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.

He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.

He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.

If you refuse to discipline your children, it proves you don’t love them; if you love your children, you will be prompt to discipline them.

A refusal to correct is a refusal to love; love your children by disciplining them.

He who keeps back his rod is unkind to his son: the loving father gives punishment with care.

Those who spare the rod hate their children, but those who love them are diligent to discipline them.

He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.

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.

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.”