Does the Bible condone beating children?
Spare the rod and spoil the child
I’m sure that many people have heard this well known saying. I must admit that until recently I myself had not. However I saw that it had been used in a “christian“ book “To train up a child” which advocates the beating of children as a punishment in order to train a child into conformity.
What I have really seen is that this well known modern day “biblical” proverb is actually used to justify any manner of corporal punishment of children by parents.
However this proverb is NOT in any way biblical. The saying is actually loosely based on the biblical proverb found in Proverbs 13
Proverbs 13-24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
It sounds pretty similar but it isn’t the same. The verse has been, like so many biblical verses are, taken on its own with no understanding of what it means, twisted and a whole new meaning is derived and then proclaimed.
This verse does NOT and I emphasize does NOT mean to beat your child with a rod or for that matter stick, club, bat, shoe, belt, strap, cooking utensil or whatever else you can get your hands on that would cause pain as a form of punishment. This is called physical abuse NOT child punishment. Imagine if you went to work today and did something wrong…we all do it…what if your boss beat you with a stick for doing so….I doubt you would allow that. Or what if you were speeding (come on we all know you have) …what if the police officer who pulled you over rather than giving you a fine simply beat you with his truncheon. Not too many people going to think thats OK. And neither is beating your children…it’s that simple.
REAL MEANING
So what does this verse actually mean?
Many people see the word rod and automatically presume that this means a literal stick and therefore claim the Bible is telling us to physically punish children in order to chastise them. Not only that the Bible says if you do not then it means you HATE your children. So many parents inflict physical punishment on their children not only with the blessing of God but his command to do so….if you want to love your children obviously.
However the “rod” that is being referred to is NOT a physical rod at all.
The Hebrew word is שָׁ֫בֶט shebet and it means a ROD , club , spear, tribe or staff…..
But I just said that it wasn’t a physical staff.
The Rod is not physical. It actually has a metaphorical meaning and can mean a support or a means of correction.
Psalm 23-4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
NOT PHYSICAL
The rod here is God’s support, his correctness is what comforts. God doesn’t have a physical rod. Notice this is also different than the STAFF of God which is the hebrew word מַשְׁעֵנָה mish’enah
This rod can be used for support but also correction. But it is not physical.
We can see this in other verses where the Hebrew word is used.
Job 37- 13 He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.
The ROD of mine anger…a metaphorical rod.
Isaiah 10-5 O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.
In another verse where we have the rod of correction
Proverbs 22-15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Again it’s not a physical rod but the rod of support in correcting a child. Educating your child, providing emotional support. Guidance. I don’t think anyone will advocate punishing your child for not being smart or being foolish.
The hebrew word מוּסָר musar literally means instruction or correction.
The rod of correction is a nonliteral rod that simply means support by correction or instruction.
To spare the rod means to not correct a child with instruction, to not support the child with teachings against foolishness.
It means to spare the child from support, help,aid, correction ,education, guidance, dealing with emotional and physical needs it is by NOT doing this , sparing this rod that you hate your child …those that love their child will discipline them teach them in all these ways
The Bible does NOT condone beating children.
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