Proverbs 13:24

His rod. Compare chs. 19: 18; 22: 15; 23:13, 14; 29:15, 17. The rod may be considered a symbol of disciplinary action of many kinds. Suitable corporal punishment may be particularly helpful when a child is very young. Later on, it tends to produce undesirable reactions, and other forms of punishment are preferable.

Hateth. The term must be understood relatively in the sense of loving someone else or something else more. Compare this use of "hate" in Luke 14:26. He who neglects to discipline his children because he is indolent, or because he has a distaste for the task, puts self before his children, and so may be said to "hate" them.

Betimes. This is a translation of a Hebrew idiom that refers to diligence in terms of early rising. Some have interpreted the idiom to mean that a child should be disciplined early in his life. Doubtless he should be, but the idea can hardly be derived from the Hebrew.