KJV ORIGINAL
Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
Don't hold back from disciplining your child: if you correct him with appropriate punishment, it won't harm him.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
The writer is saying that loving discipline is necessary for children and won't cause lasting harm when done properly.
📚 Historical Context
This proverb was written in ancient Israel where physical discipline was a normal part of child-rearing and seen as an expression of parental love and responsibility. The 'rod' was a common metaphor for correction and discipline, not necessarily literal beating, and represented the parent's duty to guide their child toward wisdom and right behavior.
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