whats is the meaning of spare the rod and spoil the child?

Question

what is the real meaning of spare the rod and spoil the chld..does it really mean to spank your kid???

i know tons of nice people who turned out wonderfull citizens...

and the people who were raised by this verse are now rigid,cruel people..

does this saying really mean to spank your kid or it had any other deeper meaning

one thing is for sure that lotta children had to go thru pain because of this saying and when they grow up they apply the same on their own kid because they were raised by it..

so whats the real meaning of spare the rod and spoil the child?

Answer 1

Rod does not have to mean physical violence. I can also mean being straight as a stick. At times a parent has to know when to say NO, when to put there foot down, when to put the child in his place. Not doing so will cause the child not to have boundaries in life and make him a sad and spoiled. This is the way we can give our children the help they need to grow UP and not crooked.

Answer 2

Yes, it means if you do not discipline your child, the child will grow up to be spoiled. By take of "spare the rod" means that the child will be physically punished.

I think it's important to discipline the child, but discipline really means to "teach", which is far different that "spank". It always annoyed me, (including advice from the mother-in-law) to be tough on children to make them a respectable adult. I find that offensive. If we discipline or teach or children without whippings, threats and "the rod", we teach trust and understanding.

Sure, I've seen children out of control, almost running the show while the parents look like deer in headlights. Those parents have no taken to "teaching" their children the right or wrong way. It's almost as bad as whipping or hitting the child.

There's a very delicate balance between what I think is discipline, harsh punishment and not doing anything at all. But the key to this is teaching - or disciplining.

Answer 3

You hit the nail on the head. It does mean to spank your child. The people you know who are "rigid and cruel" and have been spanked could either be the minority, or their parents spanked them in anger all the time. I grew up and my parents spanked me all the time, but I love them very much and I know that they meant the best for me. They never spanked me in anger, which is why I know this. Just about every person I know that's been disciplined in this way has grown up wonderfully, though of course there are exceptions. And a LOT of kids I know who have never been spanked are the most spoiled rotten brats I have ever been in contact with. I'm not saying that everyone who has not been spanked is like that, just most of the kids I know. (And to be fair, there is no reason they can't change.) I hope this has been helpful and clarified things a bit for you.

Answer 4

"Spare the Rod and Spoil the Child" is one of the sayings from Ben Franklin's "Poor Richard's Almanac," which also included sayings such as: "Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise;" and "A stitch in time saves nine."

This particular saying means that if you do not beat your child with a rod, that you will spoil your child. "Spoil" is to ruin or to rot. It comes from a time when the rod was a common mode of discipline.

A paraphrased version might be: "Let the child get away with it, and they will turn out spoiled rotten."

Answer 5

It means to spank your child, not beat them, if a child is disobedient spank them, that is why there are so many ADD &ADHD kids today, never heard of it years ago, a child is a child and if a parent thinks they are over active they want to drug him, kids are kids and have alot of energy, however they need to learn or be taught that there are times when they aren't to be going balistic and throwing fits......and no parents don't apply it to their own kids in most cases, if you love he child you will discipline them if they are disobedient...the older generation were all disciplined as children, I was, and I don't regret it a bit it taught me that in life you don't always get your own way and to obey my parents. You don't have to look very far in todays society to see that there is something wrong with the young children and teens. They have no morals and they don't respect those in authority whether it is their parents, teachers or other peoples property.

Answer 6

It has to do with discipline in general, not necessarily spanking...

Spare the discipline and you will spoil your child.

You should raise your children with the proper correction. If you fail to raise your children without limits, you could in up with children like Paris Hilton or Linsay Lohan...I would be so embarrased, when I have children, if they turned out that way when they grew up because what does that say about me as a parent.

Answer 7

when I misbehaved as a child I got a spanking from my mother I didn't turn out cruel cold or a child beater at all. Funnily enough when my kids were small they never got spanked they knew instantly that if they took it too far they would and make them think twice about it. All 3 are productive good members of society.

Answer 8

Look at the messes people get into when we turn cliches, our own inclinations, or even Bible verses into idols! I think "spare the rod" came from Solomons advice: "Withhold not correction from the child, for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod and shalt deliver his soul from hell." But Jesus said, "[Ye] search the scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me!" " I am the way, the truth, and the life." Discipline is not about finding the right formula but the best relationship.

Undisciplined people clearly have a hard time holding jobs, etc., and life for them is a living hell. On the other hand, it's so sad when children are beaten in anger, or pride, or for any other motivation than love. James, the brother of Jesus, offered helpful advice: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, ...and it shall be given him." That's the parent / teacher/babysitter prayer: Wisdom! (Courage to you!)

Answer 9

That is not a verse in the Bible.

I was spanked as a child, and I am in no way rigid and cruel. I am a much better person because my parents disciplined me.

Answer 10

It has to do with discipline, not necessarily spanking. It also has to do with taking control of your children's lives so that they don't become spoiled. By doing this they grow up to be responsible adults. Both my husband and I were raised this way, and we didn't have painful childhoods.