Proverbs 22:15

15 Folly is bound together in the heart of a child; and a rod of chastising shall drive it away. (Foolishness is bound up in a child's heart, but the rod of discipline shall drive it away.)

Proverbs 22:15 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 22:15

Foolishness [is] bound in the heart of a child
That is, sin, the greatest of all folly; this is naturally in the heart of man; it is in the heart of a child, it is in him from his infancy; it is bound in his heart, it is rooted and riveted in him, being conceived in sin, and shapen in iniquity; it is what cleaves close to him, and he has a strong affection for and desire after: the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth, ( Genesis 8:21 ) ; so that he is not easily brought off of sin, or becomes wise; [but] the rod of correction shall drive it far from him;
the rod used by parents, for the correction of sin and folly, is a means of making children wise, and of restraining the folly that is bound up in them; and of reclaiming them from those sinful ways, which the folly of their hearts leads them to, and so in some measure of driving it far from them.

Proverbs 22:15 In-Context

13 A slow man shall say (A lazy person shall say), A lion is withoutforth; I shall be slain in the midst of the streets.

14 The mouth of an alien woman is a deep ditch; he to whom the Lord is wroth shall fall into it. (The mouth of a woman whom thou hast been intimate with, but who is not thy wife, is a deep ditch; he to whom the Lord is angry with, shall fall into it.)

15 Folly is bound together in the heart of a child; and a rod of chastising shall drive it away. (Foolishness is bound up in a child's heart, but the rod of discipline shall drive it away.)

16 He that falsely challengeth a poor man, to increase his own riches (He who oppresseth the poor, to increase his own riches), shall give to a richer man, and he shall be needy.

17 My son, bow down thine ear, and hear thou the words of wise men; but set thou the heart to my teaching. (My son, bow down thy ear, and listen thou to the words of the wise; yea, set thou thy heart unto my teaching, or my instruction.)