Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.
Parents are commanded to discipline their sons rather than leave them to themselves, and faithful discipline will bring the parents freedom from anxious distress and joyful hope for the child's future. Correction means instructing, chastening and using the rod and reproof with needful firmness, requiring prompt obedience and complete subjection to parental authority. It must begin early while there is hope and be carried on with a calm, self-controlled spirit by a word spoken once in kindness, so that children obey from love and respect rather than from fear of angry punishment. A well-trained and obedient child gives rest, peace and deep inward delight, while blind fondness that refuses to check faults lets evil grow unchecked and brings shame, sorrow and ruin to child and parents.
Words and Setting
It is a proverb of Solomon, belonging to chapters 25 to 29 copied out of Solomon's writings by men appointed by Hezekiah. It stands at the close of Solomon's instruction on child discipline. Soul here denotes the mind, the rational soul as the seat of the passions, emotions and affections of a rational being such as love, joy, fear, sorrow, hope, hatred, revenge and contempt, so that delight unto the soul is delight experienced in that inner seat of feeling. Rest is freedom from the distressing anxieties and bitter tears caused by a child's waywardness, inconsistency and rebellion, and delight is joyful anticipation of the happy future prospects of the child for whose well-being the parent feels largely responsible, a rest so desirable that no pains should be spared to obtain it by faithful correction.
Duty to Correct Faithfully
The verse commands parents to correct, govern and discipline their sons, and requires obedience and perfect subjection to parental will. Faithfully discharging that duty by requiring obedience is required, and neglecting to govern children into obedience and bring them to yield it is a departure from the word of God that leaves parents responsible. Correction is instruction, chastening, and the rod and reproof used with needful severity, not leaving the child to himself.
Correction must be done early, while there is hope and while children are young, before they enter manhood or womanhood and before bad habits become fixed. Parents must subdue and govern their children while they are young, because if correction waits until habits are fixed discipline will become impossible. It must be done with a self-controlled spirit, never in a fit of anger, by firm, steady and consistent rule by the parent's word. Obedience is to be required to the first command, spoken once in a kind, gentle tone, so children are governed by love and respect for the word rather than by fear of punishment and angry scolding.
Steady, effective discipline from the beginning includes restraining a baby's angry behavior without hurting him, calmly refusing what he must not have, and teaching obedience through quiet signals. Consistent correction from the beginning prevents later trouble, while reforming strong evil tendencies may require thorough work. The command to correct belongs to the parent-child relation, not to the master-servant relation, since no text requires or authorizes masters to punish servants. Beating a servant is therefore without lawful authority and always unlawful.
Rest and Delight Promised
Faithful correction, instruction, chastening and training, including the rod and reproof used without sparing, produce a well-trained, wise and obedient child. Such a corrected son gives his father and mother rest, peace, joy and delight to the soul, and deep satisfaction. This is the result of faithfully discharging parental duty by governing the child into perfect subjection and requiring obedience to parental will. It stands in contrast to shame, sorrow and heaviness, which come when the child is left to himself. Neglect to govern children into obedience is a departure from the word of God that leaves parents responsible for the outcome.
Consistent and timely correction and restraint lead to peace for the parents and delight to their hearts by helping the child form the habit of obedience. This prevents the trouble that follows when children are left to govern themselves. Children must be subdued and governed while they are young, before bad habits become fixed, after which discipline becomes impossible. Faithful parental government is pleasanter and more creditable than letting children govern their parents.
Blind fondness that will not check, thwart or punish faults lets the evil already in the child's heart spring up unchecked. Refusing to punish from mistaken love brings the child to ruin. It also brings grief and shame upon the parents, and brings the mother in particular to poverty, cruelty, shame and sorrow. A child left to himself and uncorrected grows obstinate and self-willed. He falls with bad companions into sin and folly and self-indulgence, wastes money, plunders and steals, and grows hardened, reckless, violent and cruel.
Parents are commanded to discipline their sons rather than leave them to themselves, and faithful discipline will bring the parents freedom from anxious distress and joyful hope for the child's future. Correction means instructing, chastening and using the rod and reproof with needful firmness, requiring prompt obedience and complete subjection to parental authority. It must begin early while there is hope and be carried on with a calm, self-controlled spirit by a word spoken once in kindness, so that children obey from love and respect rather than from fear of angry punishment. A well-trained and obedient child gives rest, peace and deep inward delight, while blind fondness that refuses to check faults lets evil grow unchecked and brings shame, sorrow and ruin to child and parents.
Words and Setting
It is a proverb of Solomon, belonging to chapters 25 to 29 copied out of Solomon's writings by men appointed by Hezekiah. It stands at the close of Solomon's instruction on child discipline. Soul here denotes the mind, the rational soul as the seat of the passions, emotions and affections of a rational being such as love, joy, fear, sorrow, hope, hatred, revenge and contempt, so that delight unto the soul is delight experienced in that inner seat of feeling. Rest is freedom from the distressing anxieties and bitter tears caused by a child's waywardness, inconsistency and rebellion, and delight is joyful anticipation of the happy future prospects of the child for whose well-being the parent feels largely responsible, a rest so desirable that no pains should be spared to obtain it by faithful correction.
Duty to Correct Faithfully
The verse commands parents to correct, govern and discipline their sons, and requires obedience and perfect subjection to parental will. Faithfully discharging that duty by requiring obedience is required, and neglecting to govern children into obedience and bring them to yield it is a departure from the word of God that leaves parents responsible. Correction is instruction, chastening, and the rod and reproof used with needful severity, not leaving the child to himself.
Correction must be done early, while there is hope and while children are young, before they enter manhood or womanhood and before bad habits become fixed. Parents must subdue and govern their children while they are young, because if correction waits until habits are fixed discipline will become impossible. It must be done with a self-controlled spirit, never in a fit of anger, by firm, steady and consistent rule by the parent's word. Obedience is to be required to the first command, spoken once in a kind, gentle tone, so children are governed by love and respect for the word rather than by fear of punishment and angry scolding.
Steady, effective discipline from the beginning includes restraining a baby's angry behavior without hurting him, calmly refusing what he must not have, and teaching obedience through quiet signals. Consistent correction from the beginning prevents later trouble, while reforming strong evil tendencies may require thorough work. The command to correct belongs to the parent-child relation, not to the master-servant relation, since no text requires or authorizes masters to punish servants. Beating a servant is therefore without lawful authority and always unlawful.
Rest and Delight Promised
Faithful correction, instruction, chastening and training, including the rod and reproof used without sparing, produce a well-trained, wise and obedient child. Such a corrected son gives his father and mother rest, peace, joy and delight to the soul, and deep satisfaction. This is the result of faithfully discharging parental duty by governing the child into perfect subjection and requiring obedience to parental will. It stands in contrast to shame, sorrow and heaviness, which come when the child is left to himself. Neglect to govern children into obedience is a departure from the word of God that leaves parents responsible for the outcome.
Consistent and timely correction and restraint lead to peace for the parents and delight to their hearts by helping the child form the habit of obedience. This prevents the trouble that follows when children are left to govern themselves. Children must be subdued and governed while they are young, before bad habits become fixed, after which discipline becomes impossible. Faithful parental government is pleasanter and more creditable than letting children govern their parents.
Blind fondness that will not check, thwart or punish faults lets the evil already in the child's heart spring up unchecked. Refusing to punish from mistaken love brings the child to ruin. It also brings grief and shame upon the parents, and brings the mother in particular to poverty, cruelty, shame and sorrow. A child left to himself and uncorrected grows obstinate and self-willed. He falls with bad companions into sin and folly and self-indulgence, wastes money, plunders and steals, and grows hardened, reckless, violent and cruel.