more pleasing to God than the most pompous and expensive instances of devotion. Sacrifices were of divine institution, and were acceptable to God if they were offered in faith and with repentance, otherwise not, Isa 1:11, etc. But even then moral duties were preferred before them (Sa1 15:22), which intimates that their excellency was not innate nor the obligation to them perpetual, Mic 6:6-8. Much of religion lies in doing judgment and justice from a principle of duty to God, contempt of the world, and love to our neighbour; and this is more pleasing to God than all burnt-offerings and sacrifices, Mar 12:33.
Cross-references: Prov 21:2 · Isa 58:3 · Prov 7:14 · Isa 1:11 · 1Sam 15:22 · Mic 6:6 · Mark 12:33