Proverbs 3:11
in Proverbs 3My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, and do not loathe His rebuke;
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
My son, despise not the chastening of Jehovah; Neither be weary of his reproof:
KJV
My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:
⋯
This verse in Proverbs 3
Commentary
8 notes on this verseAnd He uses the bitter and biting language of reproof in His consolations by Solomon, tacitly alluding to the love for children that characterizes His instruction: "My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord; nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him: for whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth;" "For a man who is a sinner escapes reproof." Consequently, therefore, the Scripture says, "Let the righteous reprove and correct me; but let not the oil of the sinner anoint my head."
This site's exposition
My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD
on Proverbs 3:11-12
“My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD” is quoted in Hebrews 12:5-6, where the correction is read as proof of sonship. The line “the LORD disciplines the one He loves, as does a father the son in whom he delights” grounds discipline in love.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
A commentator
Desert FathersThe Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks · Written before 500.
proposed
[Syncletica] also said, 'When the devil does not use the goad of poverty to tempt us, he uses wealth for the same purpose. When he cannot win by scorn and mockery, he tries praise and flattery. If he cannot win by giving health, he tries …
The Medieval Church1 voice
My son, do not despise the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary of his correction, etc. There are those who serve the Lord in prosperity, but go astray in adversity. Thus, wisdom teaches those who live well in prosperity, also to exhort them not …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord,.... This seems to be introduced to prevent an objection that may be made to the above promise of plenty; seeing the children of God are often afflicted in this world; even the wise and pious, and those that fear the Lord, and honour him; which is accounted for, and the reason of it given, in Pro 3:
Thus God hath said, As many as I love I rebuke and chasten, Rev. iii. This is a great comfort to God's children, under their afflictions, [1.] That they not only consist with, but flow from, covenant-love. [2.] That they are so far from doing them any real hurt that, by the grace of God working with them, they do a great deal of good, and are happy means of their satisfaction.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Despise ... be weary - The temper is not that of contempt. To struggle impatiently, to fret and chafe, when suffering comes on us, is the danger to which we are exposed when we do not accept it as from the hands of God. Compare Jon 4:9; Job 5:17.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Despise not the chastening of the Lord - The word מוסר musar signifies correction, discipline, and instruction. Teaching is essentially necessary to show the man the way in which he is to go; discipline is necessary to render that teaching effectual; and, often, correction is requisite in order to bring the mind into submission, without which it cannot acquire knowledge. Do not therefore reject this procedure of God; humble thyself under his mighty hand, and open thy eyes to thy own interest; and then thou wilt learn specially and effectually. It is of no use to rebel; if thou do, thou kickest against the pricks, and every act of rebellion against him is a wound to thine own soul. God will either end thee or mend thee; wilt thou then kick on?
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
My son, despise not the discipline of the Lord Should pains come upon you, they should be dear to you.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
as a father placates his son He desires to benefit his son and he placates him after striking him with the staff. So will the benefit be pleasant to you after the smiting.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 3 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
8 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| מוּסַ֣ר | musar | [the] discipline of | H4148 → | 50 times |
| יְ֭הוָה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| בְּנִ֣י | beni | O son my | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| אַל־ | ʾal- | may not | H408 → | 724 times |
| תִּמְאָ֑ס | timas | you reject | H3988 → | |
| וְאַל־ | veal- | and may not | H408 → | 724 times |
| תָּ֝קֹ֗ץ | takotz | you loath | H6973 → | |
| בְּתוֹכַחְתּֽוֹ׃ | betokhachto | <in> rebuke his | H8433 → | 28 times |
מוּסַ֣ר[the] discipline of
musarH4148 →50 times
יְ֭הוָהYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
בְּנִ֣יO son my
beniH1121 →4930 times
אַל־may not
ʾal-H408 →724 times
תִּמְאָ֑סyou reject
timasH3988 →
וְאַל־and may not
veal-H408 →724 times
תָּ֝קֹ֗ץyou loath
takotzH6973 →
בְּתוֹכַחְתּֽוֹ׃<in> rebuke his
betokhachtoH8433 →28 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Revelation 3:19Those I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent.
it leads to
- Proverbs 3:11–12
My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, and do not loathe His rebuke;
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- 1 Corinthians 11:32
But when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Hebrews 12:5–11
And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Job 5:17
Blessed indeed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 3:11–12
Through
Job 5:17Blessed indeed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
it leads to
- Revelation 3:19
Those I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
- Psalms 94:12
Blessed is the man You discipline, O LORD, and teach from Your law,
- James 5:11
See how blessed we consider those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen the outcome from the Lord. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
- Revelation 3:19
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies5
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor Book 1; Desert Fathers, The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Proverbs of Solomon; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.