A rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.
Parallel translations
- WEB The rod of correction gives wisdom, but a child left to himself causes shame to his mother.
- KJV The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
- NKJV The rod and rebuke give wisdom, But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.
- NASB The rod and a rebuke give wisdom, But a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother.
- NLT To discipline a child produces wisdom, but a mother is disgraced by an undisciplined child.
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
Loving discipline imparts wisdom, but an uncorrected child brings shame. It commends godly correction as essential to raising wise children.
Overview
The proverb teaches that the rod of correction produces wisdom, while a child left undisciplined disgraces his mother. Loving, consistent discipline is part of faithful parenting. This reflects how the Lord lovingly disciplines His children for their good, that they may share His holiness (Hebrews 12:10-11).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Prov 10:1The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.
- Prov 17:25A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.
- Prov 29:17Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will bring delight to your soul.
- Prov 22:15Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
- Prov 13:24He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.
- Prov 22:6Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
- Prov 17:21A man fathers a fool to his own grief; the father of a fool has no joy.
- 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 10:5He who gathers in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.
- 1 Kgs 1:6(His father had never once reprimanded him by saying, “Why do you act this way?” Adonijah was also very handsome, born next after Absalom.)
- Prov 29:21A servant pampered from his youth will bring grief in the end.
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 29:15 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.