Proverbs 29:19

A servant ¹  cannot be corrected ²  by words, for although ³  he understands, there is no answer. ⁴ 

A servant cannot be corrected by mere words; though he understands, he will not respond.

A slave will not be instructed by words alone; For though he understands, there will be no response.

For a servant, mere words are not enough––discipline is needed. For the words may be understood, but they are not heeded.

It takes more than talk to keep workers in line; mere words go in one ear and out the other.

A servant will not be trained by words; for though the sense of the words is clear to him, he will not give attention.

By mere words servants are not disciplined, for though they understand, they will not give heed.

A servant will not be corrected by mere words; For though he understands, he will not respond.

A servant ¹  cannot be corrected ²  by words, for although ³  he understands, there is no answer. ⁴ 

¹ sn Servants could not be corrected by mere words; they had to be treated like children for they were frequently unresponsive. This, of course, would apply to certain kinds of servants. The Greek version translated this as “a stubborn servant.”

² tn The Niphal imperfect here is best rendered as a potential imperfect – “cannot be corrected.” The second line of the verse clarifies that even though the servant understands the words, he does not respond. It will take more.

³ tn Heb “for he understands, but there is no answer.” The concessive idea (“although”) is taken from the juxtaposition of the two parts.

⁴ sn To say “there is no answer” means that this servant does not obey – he has to be trained in a different way.