Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive 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.
- BSB Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives 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 that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
- Prov 29:15The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
- Prov 19:18Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
- Prov 23:13–14Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
- Heb 12:10–11For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
- Prov 29:17Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.
- Eph 2:3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
- Ps 51:5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
- John 3:6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
- Job 14:4Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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.