12:1–28
Almost every verse in this chapter has contrastive parallelism. The contrast in these verses is mainly between the righteous and the wicked.
12:1
The parallel parts with bold print are similar in meaning. The other parallel parts contrast in meaning.
1a
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
1b but he who hates correction is stupid.
12:1a–b
loves discipline…hates correction: Someone who loves discipline strongly desires to be advised or rebuked. Someone who hates correction strongly dislikes being corrected or rebuked. It also includes the idea of rejecting correction or refusing to be corrected. Some other ways to translate these parallel phrases are:
A person who is willing to accept advice/rebuke…a person who hates to be rebuked/corrected
-or-
A person who truly appreciates it when he is disciplined/corrected…a person who does not listen when he is rebuked
discipline…correction: The word discipline refers here to moral instruction, advice, or reproof. The word correction refers to verbal correction or rebuke. No contrast is intended between the meanings of discipline and correction. In fact, versions such as the Revised English Bible and New American Bible have “correction” in 12:1a and “reproof” in 12:1b.
For more information on these words, see discipline and rebuke 1 in the Glossary.
12:1a
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge: In Hebrew, this clause is literally “⌊one who⌋ loves discipline ⌊one who⌋ loves knowledge.” Both phrases are identical in form. There are two ways to interpret the subject of this clause:
(1) “Whoever loves discipline ” is the subject. For example:
Whoever loves discipline loves to learn (God’s Word)
-or-
He who loves correction loves knowledge (Revised English Bible)
(2) “Whoever loves knowledge ” is the subject. For example:
Anyone who loves learning accepts correction (New Century Version)
-or-
Any who love knowledge want to be told when they are wrong. (Good News Translation)
The Display follows interpretation (1), but you may follow either interpretation. More versions follow interpretation (1). More scholars support interpretation (2). Both interpretations provide a good contrast with 12:1b.
knowledge: in this context, knowledge means almost the same thing as “wisdom.” It refers primarily to the moral lessons that a person learns. It does not refer to what a person learns in school.
12:1b
stupid: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as stupid refers to someone who lacks intelligence or is senseless. In Psalm 73:22, the stupid person is compared to a “brute beast.” So this word may imply that the stupid person is like an animal that is not able to think rationally. Some other ways to translate this word are:
does not know how to think
-or-
like a dumb animal
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