Proverbs 13:24
Bible verses · Also called: Prov. 13:24, He that spareth his rod hateth his son, Spare the rod, Rod of love, Chasteneth him betimes
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He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
Scripture quotation from the King James Version (KJV). Read this chapter
Proverbs 13:24 is a proverb teaching that one who spares the rod hates his son, while one who loves him disciplines him diligently: "He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes" (KJV). The verse has often been cited in support of loving physical discipline, for example as the basis of the Korean expression "the rod of love." As social attitudes toward corporal punishment have changed, however, its interpretation and application have become a matter of ongoing debate.
Context
Proverbs 10–22 consists largely of short, independent sayings. Proverbs 13:24 likewise stands on its own as a one-line maxim about raising children rightly, with no connected narrative linking it to the surrounding verses. The same theme appears in Proverbs 19:18, 22:15, 23:13-14, and 29:15.
Interpretation
- Literal reading: This view takes the "rod" (shebet) to be an actual stick and holds that Scripture permits and encourages parents to administer physical discipline in love. Some conservative evangelical parenting movements in North America read the verse this way.
- Reading as discipline in general: Because shebet can denote not only a rod but also a shepherd's staff or a king's scepter, this view holds that the heart of the verse lies less in corporal punishment itself than in the principle that parents should not neglect a beloved child but should guide that child rightly. It connects the verse with Hebrews 12:6-11, which likens God's chastening to a father's discipline.
- Genre-sensitive reading: Because Proverbs is a collection of wisdom sayings composed within the educational practices of an ancient society, this view accepts its principle (loving parents teach and correct) while holding that the methods must be judged in light of the times.
Debates and Issues
As the view that corporal punishment constitutes child abuse has become more widespread, discussion has continued both inside and outside the church over the use of this verse to defend corporal punishment. Supporters argue that an explicit teaching of Scripture cannot be set aside merely because times have changed, while opponents point to Ephesians 6:4 ("provoke not your children to wrath") and to the way Jesus treated children. Both sides broadly agree, however, that this verse cannot be used to justify violence driven by anger.
In South Korea, the issue drew renewed attention in 2021, when the provision of the Civil Act granting parents a right to discipline their children was repealed.
Related Passages
- Proverbs 22:15
- Ephesians 6:4
- Hebrews 12:6-11
- Colossians 3:21
See also 4
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