The Meaning of Proverbs 22:15 Explained

Proverbs 22:15

KJV: Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

YLT: Folly is bound up in the heart of a youth, The rod of chastisement putteth it far from him.

Darby: Folly is bound in the heart of a child; the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

ASV: Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; But the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Foolishness  [is] bound  in the heart  of a child;  [but] the rod  of correction  shall drive it far  from him. 

What does Proverbs 22:15 Mean?

Context Summary

Proverbs 22:1-16 - "he That Loveth Pureness Of Heart"
Great riches are not always a great blessing. When they are held in trust for God, they afford the opportunity of giving a vast amount of happiness to the benefactor as well as to those benefited. But we recall other riches, which do not consist in what a man has, but in what he is. There are four levels of human experience-to have, to do, to know, and to be-and these in their order are like iron, silver, gold, precious stones.
Some of these riches are enumerated here: a good name and loving favor, Proverbs 22:1; the faith that hides in God, Proverbs 22:3; true humility and godly fear, Proverbs 22:4; the child-heart, Proverbs 22:6; the beautiful eye and open hand, Proverbs 22:9; purity of heart and thought, Proverbs 22:11; alacrity and diligence, Proverbs 22:13. If only we would cultivate the inward graces and gifts of our soul-life, all who feel our influence would be proportionately enriched. [source]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 22

1  A good name is more desirable than great wealth

What do the individual words in Proverbs 22:15 mean?

Foolishness [is] bound up in the heart of a child the rod of correction will drive it far from him
אִ֭וֶּלֶת קְשׁוּרָ֣ה בְלֶב־ נָ֑עַר שֵׁ֥בֶט מ֝וּסָ֗ר יַרְחִיקֶ֥נָּה מִמֶּֽנּוּ

אִ֭וֶּלֶת  Foolishness 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אִוֶּלֶת  
Sense: foolishness, folly.
קְשׁוּרָ֣ה  [is]  bound  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, feminine singular
Root: קָשַׁר  
Sense: to bind, tie, bind together, league together, conspire.
בְלֶב־  in  the  heart 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
נָ֑עַר  of  a  child 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: נַעַר  
Sense: a boy, lad, servant, youth, retainer.
שֵׁ֥בֶט  the  rod 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שֵׁבֶט  
Sense: rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe.
מ֝וּסָ֗ר  of  correction 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מוּסָר  
Sense: discipline, chastening, correction.
יַרְחִיקֶ֥נָּה  will  drive  it  far 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: רָחַק  
Sense: to be or become far, be or become distant, be removed, go far away.
מִמֶּֽנּוּ  from  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: מִן 
Sense: from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than.