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punishing your children

What does the Bible say about punishing your children? These are the passages readers found most helpful — tap any citation to read it in context.

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13Do not be willing to take away discipline from a child. For if you strike him with the rod, he will not die. 14You will strike him with the rod, and so shall you deliver his soul from Hell.

18If a man produces a disobedient and reckless son, who will not listen to the orders of his father or mother, and, having been corrected, shows contempt for obedience: 19they shall take him and lead him to the elders of the city and to the gate of judgment. 20And they shall say to them: ‘This our son is reckless and disobedient. He shows contempt when listening to our admonitions. He occupies himself with carousing, and self-indulgence, and feasting.’ 21Then the people of the city shall stone him to death. And he shall die, so that you may take away the evil from your midst. And so may all of Israel, upon hearing it, be very afraid.

6For whomever the Lord loves, he chastises. And every son whom he accepts, he scourges. 7Persevere in discipline. God presents you to himself as sons. But what son is there, whom his father does not correct?

1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is just. 2Honor your father and your mother. This is the first commandment with a promise: 3so that it may be well with you, and so that you may have a long life upon the earth. 4And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but educate them with the discipline and correction of the Lord.