KJV ORIGINAL
The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
Discipline and correction give wisdom, but a child who is left to do whatever they want brings shame to their mother.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
This verse is saying that children need both correction and guidance to grow wise, while children without boundaries end up causing their parents embarrassment and heartache.
📚 Historical Context
This proverb was written during a time when parents were expected to actively train and discipline their children as part of their moral and social development. In ancient Hebrew culture, a mother's reputation in the community was closely tied to how well her children behaved, making proper child-rearing both a family and social responsibility.
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