Withholding the rod

Many of us have heard the phrase: spare the rod; spare the child. Many of us have heard people use that phrase to justify spanking as a form of punishment. Many of us have also heard that the rod spoken of in this phrase is more akin to a shepherd’s crook, used to nudge and coax sheep.

But then Mary and I came across Ps. 23:13—14.

Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

That doesn’t seem to leave much room for interpreting this as anything but endorsing corporal punishment.

5 thoughts on “Withholding the rod

  1. I don’t think anyone, fundes included, can really get away from the cafeteria style of choosing what one will take from the Bible. I’m not going to stone adulterers, nor beat my kids.

  2. While the type of punishment might change with the times, what is most important is that you teach your children and have consistant consequences so that they can learn.
    I don’t really care much whether it is spanking or time out. Is it consistant? Are the rules clear and reasonable? Are your kids learning to obey you and know you mean what you say?

  3. I agree, adamf. I think we should keep in mind however that Psalms isn’t part of the Mosaic law, whereas, stoning adulterers is.

  4. Point taken, although there is plenty in the Bible that is not part of the Mosaic law that I don’t care to follow — I should have gone with Paul not allowing women to speak in church or something like that. ;)

Comments are closed.