Proverbs 19:18

18 Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be party to his death.

Proverbs 19:18 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 19:18

Chasten thy son while there is hope
Of guiding and keeping him in the right way, as long as corrections are or can be hoped to be of use; while in a state of infancy, childhood, and youth; while under parental government; and before habits in sin are grown strong, and the case become desperate, and he is hardened, and proof against all instruction and discipline; and let not thy soul spare for his crying;
the noise he makes, the tears he sheds, the entreaties he uses to keep off the rod; let not a foolish pity and tenderness prevail to lay it aside on that account the consequence of which may be bad to parent and child; see ( Proverbs 13:24 ) ( Proverbs 23:13 Proverbs 23:14 ) . The Targum is,

``but unto his death do not lift up thy soul;''

or to the slaying of him ^F20, as the Vulgate Latin version; and this sense Jarchi gives into: and then the meaning is, that though parents should be careful to give due correction to their children, so long as there is hope of doing them good, yet not in a brutal and barbarous manner, to the endangering of their lives: as some parents are too indolent, mild, and gentle, as Eli was; others are too wrathful and furious and use no moderation in their corrections, but unmercifully beat their children; such extremes ought to be avoided. Gersom interprets the word of crying, as we do.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F20 (wtymh la) "ad interficiendum cum", Pagninus, Vatablus, Mercerus, Gejerus; "ad occidendum sum", Piscator, Cocceius, Tigurine version, Michaelis, Schultens, Gussetius, p. 534.

Proverbs 19:18 In-Context

16 He who keeps a commandment preserves his soul, but he who is careless in his ways will die.

17 Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.

18 Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be party to his death.

19 A man of great anger must pay the penalty; if you rescue him, you will have to do so again.

20 Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days.