3:12

Notice the parallelism. The first line contains the topic of a simile. The second line contains the image.

12a for the LORD disciplines the one He loves,

12b as does a father the son in whom he delights.

There is an ellipsis of the verb in 3:12b. In many languages, this verb will need to be supplied from 3:12a. For example:

12b as a father ⌊disciplines⌋ the son in whom he delights.

3:12a

for: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for introduces the reason why a person should not reject the LORD’s discipline/rebuke. It is because his discipline shows that he loves that person.

the LORD disciplines: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as disciplines primarily means “rebukes” or “corrects,” but it also includes the meaning “chastens” or “punishes.” This is a verb form from the same Hebrew root as the noun “rebuke” in 3:11b. It is not the same Hebrew word as the one translated as “discipline” in 3:11a. A number of English versions translate it as:

reproves (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
corrects (Good News Translation)

3:12b

as does a father: Instead of father (Hebrew and most English versions), a few English versions have “parents.” It is recommended that you use the word father along with the majority of versions.

the son in whom he delights: The word that the Berean Standard Bible and many other versions translate as delights means “to be pleased with.”

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