Proverbs 19 · a question people ask
"Discipline your son, for there is hope" (19:18). What does the saying ask, and why does it speak of hope?
The saying has two halves: "Discipline your son, for there is hope; don’t be a willing party to his death" (19:18). It gives its own reason: "for there is hope". Discipline is yasar, and Strong's gives musar, the instruction of 19:20 and 19:27, as "from 3256", this verb (tap Discipline, instruction). Hope is tiqvah, which Proverbs has eight times in Hebrew; twice a saying ends, "There is more hope for a fool than for him" (Proverbs 26:12, 29:20) (tap hope). The two Hebrew words that open 19:18 open one other saying: "Correct your son, and he will give you peace" (Proverbs 29:17). The second half is quoted here as the WEB has it, and these notes don't explain it beyond its words. Other sayings speak of the rod (Proverbs 13:24, 22:15, 23:13-14, 29:15); 19:18 doesn't name it, and the notes on Proverbs 13 look at 13:24. These notes explain 19:18 only from its own words; they don't apply it to any modern practice, law or debate, or say how anyone should discipline a child. If this saying touches anyone harmed at home, make room to talk, and help them find someone they trust to talk to further, such as a pastor or a counselor.
The verses
“Discipline your son, for there is hope; don’t be a willing party to his death.”
“Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end.”
“If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.”
“Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”