Mishle 19:18

18 Chasten binecha (thy son) while there is yet tikvah, and give not in to thy nefesh (desire) to kill him.

Mishle 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.

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FOOTNOTES:

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

Mishle 19:18 In-Context

16 He that is shomer over the mitzvah is shomer over his own nefesh, but he that is reckless in his drakhim shall die.

17 He that hath compassion on the dal (poor) lendeth unto Hashem; and for his benefits He will repay him.

18 Chasten binecha (thy son) while there is yet tikvah, and give not in to thy nefesh (desire) to kill him.

19 One of gadol chemah (great temper) shall bear onesh (punishment), for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.

20 Hear etzah, and accept musar, that thou mayest be wise in thy acharit (latter end, future).