Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
Parallel translations
- WEB Folly is bound up in the heart of a child: the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
- KJV Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
- NKJV Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him.
- NASB Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline will remove it far from him.
- NLT A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness, but physical discipline will drive it far away.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Folly is bound up in a child's heart, but loving discipline drives it out. It matters because children need correction to grow in wisdom.
Overview
Children are naturally inclined toward foolishness, and wise, measured discipline helps remove it (Proverbs 13:24; 29:15). The 'rod' represents firm, corrective training rather than harshness. Loving discipline reflects God's own fatherly correction of those he loves for their good (Hebrews 12:6-11).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Prov 13:24He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.
- Prov 29:15A rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.
- Prov 19:18Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be party to his death.
- Prov 23:13–14Do not withhold discipline from a child; although you strike him with a rod, he will not die.
- Heb 12:10–11Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness.
- Prov 29:17Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will bring delight to your soul.
- Eph 2:3All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath.
- Ps 51:5Surely I was brought forth in iniquity; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.
- John 3:6Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit.
- Job 14:4Who can bring out clean from unclean? No one!
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 22:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.