Proverbs 21:3 kjv
To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Proverbs 21:3 nkjv
To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Proverbs 21:3 niv
To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Proverbs 21:3 esv
To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Proverbs 21:3 nlt
The LORD is more pleased when we do what is right and just
than when we offer him sacrifices.
Proverbs 21 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 15:22 | And Samuel said, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice...” | Obedience over sacrifice |
| Ps 40:6 | In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear... | God desires listening obedience |
| Ps 50:8-14 | Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you; your burnt offerings are continually before me… The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me... | God owns all; desires gratitude & obedience |
| Ps 51:16-17 | For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit... | Inner repentance valued above ritual |
| Prov 15:8 | The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him. | Wicked sacrifices detestable |
| Isa 1:11-17 | “What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?” says the LORD... Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression... | Call to social justice over ritualism |
| Jer 7:22-23 | For when I brought your fathers out of the land of Egypt, I did not speak to them or command them concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices. But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice’... | Obedience was primary command |
| Hos 6:6 | For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. | Steadfast love and knowledge of God over ritual |
| Amos 5:21-24 | “I hate, I despise your feasts… Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice roll down like waters...” | Rejecting ritual without justice |
| Mic 6:6-8 | “With what shall I come before the LORD… Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams?” He has told you, O man, what is good: and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? | Divine requirement: justice, kindness, humility |
| Matt 5:23-24 | So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. | Reconciliation before worship |
| Matt 9:13 | Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners. | Jesus quotes Hos 6:6, emphasizing mercy |
| Matt 12:7 | And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. | Jesus applies Hosea to Sabbath keeping |
| Matt 23:23 | Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness... | Weightier matters: justice, mercy, faithfulness |
| Luke 11:42 | “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.” | Emphasizing justice and love of God |
| Heb 10:4-10 | For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins… Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired… Here I am, I have come to do your will, O God.” | Christ's perfect obedience replaces sacrifices |
| Jas 1:27 | Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. | True religion is active care for vulnerable |
| 1 John 3:18 | Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. | Love shown through action |
| Prov 21:7 | The violence of the wicked will sweep them away, because they refuse to do what is just. | Contrast with failure to do justice |
| Deut 10:12 | “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul…” | Call to live out covenant love |
Proverbs 21 verses
Proverbs 21 3 Meaning
Proverbs 21:3 conveys that active engagement in righteousness and justice is fundamentally more pleasing and acceptable to the Lord than merely offering sacrifices. It prioritizes ethical and moral conduct that aligns with God's character above religious ritual performed without genuine transformation or obedience.
Proverbs 21 3 Context
Proverbs is a book of wisdom, largely composed of didactic sayings that impart moral, ethical, and practical instruction. Chapter 21, like many in the collection, contains disconnected two-line proverbs, offering concise observations on human character and the consequences of actions, often contrasting the righteous and the wicked. This particular verse reflects a profound theme prevalent throughout the prophetic literature of the Old Testament: God's ultimate concern for the ethical character of His people and their conduct in society, rather than mere outward ritualistic performance. While animal sacrifice was an institution established by God for atonement and fellowship, this proverb, echoing the prophets, critiques the hollow observance that lacked sincerity, justice, and righteousness. It asserts that God values obedience and moral action flowing from the heart more highly than religious rituals done for their own sake, or as a substitute for true devotion.
Proverbs 21 3 Word analysis
- To do (`ʻāśāh`, Hebrew: עָשָׂה): Implies active performance and deliberate execution. It signifies more than simply knowing or agreeing with something; it demands the carrying out of an action. The emphasis is on tangible application and embodiment.
- Righteousness (`tseḏāqâ`, Hebrew: צְדָקָה): Refers to conformity to God's moral standard, rectitude in action, and integrity in character. It is often understood as acting justly in relationships with both God and others, being in a right standing before God, and engaging in just deeds. It speaks to a life lived in accordance with divine law and truth.
- and (`wāw`, Hebrew: וְ): A simple conjunctive, joining "righteousness" and "justice." This indicates that these two concepts are intimately connected and often inseparable in biblical thought, forming a composite understanding of upright conduct.
- justice (`mišpāṭ`, Hebrew: מִשְׁפָּט): Signifies proper judgment, equitable dealing, and fair treatment, particularly for the vulnerable. It encompasses the administration of law, establishing what is right, and ensuring social equity. It's often used in parallel with `tseḏāqâ` to denote comprehensive moral and social rectitude.
- is more acceptable (`nibḥar`, Hebrew: נִבְחָר): The Niphal passive participle of `bāḥar` (to choose, elect, prefer). This word denotes something chosen, excellent, or preferred. The passive voice implies that this preference comes from God Himself. It conveys divine delight and approval, signaling superior value in God's eyes.
- to the Lord (`YHWH`, Hebrew: לַיהוָה): Refers to Yahweh, the covenant name of God, revealing Him as the personal, sovereign God of Israel. This specifies that the standard of acceptability is divine, not human. It underscores that God Himself evaluates human actions and preferences.
- than (`mīn`, Hebrew: מִן): A comparative preposition, indicating distinction and preference for what precedes it over what follows. It sets up a clear contrast, showing that `tseḏāqâ` and `mišpāṭ` hold a higher place of favor.
- sacrifice (`zeḇaḥ`, Hebrew: זֶבַח): Generally refers to various animal offerings and oblations presented to God in the Israelite cultic system, often implying a communion sacrifice. Here, it represents ritual worship and ceremonial observance. The verse highlights that mere ritual, without accompanying ethical living, falls short of God's primary desire.
- "To do righteousness and justice": This phrase encapsulates a life of ethical integrity and social responsibility, actively embodying God's character in daily interactions and upholding equitable standards within community. It speaks of a commitment to living in truth and fairness.
- "is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice": This comparative statement sets up a direct value judgment from God's perspective. It does not nullify the place of sacrifice, which was divinely instituted, but critiques the common human tendency to substitute outward religious performance for genuine obedience and inward transformation. It establishes a hierarchy of divine preference, prioritizing heartfelt ethics over detached ritual.
Proverbs 21 3 Bonus section
This proverb strongly links the wisdom tradition with the prophetic tradition, both emphasizing internal righteousness and ethical conduct as paramount to pleasing God. It serves as a precursor to Jesus' teachings, particularly His repeated quoting of Hosea 6:6 ("I desire mercy, and not sacrifice," Matt 9:13, 12:7) and His critique of religious leaders who neglected "the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness" (Matt 23:23). The verse challenges a performance-based approach to faith, highlighting that God values character and consistent adherence to His moral will over formulaic observances. It underscores that true reverence for God is demonstrated not just in places of worship but in the everyday actions of life, especially in how one treats others and upholds what is right. This divine preference speaks to God's very nature as holy and just, requiring that His people reflect His character.
Proverbs 21 3 Commentary
Proverbs 21:3 concisely articulates a fundamental biblical truth: God's primary concern lies in the moral character and actions of His people, not just their religious rituals. While sacrifices were ordained by God for a specific purpose within the Old Covenant, they were never intended as a substitute for obedience or as a means to circumvent ethical responsibilities. The verse, reflecting prophetic critiques (e.g., Isa 1:11-17, Jer 7:21-23, Hos 6:6, Mic 6:6-8), declares that a life committed to actively doing what is right (tseḏāqâ) and ensuring fair treatment (mišpāṭ) in society is deemed by God to be of greater worth and receives His deeper pleasure than the mere offering of an animal. This teaches that true worship involves living justly and ethically, manifesting God's own righteousness in one's conduct and relationships.
This proverb reminds believers today that outward expressions of faith, such as attending church services, performing religious duties, or giving offerings, are valued only when they flow from a heart committed to obedience, justice, and compassion. For instance:
- A person who regularly attends religious services but acts unfairly in business dealings.
- Someone who generously tithes but neglects the needs of the poor and vulnerable.
- A leader who leads prayers but uses power to oppress.In each case, the outward "sacrifice" is diminished in God's eyes if it is disconnected from genuine "righteousness and justice."