Proverbs 29:19 kjv
A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer.
Proverbs 29:19 nkjv
A servant will not be corrected by mere words; For though he understands, he will not respond.
Proverbs 29:19 niv
Servants cannot be corrected by mere words; though they understand, they will not respond.
Proverbs 29:19 esv
By mere words a servant is not disciplined, for though he understands, he will not respond.
Proverbs 29:19 nlt
Words alone will not discipline a servant;
the words may be understood, but they are not heeded.
Proverbs 29 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 13:24 | Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him. | Discipline of children often involves more than words. |
| Prov 22:15 | Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him. | Emphasizes physical discipline for correction of folly. |
| Prov 23:13 | Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die. | Necessity of firm correction. |
| Prov 23:14 | If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol. | The positive outcome of strong discipline. |
| Prov 29:17 | Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your soul. | Benefits of proper parental discipline. |
| Prov 29:1 | He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing. | Warns against persistent stubbornness despite reproof. |
| Zech 7:11-12 | But they refused to pay attention and stubbornly turned their backs and stopped their ears... they made their hearts diamond-hard... | People understanding but refusing to obey God. |
| Jer 5:21 | Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not; who have ears, but hear not. | Referring to those who understand but refuse to perceive or obey. |
| Ps 95:7-8 | Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion... | Warns against stubbornness, paralleling it to ancient Israel's disobedience. |
| Deut 21:18-21 | If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son... all the men of his city shall stone him to death... | Illustrates societal response to incorrigible disobedience (extreme). |
| Matt 7:24-27 | Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man... But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them... | The critical difference between hearing/understanding and obeying. |
| Rom 2:4 | Or do you presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? | God's patience not leading to change, implying a need for something more. |
| Heb 12:6-8 | For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives... if you are left without discipline... then you are illegitimate children and not sons. | God's discipline is a sign of true sonship, not merely verbal guidance. |
| Titus 1:16 | They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work. | Those who understand truth but are disobedient in practice. |
| Jas 1:22 | But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. | The crucial difference between hearing (understanding) and doing (responding). |
| Jas 2:17 | So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. | Connection between understanding (belief) and active response. |
| 1 Sam 15:22 | Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice... | Emphasizes the supreme value of obedience over outward ritual. |
| Luke 12:47 | And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. | Punishment for a servant who understands but disobeys. |
| Prov 1:7 | The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. | Lack of true discipline stems from despising wisdom, indicating stubbornness. |
| 1 Cor 9:27 | But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. | Self-discipline involves more than mere knowledge. |
| 2 Tim 3:16 | All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. | Scripture provides correction (discipline) that shapes behavior, not just informs. |
| Prov 15:32 | Whoever disregards discipline despises himself, but whoever listens to reproof acquires understanding. | Contrasts those who disregard (like the stubborn servant) with those who accept discipline. |
| Heb 5:8 | Although He was a son, He learned obedience through what He suffered. | Even Christ learned obedience through experience, not just verbal instruction. |
Proverbs 29 verses
Proverbs 29 19 Meaning
This proverb states that simple verbal instruction or command is insufficient to bring about true obedience or corrective change in a particularly obstinate servant. Even if such a servant fully comprehends what is being said, their inherent stubbornness or willful disobedience prevents them from acting upon that understanding. Effective discipline for such individuals requires more than just speaking; it necessitates consistent and possibly firmer measures beyond mere words to elicit actual compliance.
Proverbs 29 19 Context
Proverbs chapter 29 forms part of a collection of Solomon's proverbs (Prov 25:1 - Prov 29:27), specifically focusing on wisdom for governing, righteousness in authority, and the consequences of sin and folly in public and private life. This chapter emphasizes the impact of leaders (righteous vs. wicked), the nature of justice, the importance of listening to correction, and the dynamics within a household and community. Verse 19 falls within this broader theme of management and human behavior, highlighting a specific challenge in authority – the need for effective discipline for individuals who are stubbornly unresponsive to verbal guidance. It reflects practical wisdom for household management, paralleling parental discipline which is a strong theme in Proverbs. Culturally, servants (eved) were a fundamental part of the ancient Israelite household and economy, varying from free hired laborers to lifelong bondservants, who were legally considered property. Discipline for an eved was thus integral to household order and economic function, often involving various forms of correction.
Proverbs 29 19 Word analysis
- By mere words: The Hebrew word for "words" is
davar(דָּבָר), which means word, speech, matter, or thing. The phrasing "by mere words" implies that verbal communication alone, without any accompanying enforcement, consequences, or consistent action, is insufficient. It highlights the limitation of speech in changing deeply ingrained behavior or a rebellious will. - a servant: The Hebrew word is
eved(עֶבֶד). This term generally refers to a slave or bondservant, but can also encompass a wider range of dependants or subjects who are under another's authority. The proverb focuses on one who is under the control or ownership of another, highlighting a context where clear authority is present. Thisevedis not a child but someone likely an adult who is bound to service. - is not disciplined: The Hebrew verb is
yissar(יָסַר). It means to discipline, instruct, chasten, or correct. This isn't just about giving orders; it's about training, correcting errant behavior, and bringing someone into order and submission through teaching, correction, or punishment. The passive voice indicates that discipline is applied to the servant. The emphasis is on effective discipline, meaning words alone will not achieve the desired outcome of true change and obedience. - for though he understands: The Hebrew
ki yavin(כִּי יָבִין) uses the verbbin(בִּין) meaning to understand, perceive, or discern. This is crucial because it indicates the servant is not ignorant. The problem isn't a lack of comprehension or intellectual capacity to grasp the command or instruction. This servant knows what is expected of him and the reasons for it, yet consciously chooses not to comply. - he will not respond: The Hebrew phrase is
einennu anah(אֵינֶנּוּ עָנָה), whereanahmeans to answer, respond, or reply. In this context, it implies more than just verbal non-response; it means non-compliance, non-cooperation, or active disobedience. Despite understanding, there is no corresponding action or submission. This indicates a deep-seated stubbornness, rebellion, or obstinacy that resists compliance through verbal means. - "By mere words a servant is not disciplined": This phrase establishes the principle that verbal instruction, command, or even gentle correction, when used in isolation, fails to produce the desired disciplinary effect on certain individuals. It implies that true discipline for an
evedoften requires practical application of authority and consequences. - "for though he understands, he will not respond": This provides the underlying reason for the proverb's assertion. The core issue is not a cognitive deficit, but a willful act of disobedience. The servant's conscious refusal to act upon understanding reveals a rebellious heart that prioritizes its own will over the master's instruction, making mere verbal cues ineffective. This phrase links the lack of discipline to internal resistance rather than external communication failure.
Proverbs 29 19 Bonus section
This proverb underscores a principle applicable in many areas beyond servant-master relationships. It reveals that information or understanding alone does not guarantee obedience or changed behavior. True discipline, whether from a master, parent, or God, often involves experience, consequence, and consistent application of authority, rather than just pronouncements. The type of eved described here reflects a defiant or unyielding will, which aligns with descriptions of stiff-necked and rebellious individuals seen elsewhere in Scripture, who consistently resist God's Word despite understanding it. This proverb implicitly warns against the futility of patience or purely verbal appeals when faced with outright, knowledgeable disobedience, suggesting that stronger measures become necessary for true behavioral change or upholding order.
Proverbs 29 19 Commentary
Proverbs 29:19 offers a penetrating insight into human nature, particularly for those in positions of authority. It reveals that some individuals, despite possessing full comprehension of expectations and consequences, will remain uncooperative and disobedient when only confronted with words. This proverb speaks not to the unintelligent, but to the stubbornly willful servant who knows what is right but refuses to do it. The discipline (yissar) here implies not just telling someone what to do, but guiding, correcting, and shaping behavior to align with expectations. For such a hardened heart, effective discipline must extend beyond verbal communication to include consistent enforcement, established consequences, or firm action. This applies to various relationships—master and servant, parent and child, and even in a spiritual sense, to individuals who hear God's commands but refuse to obey, highlighting that genuine spiritual transformation requires more than just intellectual understanding; it demands a surrendered will.