Spanking: Does God authorize it?
Are parents authorized by God to spank their children for expressions of rebelliousness? What controversy there seems to be about that question! Doesn’t the Bible tell us the truth we need to know about this as it does about so many other things? I believe we’ve been given the answer to that in Scripture—
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God [THEOPNEUSTOS = god-breathed], and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect [ARTIOS = fitted], thoroughly furnished unto all good works. [Emphasis added]
Can spanking a child be classified as a “good work?” Can this be classified as something “profitable?” Apparently, it can. Otherwise, why would we be given commands about it in the Bible? Aren’t we also even told we’re not to let a child’s crying deter us from spanking them.
Proverbs 19:18
18 Chasten [YASAR = instruct] thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying. [Emphasis added]
Isn’t it spanking that’s at the heart of what causes a child’s crying when this occurs? Certainly, spanking can be overdone, but very rarely does that happen. We’re told that the correct administration of spanking can even cause temporary changes in the child’s skin color in those places where they were spanked. In fact, note what God’s Word tells us about it—
Proverbs 20:30
30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly. [Emphasis added]
The Bible clearly tells us that with the one exception of Jesus Christ, we’re ALL sinners in need of various forms of correction.
Romans 3:23
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; [Emphasis added]
In the case of children, we as parents have been given in the Bible some clear instructions about how we’re to administer this “correction.”
Proverbs 22:15
15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod [SHEBET = rod] of correction shall drive it far from him. [Emphasis added]
Shouldn’t that statement be thought of as a wonderful promise to parents who want their children to turn out well. Man’s reason will never surpass the value of God’s Word and His wisdom in all matters, including the disciplining of his children. Isn’t that verse a promise parents should believe and appreciate? Something all this is telling us is that children aren’t just to be asked to do the right thing; they’re to be made to do the right thing when they’re in a rebellious and unwilling spirit. I guess everyone has noticed that children don’t come into the world saying please and thank you. All this and much more must be trained into them. Furthermore, we’re not to have to ask that they do something multiple times. They’re to be trained to move into action on the first command. Otherwise, they’ll be trained to believe they only have to move to action after several requests. This is what can be rightly called negative training. We have a very helpful passage of Scripture concerning all this.
1 Samuel 3:12-13
12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.
Here this man Eli is being held responsible for his insubordinate children.
13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and HE restrained them not. [Emphasis added]
We’re not to ever enable wrongdoing when we have the right and even the responsibility to do things to restrain it. To restrain a child in such a manner must always be an expression of parental love, not cruelty.
Proverbs 23:13-14
13 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest [NAKAH = strike] him with the rod, he shall not die.
If the spanking is done correctly, it may sound like the child is dying but they’re not.
14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell. [Emphasis added]
Several things need to be clearly understood about these two verses—
- The “rod” [SHEBET = rod] is what is often called a switch. This is not a board, a paddle, a belt or anything else. It is a small portion of a branch from a bush or a tree. Living close to a city I found that the multiple sizes of dowl rods in hardware stores proved to be very helpful. The rod chosen should of course be proportionate to the size of the child.
- Using a rod is not cruel but helpful and even a gesture of love used to cause the child to learn to do things that are right, good and even honorable.
- Causing a child to learn to be submissive to his authorities will have multiple practical applications throughout the child’s life.
- Spanking a child provides an opportunity for the parent to teach even other principles of truth provided in their Bible.
- Allowing a child’s disobedience can lead to criminal activity that could even cost them their lives.
- Teaching a child to be obedient can even contribute to them being obedient to the gospel message, the most important thing they’ll ever believe that provides for them the everlasting blessing of salvation and perhaps more—
Acts 16:31
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. [Emphasis added]
Yes, spanking them now for insubordination can also later affect how they raise their own household, leading them to a better life and even to salvation.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. [Emphasis added]
Many parents typically speak of how much they love their children. Spanking them for disobedience is one of the ways they have to demonstrate their love for them. For more information about this, please see chapter 16 of one of my books. You can order it through this website—
22 Key Promises You Can Depend On
It seems that many parents don’t know that they’ve been commanded of God to cause their children to be obedient to them and to all authority figures. It isn’t their opinion God asks for about this; it is their obedience that He demands.
Proverbs 22:6
6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. [Emphasis added]
The word for “train” [CHANAK] means to cause to comply with certain instructions. It is a word that would be used for “training” or causing a plant to grow a certain way on a trellis.
We even have commands in Scripture about all this that are directed to the children—
Ephesians 6:1-3
1 Children, obey [HUPAKOUO = a compound verb literally meaning to hear under or to do as you’re told by] your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2 Honour [TIME = honor, show respect for] thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. [Emphasis added]
Insubordination in children is never to be tolerated; it is to be viewed as totally unacceptable and they are to be punished for it. Swift action is demanded because of such so as to provide proper training. When [not if] a child goes into a rebellious attitude, that attitude needs to be broken by the use of a rod, and the child needs to be redirected. As you’ve seen in what I’ve said, God has provided a right way for that to be done. God never needed or asked for our opinion about this.
Proverbs 22:15
15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. [Emphasis added]
As you can see, we have multiple promises about all this, but certain things must be acted on and applied if there’s to be fulfillment. As you can also see, the book of Proverbs provides practical everyday wisdom about child training and a multitude of other things. Because of their importance, Solomon [the writer] repeated himself on many of these principles.
Proverbs 10:13
13 In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding. [Emphasis added]
Proverbs 26:3-5
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.
But many of these principles are rejected in every generation by people who think they know better. Solomon also gives what our attitude should be toward these people.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. [Emphasis added]
Again, the “rod” is God’s chosen instrument for breaking a child’s spirit of rebellion. If things other than a rod are used for it you can do some serious, even permanent damage to a child. This won’t happen with a switch, a rod! You will “hurt” his feelings, but that’s what you want. Rods function wonderfully to bring forth humility almost instantly. Sometimes they can bring tears at the mere mention of it, but do not let yourself be influenced by the tears. If you do, the child will soon learn [by the parent’s negative training] that all they have to do is cry to get out of the spanking and to have their way.
Again, Proverbs 19:18
18 Chasten [YASAR = instruct] thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying. [Emphasis added]
What could be clearer than that? That little rod will surely bring tears, but it will not do any serious damage to them at all. Even little red or blue stripes from the rod on their skin will soon go away.
Proverbs 20:30
30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly. [Emphasis added]
Proverbs 19:29
29 Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools. [Emphasis added]
Always realize that man’s reason never surpasses the value of God’s Word. The field of “psychology” really has nothing good to offer concerning all this. It is the Bible that will provide us with the best of instruction on this and much more.
Hebrews 4:12
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. [Emphasis added]
The main thing you are teaching the child in this is respect for authority. Apart from that lesson it could someday cost a child’s life and often has. Many have died needlessly because their parents never trained them to have respect for authority.
Again, Proverbs 23:13
13 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. [Emphasis added]
He may sound like he’s dying, but he’s not when this is done properly.
Again, Proverbs 23:14
14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell. [Emphasis added]
Solomon was blunt. He didn’t sugarcoat all this at all. But that’s because of the seriousness of it all. The manner in which you address resistance to authority in your children can have a huge and long-lasting effect on them. So, it is extremely important that you get this right and apply it.
The main problem with an unbeliever is that He refuses to acknowledge the authority of God over Him. Learning to submit to authority begins with a child’s submission to his parents. If you don’t teach them to submit to the simplest of things in life, don’t expect them to respond to the most important command of them all, like the one I mentioned in Acts 16:31 where they are commanded to believe in Jesus Christ for their salvation.
I have heard parents say they could never spank their children. They say spanking is inconsistent with love. This is not at all what God says about it. You need to be sure your thinking is lined up with His on this, and in all other areas of life. Again, it is not at all an expression of love to withhold spanking from a rebellious child. On the contrary! His rebellion demands it. God’s word is as clear as it could possibly be on this.
Proverbs 13:24
24 He that spareth his rod HATETH his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. [Emphasis added]
After having spanked a child and broken the spirit of rebellion, be sure to explain to the child in a loving way why you did what you did. Let them know that you did not want to discipline them in that manner and that you won’t if they will learn to do as they are told. I suppose you may have heard about those famous words, “This is going to hurt me more than it is going to hurt you.” We can joke about that, but there is a sense in which such should be the case. We would all like to avoid such situations, such encounters. But they always become necessary at one time or another because all children will have their times of rebellion and disobedience. There’s no such thing as a child who has never needed a spanking.
Parents are not to allow a spirit of rebellion to continue in their children. Addressing it can be done in the right way or a wrong way. Such is true certainly true with spanking a child. It is never to be done in a state of uncontrolled anger. But it is to be done on those occasions where rebellion and disobedience to stated policy is expressed. To do otherwise is sinful and an expression of irresponsibility on the part of the parent. In fact, it might also be called a form of child abuse. Instead of bringing up an obedient child, YOU will be bringing up, even training up a rebellious and insubordinate child who may someday even become a fugitive to justice.
Some will argue that modern-day psychologists say this is not the right way to bring up children. I have a simple question for such— Who is in a position to know what is best, God who made all creation or some psychologist?
Man’s reason will never surpass the value of God’s Word. We all must learn to function by faith in God’s word, not the foolish reasonings of man. We must learn to make a habit of trusting God’s Word and acting on it.
Proverbs 14:12
12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. [Emphasis added]
We are warned about this twice in the book of Proverbs.
Proverbs 16:25
25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. [Emphasis added]
So, I now go back to the passage we looked at when we first started this study—
Again, 2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God [THEOPNEUSTOS = god-breathed], and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. [Emphasis added]
Yes, it is learning and following God’s instructions that will enable us to be “thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” Even properly administering discipline to a child with a rod is a good work that will be rewarded at The Judgment Seat of Christ. To do otherwise will be to miss out on what could have been. These are promises you can count on.
What you are doing in disciplining a child is preparing him to live an obedient life before God. If you will work toward training him God’s way, you are getting him ready to respond to the gospel for his salvation and much more. There can be no teaching of truth without there being respect for authority. There is a sense in which by your love and by your “impact” on that child’s rear end, you’re making an “impact” on his life for all eternity. Spanking and creating an atmosphere of submission for instruction is a part of fulling a very important command—
Ephesians 6:4
4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. [Emphasis added]
Yes, we need the Bible back in our schools. But more importantly we need its teaching and application in our homes. That responsibility falls first on parents. Fathers need to be the initiators and the leaders in this. Their reward as believers in eternity will to some extent be determined by their role in the application of the things like those I’ve stated from the Bible in this article. As I hope you’ve seen in this article—God not only authorizes spanking; He requires it in child training. To “train up a child in the way he should go” is to do it biblically. Personal opinions don’t count in this as they don’t in so many other things. Trust God and you’ll be a blessing to many, including your children. You’ll even be rewarded for such in eternity. Here’s the link to my article about this—
