Proverbs 23:13-15

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 23:12-16

Here is, 1. A parent instructing his child. He is here brought in persuading him to give his mind to his book, and especially to the scriptures and his catechism, to attend to the words of knowledge, by which he might come to know his duty, and danger, and interest, and not to think it enough to give them the hearing, but to apply his heart to them, to delight in them, and bow his will to the authority of them. The heart is then applied to the instruction when the instruction is applied to the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 23:13

Withhold not correction from the child ,.... When he has committed a fault, and correction is necessary; for to spare it is the ruin of the child, and no proof of true affection in the parent, but the reverse; see Proverbs 13:24 ; for, if thou beatest him with a rod, he shall not die ; if he be beaten moderately, there is no danger of his dying under the rod, or with the stripes given him; besides, such moderate and proper corrections may be a means of preserving him from such crimes... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 23:14

Thou shall beat him with the rod ,.... Or, correct him with the stripes of the children of men, in a moderate and suitable manner, proportionable to the fault committed; and as he is able to bear it, both as to body and mind; and shalt deliver his soul from hell ; be a means of preventing those sins which would bring to hell and destruction; and of bringing to repentance for those committed; and so of saving his soul, which should be the chief thing parents should have in view in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 23:15

My son, if thine heart be wise ,.... To that which is good; so as from it to understand in a spiritual and experimental manner things divine and heavenly; he may be said to have a wise heart who knows in some measure what his heart is, the wickedness, the original depravity and corruption, of it; the plague of his own heart; the weakness and inability of it to do that which is good; the insufficiency of his own righteousness to justify him before God; the poverty of his spirit, and the folly... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 23:14

Thou shalt beat him with the rod - A proper correction of children was a favourite point of discipline with Solomon. We have already seen how forcibly he speaks on this subject. See the notes on the places referred to in 1 Corinthians 5:5 ; (note). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:12-18

Discipline in Divine wisdom I. THE TEMPER OF DOCILITY . ( Proverbs 23:12 .) It is submission of the affections to a higher law. It is the resignation of the will to a higher leading. It is the opening of the understanding to Divine counsels. It is the realization, on the one hand, of dependence and need; on the other, of the light, the wisdom, and the goodness which ever meet that need. II. THE NECESSITY OF DISCIPLINE FOR THE YOUNG . ( Proverbs 23:13 ,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:13

An injunction to the tutor or parent (comp. Proverbs 13:24 ; Proverbs 19:18 ; Proverbs 22:15 ; Proverbs 29:17 ). For if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. This has been understood in various senses; e.g. "Though than scourge him, that correction will not kill him;… . If thou chastise him, thou wilt save him from the doom of the rebellious son" ( Deuteronomy 21:18-21 ); or, "He shall not die eternally," which rather anticipates the conclusion in the next verse. The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:13-14

(See homily on Proverbs 13:24 .)—C. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:14

Shalt deliver his soul from hell ( sheol ); de inferno, Vulgate; ἐκ θανάτου , Septuagint. Premature death was regarded as a punishment of sin, as long life was the reward of righteousness. Proper discipline preserves a youth not only from many material dangers incident to unbridled passions, but saves him from spiritual death, the decay and destruction of grace here, and the retribution that awaits the sinner in another world (comp. Ec Proverbs 30:1-12 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 23:15

The moralist now addresses the disciple, and so to the end of the chapter. If thine heart be wise ; become wise by profiting by discipline, and having its natural folly ( Proverbs 22:15 ) eradicated. My heart shall rejoice, even mine. The pronoun is repeated for the sake of emphasis (as in Proverbs 22:19 ), the speaker thus declaring his supreme interest in the moral progress of his pupil. read more

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