Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
Here is, 1. A parent instructing his child. He is here brought in persuading him to give his mind to his book, and especially to the scriptures and his catechism, to attend to the words of knowledge, by which he might come to know his duty, and danger, and interest, and not to think it enough to give them the hearing, but to apply his...
Commenting on Proverbs 23:12-16
Withhold not correction from the child,.... When he has committed a fault, and correction is necessary; for to spare it is the ruin of the child, and no proof of true affection in the parent, but the reverse; see Pro 13:24; for, if thou beatest him with a rod, he shall not die; if he be beaten moderately, there is no danger of his dying...
While there is little danger that the use of the "divine ordinance of the rod" will produce bodily harm, there is great hope of spiritual good.