for the LORD disciplines the one He loves, as does a father the son in whom he delights.
Parallel translations
- WEB for whom Yahweh loves, he reproves; even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.
- KJV For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
- NKJV For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.
- NASB For whom the Lord loves He disciplines, Just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.
- NLT For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.
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
The Lord reproves those He loves, as a father corrects a cherished son. It matters because God's discipline is an expression of fatherly love.
Overview
This verse gives the reason for verse 11: God disciplines because He loves, like a devoted father. Far from contradicting His love, correction proves it. Quoted in Hebrews 12:6, it assures believers that hardship under God is the loving training of His adopted children in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Deut 8:5So know in your heart that just as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you.
- Rev 3:19Those I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent.
- Prov 29:17Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will bring delight to your soul.
- Prov 13:24He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.
- Ps 103:13As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
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 3:12 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.