What Does the Bible Say About Child Discipline?

Proverbs 29:17 ESV / 22 helpful votes

Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.

Proverbs 29:15 ESV / 20 helpful votes

The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.

Proverbs 23:13-14 ESV / 17 helpful votes

Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die. If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol.

Proverbs 22:15 ESV / 16 helpful votes

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

Hebrews 12:11 ESV / 15 helpful votes

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Ephesians 6:4 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Proverbs 13:24 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

Colossians 3:21 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

Proverbs 22:6 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 19:18 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.

Colossians 3:20 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

Hebrews 12:5-11 ESV / 9 helpful votes

And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? ...

Proverbs 15:32 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.

Hebrews 12:5-6 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”

Proverbs 20:30 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts.

Proverbs 3:1-35 ESV / 6 helpful votes

My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. ...

Proverbs 30:17 ESV / 5 helpful votes

The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures.

Proverbs 15:5 ESV / 5 helpful votes

A fool despises his father's instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.

Proverbs 13:18 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored.

Proverbs 6:23 ESV / 5 helpful votes

For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,

Psalm 127:3-5 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

Proverbs 12:1 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

Psalm 127:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Genesis 1:1-31 ESV / 2 helpful votes

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. ...

25 Bible Verses about Child Discipline

Proverbs 29:17 ESV / 22 helpful votes

Proverbs 29:15 ESV / 20 helpful votes

Proverbs 23:13-14 ESV / 17 helpful votes

Proverbs 22:15 ESV / 16 helpful votes

Hebrews 12:11 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Ephesians 6:4 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Proverbs 13:24 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Colossians 3:21 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Proverbs 22:6 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Proverbs 19:18 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Colossians 3:20 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Hebrews 12:5-11 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Proverbs 15:32 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Hebrews 12:5-6 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Proverbs 20:30 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Proverbs 3:1-35 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Proverbs 30:17 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Proverbs 15:5 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Proverbs 13:18 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Proverbs 6:23 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Psalm 127:3-5 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Proverbs 12:1 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Psalm 127:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Genesis 1:1-31 ESV / 2 helpful votes

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25 Bible Verses about Child Discipline

Proverbs 29:17 ESV / 22 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 29:15 ESV / 20 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 23:13-14 ESV / 17 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 22:15 ESV / 16 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 12:11 ESV / 15 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 6:4 ESV / 15 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 13:24 ESV / 15 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 3:21 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 22:6 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 19:18 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 3:20 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 12:5-11 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 15:32 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 12:5-6 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 20:30 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 3:1-35 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 30:17 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 15:5 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 13:18 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 6:23 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 127:3-5 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 12:1 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 127:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 1:1-31 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Suggest a Verse

Enter a Verse Reference (e.g., John 3:16-17)

Proverbs 29:17 ESV / 22 helpful votes

Proverbs 29:15 ESV / 20 helpful votes

Proverbs 23:13-14 ESV / 17 helpful votes

Proverbs 22:15 ESV / 16 helpful votes

Hebrews 12:11 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Ephesians 6:4 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Proverbs 13:24 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Colossians 3:21 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Proverbs 22:6 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Proverbs 19:18 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Colossians 3:20 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Hebrews 12:5-11 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Proverbs 15:32 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Hebrews 12:5-6 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Proverbs 20:30 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Proverbs 3:1-35 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Proverbs 30:17 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Proverbs 15:5 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Proverbs 13:18 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Proverbs 6:23 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Psalm 127:3-5 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Proverbs 12:1 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Psalm 127:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Genesis 1:1-31 ESV / 2 helpful votes