Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Punishing Children?
15 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Punishing Children in the Bible
Explore what the Bible says about punishing children. This collection of 15 key Scripture passages reveals God's wisdom and guidance on this important theme.
Top 10 Verses About Punishing Children
- 1Exodus 20:12
“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.”
KJV - 2Deuteronomy 21:18
“If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:”
KJV - 3Proverbs 13:24
“He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.”
KJV - 4Proverbs 19:18
“Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying. for: or, to his destruction: or, to cause him to die”
KJV - 5Proverbs 22:6
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Train: or, Catechise in: Heb. in his way”
KJV - 6Proverbs 22:15
“Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.”
KJV - 7Proverbs 23:13
“Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.”
KJV - 8Proverbs 29:15
“The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.”
KJV - 9Proverbs 29:17
“Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.”
KJV - 10Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
KJV
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Punishing Children? (9 Verses)
“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.”
“If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:”
“He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.”
“Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying. for: or, to his destruction: or, to cause him to die”
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Train: or, Catechise in: Heb. in his way”
“Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.”
“Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.”
“The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.”
“Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Punishing Children? (6 Verses)
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.”
“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
“Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.”
“For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.”
“Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby .”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Punishing Children
- 1
Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.
- 2
Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about punishing children. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.
- 3
Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.
- 4
Memorise at least one key verse about punishing children and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.
Practical Application
Studying what the Bible says about punishing children is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:
Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on punishing children needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about punishing children with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.
Pray through the key verses about punishing children, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.
How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Punishing Children?
You have studied 15 verses about punishing children. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.