To discipline a child produces wisdom, but a mother is disgraced by an undisciplined child.
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.
- BSB A rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.
- 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.
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 makes a glad father; but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.
- Prov 17:25A foolish son brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.
- Prov 29:17Correct your son, and he will give you peace; yes, he will bring delight to your soul.
- Prov 22:15Folly is bound up in the heart of a child: the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
- Prov 13:24One who spares the rod hates his son, but one who loves him is careful to discipline him.
- Prov 22:6Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
- Prov 17:21He who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy.
- Prov 23:13–14Don’t withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
- Heb 12:10–11For they indeed, for a few days, punished us as seemed good to them; but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness.
- Prov 10:5He who gathers in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during the harvest is a son who causes shame.
- 1 Kgs 1:6His father had not displeased him at any time in saying, “Why have you done so?” and he was also a very handsome man; and he was born after Absalom.
- Prov 29:21He who pampers his servant from youth will have him become a son in the end.
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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.