Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Punishing Your Children?
14 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Punishing Your Children in the Bible
What does the Bible say about punishing your children? Browse 14 carefully selected verses that illuminate this biblical theme.
Top 10 Verses About Punishing Your Children
- 1
- 2Exodus 21:17
“And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death. curseth: or, revileth”
KJV - 3Deuteronomy 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 - 4Proverbs 13:24
“He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.”
KJV - 5Proverbs 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 - 6Proverbs 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 - 7Proverbs 22:15
“Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.”
KJV - 8Proverbs 23:13
“Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.”
KJV - 9Proverbs 29:15
“The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.”
KJV - 10Proverbs 29:17
“Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.”
KJV
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Punishing Your Children? (10 Verses)
“And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.”
“And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death. curseth: or, revileth”
“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 Your Children? (4 Verses)
“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.”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Punishing Your 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 your 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 your 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 your 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 your children needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about punishing your 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 your 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 Your Children?
You have studied 14 verses about punishing your children. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.