Proverbs 13:24

Footnotes

1. 81 R. N. Whybray cites an Egyptian proverb that says that “boys have their ears on their backsides; they listen when they are beaten” (Proverbs [], 80). Cf. Prov 4:3–4, 10–11; Eph 6:4; Heb 12:5–11.
2. 82 The importance of parental disciplining is stressed by the verbs “hate” and “love.” “Hating” a child in this sense means in essence abandoning or rejecting him; “loving” a child means embracing and caring for him. Failure to discipline a child is tantamount to hating him—not caring about his character.
3. 83 Heb “his son.”
4. 84 Heb “him”; the referent (his child) is specified in the translation for clarity.
5. 85 Heb “seeks him.” The verb שָׁחַר (shahar, “to be diligent; to do something early”; 1007 ) could mean “to be diligent to discipline,” or “to be early or prompt in disciplining.” See G. R. Driver, “Hebrew Notes on Prophets and Proverbs,” 41 (1940): 170.
6. 86 The noun מוּסָר (musar, “discipline”) functions as an adverbial accusative of reference: “he is diligent in reference to discipline.”