For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
Parallel translations
- WEB for whom Yahweh loves, he reproves; even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.
- BSB for the LORD disciplines the one He loves, as does a father the son in whom he delights.
- 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 8:5Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.
- Rev 3:19As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
- Prov 29:17Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.
- Prov 13:24He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
- Ps 103:13Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
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 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.