¶Do not withhold discipline from a child; Though you strike him with the rod, he will not die.
Parallel translations
- WEB Don’t withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
- KJV Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
- BSB Do not withhold discipline from a child; although you strike him with a rod, he will not die.
- NKJV Do not withhold correction from a child, For if you beat him with a rod, he will not die.
- NLT Don’t fail to discipline your children. The rod of punishment won’t kill them.
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
Do not neglect to discipline a child; loving correction does not destroy but protects.
Overview
Proverbs presents corrective discipline as an act of parental love, not cruelty, aimed at the child's good. "He will not die" assures that wise, measured correction protects rather than harms. This anticipates the New Testament teaching that the Lord disciplines those He loves for their lasting benefit (Heb. 12:6, 11). The proper form and limits of such discipline are matters faithful Christians apply with care and gentleness.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Prov 13:24One who spares the rod hates his son, but one who loves him is careful to discipline him.
- Prov 29:15The rod of correction gives wisdom, but a child left to himself causes shame to his mother.
- Prov 19:18Discipline your son, for there is hope; don’t be a willing party to his death.
- Prov 29:17Correct your son, and he will give you peace; yes, he will bring delight to your soul.
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 23:13 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
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