Read & explore together
The teacher advocates strict training of a son
Sirach 30:1–13 is a wisdom passage from the Catholic additional books that speaks very strongly about training a son. In short sayings, it connects correction with future joy, and indulgence with grief and trouble.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
These verses are presented as instruction, not as a story. The teacher sets two paths beside each other: correcting, teaching, and restraining a son, or overindulging and leaving him unrestrained. Throughout the passage, the focus stays on the parent’s hoped-for joy or feared sorrow.
Sirach 30:1–13Main takeaway
Sirach 30:1–13 connects a son’s upbringing with his father’s hopes, joy and grief, using severe language that needs careful discussion in its ancient context.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Love linked with correctionThe opening sayings join love, chastising, and teaching. The teacher says that loving a son means continuing correction, with joy hoped for “in the end”.
Explanation
The opening sayings join love, chastising, and teaching. The teacher says that loving a son means continuing correction, with joy hoped for “in the end”. Chastising is said to bring profit, and teaching a son is presented as something that leads to rejoicing and even gladness before friends.
02A son as a father’s continuing strengthThe next verses describe a son as one who carries something of the father forward. A father who leaves behind “one behind him like himself” is spoken of as though he had not fully died.
Explanation
The next verses describe a son as one who carries something of the father forward. A father who leaves behind “one behind him like himself” is spoken of as though he had not fully died. The passage adds joy in life, no regret in death, and a son who avenges enemies and repays kindness to friends.
03Warnings about indulgenceThe teacher then warns against making too much of a son. That path is said to bring wounds, a troubled heart, fear, grief, and sorrow.
Explanation
The teacher then warns against making too much of a son. That path is said to bring wounds, a troubled heart, fear, grief, and sorrow. The comparison with an unbroken horse explains the point: without restraint, stubbornness grows. An unrestrained son is likewise described as becoming headstrong.
04Early restraint and severe languageThe final verses press for restraint in youth and for not ignoring folly. Their wording is especially severe, calling for a son’s neck to be bowed and for beating while he is a child, so that stubbornness, disobedience, shameless behaviour, and sorrow may be avoided.
Explanation
The final verses press for restraint in youth and for not ignoring folly. Their wording is especially severe, calling for a son’s neck to be bowed and for beating while he is a child, so that stubbornness, disobedience, shameless behaviour, and sorrow may be avoided. The passage states this forcefully as wisdom instruction; readers should distinguish its description from present-day practice.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What results does the passage say a parent hopes for by chastising and teaching a son?
Look for the specific outcomes named, including profit, joy, rejoicing, and gladness before other people.
02How does the passage contrast a taught son with an unrestrained son?
Compare the positive language about teaching with the warnings about stubbornness, fear, grief, and sorrow.
03Which verses make youth and childhood the key time for discipline in this passage?
Notice where the teacher says “in his youth” and “while he is a child” when giving the closing instructions.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Sirach 30:1–13
1He who loves his son will continue to lay stripes upon him, that he may have joy from him in the end.
2He who chastises his son will have profit from him, and will brag about him among his acquaintances.
3He who teaches his son will provoke his enemy to jealousy. Before friends, he will rejoice in him.
4His father dies, and is as though he had not died; for he has left one behind him like himself.
5In his life, he saw his son and rejoiced. When he died, it was without regret.
6He left behind him an avenger against his enemies, and one to repay kindness to his friends.
7He who makes too much of his son will bind up his wounds. His heart will be troubled at every cry.
8An unbroken horse becomes stubborn. An unrestrained son becomes headstrong.
9Pamper your child, and he will make you afraid. Play with him, and he will grieve you.
10Don’t laugh with him, lest you have sorrow with him, and you gnash your teeth in the end.
11Give him no liberty in his youth, and don’t ignore his follies.
12Bow down his neck in his youth, and beat him on the sides while he is a child, lest he become stubborn, and be disobedient to you, and there be sorrow to your soul.
13Chastise your son, and give him work, lest his shameless behavior be an offense to you.