Lashes and wounds scour evil, and beatings cleanse the inmost parts.
Note, 1. Many need severe rebukes. Some children are so obstinate that their parents can do no good with them without sharp correction; some criminals must feel the rigour of the law and public justice; gentle methods will not work upon them; they must be beaten black and blue. And the wise God sees that his own children sometimes need very sharp afflictions. 2.
The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil,.... Rubs it off and scours it away, as the word (m) signifies, or is a clearing and rubbing it off; some men must be beaten black and blue, or must have very sore correction, before they can be reclaimed and reformed from their evil ways; so some interpret it of the evil man (n): sanctified afflictions to...
blueness--literally, "joining," the process of uniting the edges of a wound throws off purulent matter. stripes . . . belly--So punishment provides healing of soul (Pro 18:8), by deterring from evil courses. Next: Proverbs Chapter 21