Proverbs 23:13

23:12-16 Here is a parent instructing his child to give his mind to the Scriptures. Here is a parent correcting his child: accompanied with prayer, and blessed of God, it may prove a means of preventing his destruction. Here is a parent encouraging his child, telling him what would be for his good. And what a comfort it would be, if herein he answered his expectation! 17,18. The believer's expectation shall not be disappointed; the end of his trials, and of the sinner's prosperity, is at hand.

Withhold not correction from the child,.... When he has committed a fault, and correction is necessary; for to spare it is the ruin of the child, and no proof of true affection in the parent, but the reverse; see Proverbs 13:24 ; for, if thou beatest him with a rod, he shall not die; if he be beaten moderately, there is no danger of his dying under the rod, or with the stripes given him; besides, such moderate and proper corrections may be a means of preserving him from such crimes as would bring him to a shameful and untimely death, and so he shall not die such a death; and by such means, through the grace of God, he may escape the second, or eternal death.

13 . if thou beatest him ] Or, though , R.V. marg., meaning thou needest not to be afraid that corporal punishment will result in death. It is better, however, to understand death here as the consequence of the sin, into which, if allowed to go uncorrected, he will fall. See Proverbs 19:18 note. This view is borne out by the next verse here. Proverbs 23:15-35 . The style of composition changes from separate proverbs or wise maxims to a continuous address, not unlike chaps. 1–9 in character.

Verse 13. - An injunction to the tutor or parent (comp. Proverbs 13:24 ; Proverbs 19:18 ; Proverbs 22:15 ; Proverbs 29:17 ). For if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. This has been understood in various senses; e.g. "Though than scourge him, that correction will not kill him; .... If thou chastise him, thou wilt save him from the doom of the rebellious son" ( Deuteronomy 21:18-21 ); or, "He shall not die eternally," which rather anticipates the conclusion in the next verse. The expression merely means - Do not be weak, thinking that you will injure your child by judicious correction, and in this fear withholding your hand; but punish him firmly when necessary, and, far from harming him, you will be doing him the greatest good. Proverbs 23:13

13 Withhold not correction from the child; For thou will beat him with the rod, and he will not die. 14 Thou beatest him with the rod, And with it deliverest his soul from hell. The exhortation, 13a, presupposes that education by word and deed is a duty devolving on the father and the teacher with regard to the child. In 13b, כּי is in any case the relative conjunction. The conclusion does not mean: so will he not fall under death (destruction), as Luther also would have it, after Deuteronomy 19:21, for this thought certainly follows Proverbs 23:14; nor after Proverbs 19:18 : so may the stroke not be one whereof he dies, for then the author ought to have written אל־תּמיתנּוּ; but: he will not die of it, i.e., only strike if he has deserved it, thou needest not fear; the bitter medicine will be beneficial to him, not deadly. The אתּה standing before the double clause, Proverbs 23:14, means that he who administers corporal chastisement to the child, saves him spiritually; for שׁאול does not refer to death in general, but to death falling upon a man before his time, and in his sins, vid., Proverbs 15:24, cf. Proverbs 8:26.

Spoiling is a very expressive word, and sadly full of meaning. Now it is the shortest way to spoil children to let them have their own way,--to allow them to do wrong and not to punish them for it. Believe me, you must not do it, whatever pain it may cost you unless you wish to ruin your children's souls. You cannot say that Scripture does not speak expressly on this subject: "He that spareth his rod, hateth his son; but he that loveth him, chasteneth him betimes" (Proverbs 13:24). "Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying" (Proverbs 19:18). "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child: but the rod of correction shall drive it from him" (Proverbs 22:15). "Withhold not correction from the child, for if thou beatest him with the rod he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and deliver his soul from hell" (Proverbs 23:13-14). "The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame." "Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest, yea, he shall give delight to thy soul" (Proverbs 29:15-17).

depart from evil.] [Chapter 23] Withhold not correction from the child; for [if] thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die: thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from Sheol. My son, if thy heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine; and my reins shall exult, when thy lips speak right things. Let not thy heart envy sinners, but [be thou] in the fear of Jehovah all the day; for surely there is a result, and thine expectation shall not be cut off. Thou, my son, hear and be wise, and direct thy heart in the way. Be not among winebibbers, among riotous eaters of flesh. For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty; and drowsiness clotheth with rags. Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old. Buy the truth, and sell it not; wisdom, and instruction, and intelligence. The father of a righteous [man] shall greatly rejoice, and he that begetteth a wise [son] shall have joy of him: let thy father and thy mother have joy, and let her that bore thee rejoice. My son, give me thy heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways. For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit. She also lieth in wait as a robber, and increaseth the treacherous among men. Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who contentions? Who complaining? Who wounds without cause? Who redness of eyes? -- They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to try mixed wine. Look not upon the wine when it is red, when it sparkleth in the cup, and goeth down smoothly: