Proverbs 19:18

Proverbs 19:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
• New International Version (NIV)Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Chasten your son while there is hope, And do not set your heart on his destruction.

Context of Proverbs 19:18

16He who keeps and obeys the commandment [of the Lord] keeps (guards) his own life, But he who is careless of his ways and conduct will die. 17He who is gracious and lends a hand to the poor lends to the Lord, And the Lord will repay him for his good deed. Discipline and teach your son while there is hope, And do not [indulge your anger or resentment by imposing inappropriate punishment nor] desire his destruction. 19A man of great anger will bear the penalty [for his quick temper and lack of self-control]; For if you rescue him [and do not let him learn from the consequences of his action], you will only have to rescue him over and over again. 20Listen to counsel, receive instruction, and accept correction, That you may be wise in the time to come.

Proverbs 19:18 word by word

יַסֵּ֣ר בִּ֭נְךָ כִּי־יֵ֣שׁ תִּקְוָ֑ה וְאֶל־הֲ֝מִית֗וֹ אַל־תִּשָּׂ֥א נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Chastenיָסַרyâsar · to disciplineH3256
• thy sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• while there isיֵשׁyêsh · thereH3426
• hopeתִּקְוָהtiqvâh · hopeH8615
• and let not thy soulנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soulH5315
• spareנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: trustH5375
• for his cryingמוּתmûth · to dieH4191

Cross-references for Proverbs 19:18

• Proverbs 13:24He who withholds the rod [of discipline] hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines and trains him diligently and appropriately [with wisdom and love].
• Proverbs 22:15Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline [correction administered with godly wisdom and lovingkindness] will remove it far from him.
• Proverbs 23:14You shall swat him with the reed-like rod And rescue his life from Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead).
• Proverbs 29:15The rod and reproof (godly instruction) give wisdom, But a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother.
• Hebrews 12:7You must submit to [correction for the purpose of] discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

Commentaries on Proverbs 19:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18Let not thy soul spare for his crying - This is a hard precept for a parent. Nothing affects the heart of a parent so much as a child's cries and tears. But it is better that the child may be caused to cry, when the correction may be healthful to his soul, than that the parent should cry afterwards, when the child is grown to man's estate, and his evil habits are sealed for life.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18While there is hope - While he is still young, and capable of being reformed. Crying - Better, as in the margin, Do not set thy soul on his destruction; words which either counsel forbearance in the act of chastisement (compare Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21); or urge that a false clemency is a real cruelty. The latter sense is preferable. The father is warned that to forbear from chastising is virtually to expose the son who needs it to a far worse…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18Verse 18 When parents keep under foolish tenderness, they do their best to render children a comfort to them, and happy in themselves.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18Gaining wisdom needs discipline for everyone, including children (see Proverbs 10:17; 13:1, 10; 15:31–32; 17:10). The short-term sadness from discipline is worth avoiding disaster.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. (Compare Pr 13:24; 23:13). let not ... spare--literally, "do not lift up thy soul" (Psa 24:4; 25:1), that is, do not desire to his death; a caution to passionate parents against angry chastisement.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 19:18

• Children
• Parents

In the dictionaries

• Judgment
• Pity
• Scorner
• Slothfulness
• Cry, Crying
• Proverb
• Proverbs, the Book of

Commentaries on Proverbs 19

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings