Proverbs 13:24

The one who spares his rod ¹  hates ²  his child, ³  but the one who loves his child ⁴  is diligent ⁵  in disciplining ⁶  him.

Pr 3:12; Pr 8:36; Pr 19:18; Pr 22:15; Pr 23:13,14; Pr 29:15,17; Lu 14:26; Heb 12:6-8

¹ sn R. N. Whybray cites an Egyptian proverb that says that “boys have their ears on their backsides; they listen when they are beaten” (Proverbs [CBC], 80). Cf. Prov 4:3-4, 10-11; Eph 6:4; Heb 12:5-11.

² sn The importance of parental disciplining is stressed by the verbs “hate” and “love.” “Hating” a child in this sense means in essence abandoning or rejecting him; “loving” a child means embracing and caring for him. Failure to discipline a child is tantamount to hating him – not caring about his character.

³ tn Heb “his son.”

⁴ tn Heb “him”; the referent (his child) is specified in the translation for clarity.

⁵ tn Heb “seeks him.” The verb שָׁחַר (shahar, “to be diligent; to do something early”; BDB 1007 s.v.) could mean “to be diligent to discipline,” or “to be early or prompt in disciplining.” See G. R. Driver, “Hebrew Notes on Prophets and Proverbs,” JTS 41 (1940): 170.

⁶ tn The noun מוּסָר (musar, “discipline”) functions as an adverbial accusative of reference: “he is diligent in reference to discipline.”