Psalms 89:32

I will punish their rebellion by beating them with a club, ¹  their sin by inflicting them with bruises. ² 

Ex 32:34; 2Sa 7:14; 1Ki 11:6,14,31,39; Pr 3:11,12; Am 3:2; 1Co 11:31,32; Heb 12:6-11

¹ tn Heb “I will punish with a club their rebellion.”

sn Despite the harsh image of beating…with a club, the language reflects a father-son relationship (see v. 30; 2 Sam 7:14). According to Proverbs, a שֵׁבֶט (shevet, “club”) was sometimes utilized to administer corporal punishment to rebellious children (see Prov 13:24; 22:15; 23:13-14; 29:15).

² tn Heb “with blows their sin.”