21:27

In this proverb, the second line intensifies the meaning of the first line.

27a The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—

27b how much more so when brought with ill intent!

The overall meaning is that the LORD detests the sacrifices that wicked people offer to him. He especially hates it when they offer their sacrifices with evil plans in mind.

This is the last example in Proverbs of lesser to greater reasoning. For other examples, see 11:31.

21:27a

The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable: In Hebrew, this clause is identical to 15:8a, except that 15:8a specifies that the sacrifice is detestable to the LORD. The same meaning is implied here. For example:

The Lord hates it when wicked people offer him sacrifices (Good News Translation)

21:27b

how much more so when brought with ill intent: It is especially disgusting to the LORD when wicked people have wrong motives or evil plans in offering their sacrifices.

ill intent: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as ill intent “usually refers to evil plans or schemes.” Here it may indicate that the wicked person plans to accomplish something harmful by hypocritically offering the sacrifice. It may also mean that he offers the sacrifice with wrong motives, perhaps to impress others. The verse does not specify what his evil plans or motives are.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

particularly when they offer them for the wrong reasons (New Century Version)
-or-
especially if they do it from evil motives (Good News Translation)

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