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The Rod

What about the “rod” in the 5 verses in Proverbs that pro-spankers take literally to mean spanking young children?  In Crystal Lutton’s book, Biblical Parenting, she includes an in-depth study of the rod as it is used throughout the Old Testament.  Interestingly, as I will show in a bit, there are only two verses in the Old Testament in which the rod is used to hit someone!  For now, let’s look at the Hebrew word for rod.

The Hebrew word for rod is shebet.   Shebet is defined in Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon #7626 as “rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, scepter, tribe:

a) Rod, staff

b) Shaft (of spear, dart)

c) Club (of shepherd’s implement)

d) Truncheon, scepter (mark of authority)

e) Clan, tribe”

(Lutton, 2001).

Here is Strong’s definition of rod: “From an unused root probably meaning to branch off; a scion, for example literally a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, walking, ruling, etc.) or figuratively a clan.”  In the KJV of the Bible, rod is used for tribe 140 times; rod 34 times; scepter 10 times; staff 2 times; and miscellaneous 4 times (Lutton, 2001).   It is quite interesting that shebet or rod is used to symbolize tribes.  Also, while it is considered a tool (see Leviticus 27:32, Psalm 23:4, Psalm 2:9, Isaiah 28:27, and Exodus 21:20) in all 34 places in which the word “rod” is used, it is in conjunction with the full council of God.  It is clear that if we look at all the places in which shebet is used for rod in the Old Testament, it is used as a symbol of authority the majority of the time.  It symbolizes the authority of God, nations, and parents as in Proverbs.

In Exodus 20:21 a rod is used to hit someone.  Let’s take a look at the verse.

“Anyone who beats their male or female slave with a rod must be punished if the slave dies as a direct result” (NIV).

Obviously, the rod is being used to hit an adult, not a young child.  And if the slave dies from being hit with the rod which is a heavy instrument, then the person who hit them is to be punished.  Obviously, people had slaves back then and God did not want masters beating their slaves to death.  The rod can easily cause death in a young child.  Even if you measure a stick in proportion to the child as some pro-spankers suggest doing, with the right force, it could still kill a child.  An adult hitting a young child with their hands could also, with the right force and with repetition, severely injure or kill a young child.  As many pro-spankers and Psychology point out, a child who is spanked regularly often must be hit harder and harder in order for the spanking to still be effective.  This can easily become physical abuse and outright dangerous if the adult hits hard enough to cause injury to the child.

In 2 Samuel 7:14, it appears that the rod is again being used to actually hit someone.

“I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands” (NIV).

Again, this is talking about an adult, not a child.   And it isn’t even talking about punishment in this sense.  God is talking to David about who will build His Holy Temple.  This verse, in the context of 2 Samuel 7:1-17, seems to be talking about Jesus!  Even though Jesus did no wrong in the eyes of God, He did do wrong in the eyes of men by not upholding the Law of Moses through claiming to be God.  Therefore, He was still beaten by the hands of men!  It is obvious that the rod in this verse is also being used to symbolize the authority of God.

Authority can be used to “beat” people with wisdom of God.  In order to drive home a point, God often makes it come up repeatedly in a person’s life through His Word, church teachings, the Holy Spirit convictions, and natural and logical consequences.  He never beats or spanks His people.  The rod verses in the book of Proverbs are not saying to spank children.  If it did then pro-spankers are doing it wrongly by not using a rod, which again, would be very dangerous to use on a small child!  As parents and caregivers, God has given us some authority over children in order to teach and guide them with firmness as well as love, gentleness, kindness, and humility.

“What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline, or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit?” 1 Corinthians 4:21. It seems even the Apostle Paul understood that it’s better to come in love and gentleness than with harshness.

Children as Representatives of Jesus Christ

The book, The Child in Christian Thought edited by Marcia J. Bunge, gives us an even better glimpse into what life was like for children during New Testament times, and how Jesus’ teachings affected them.  While not much information is available on childhood in Christian traditions is available to us, we can gain much insight by looking deeply at the different perspectives offered by historical and contemporary Christian theologians.  One major concept that seems to play a major role in the view and treatment of children throughout Christianity is original sin.  Interestingly, original sin can either lead to the harsh treatment of children, or to a gentler treatment.  Bunge (2001) states, “More specifically, it shows that notions of original sin and ‘breaking the will’ are complex and do not automatically lead to the harsh punishment of children, and that the idea of original sin, set within a particular larger theological framework, has in some cases fostered the more humane treatment of children” (p. 9).  It is clear from the Scriptures that we are born with a tendency toward sin, but there is not a precise age at which we become accountable to that sin.  “For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out” Romans 7:14. As we shall soon see, while children are indeed born with a sinful nature, they are also given immense spiritual knowledge of God by God for His Glory!

While some theologians have viewed children as gifts from God, others have viewed children as ignorant and in need of strict discipline and religious education. Many Christians have really emphasized the fact that children are to obey their parents in the Lord (Ephesians 6:1 and Colossians 3:20), but seem to ignore Ephesians 6:4 and Colossians 3:21 which states, “Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.” As I mentioned before, “Fathers” can also be translated into “Parents.”  “It is important to note that grounds for this obedience vary, and in most cases obedience is not absolute” (Bunge, 2001, p. 23).  It is dangerous and inappropriate for children to be taught absolute obedience to humans as humans are sinful.  The child could be going against God by always obeying a human.  Children should be taught to think for themselves in order to “test the spirits to see whether they are from God” 1 John 4:1a. Bunge (2001) states, “For example, although Barth believes that parents are ‘God’s natural and primary representatives’ for children, he claims that raising children ‘in the discipline of the Lord’ excludes provoking them to the anger, resistance and rebellion that emerges through the ‘assertion of Law, or the execution of judgment.’  Instead, parents are ‘joyfully’ to invite children to ‘rejoice’ with them in God” (p. 23).  Of all the social institutions with which children come in contact, the family has the highest potential for teaching children about God (Bunge, 2001).

So, how were children viewed and treated in the New Testament?  There were two primary social groups that held somewhat conflicting beliefs about children and childhood.  The first group was first century Greco-Romans.  While the Romans loved and valued their children as heirs of the family and keeping the family’s economical status, they also viewed children as non-humans.  “The Roman philosopher Cicero wrote concerning childhood, ‘the thing itself cannot be praised, only its potential,’ and categorically denied the desirability of reverting in any sense to the state of childhood” (Gundry-Volf, 2001, p. 32).  The Roman law gave fathers full authority and power over their children.  Fathers decided whether a newborn lived or was left to die unless another person found the infant and decided to care for him/her (Gundry-Volf, 2001).  Because children were viewed so negatively by the Romans, they were sometimes beaten to death; imprisoned; put in chains; or forced to work in the fields by their fathers.  It appears that the Roman society was a violent one with a great deal of power.

The other primary social group in the New Testament period was the Jews.  For the most part, Jewish children were viewed positively by their parents.  They were seen as blessings from God.  To be childless was to be cursed in the Jewish religion.  “You will be blessed more than any other people; none of your men or women will be childless, nor will any of your livestock be without young” Deuteronomy 7:14. However, children were also seen as ignorant and in need of strict religious education.  Gundry-Volf (2001) explains that they had “a view of children falling short of the ideal represented by the adult male law-observant Israelite.  The fundamentally positive significance of children, however, is not thereby negated” (p. 35).  The Jewish people rejected the harsh practices of the Romans who were their contemporaries.  Jewish fathers had complete power and authority over their children as well, but the “Jews distinguished themselves from many of their contemporaries by rejecting brutal practices toward children, including abortion and exposure of newborns, which can be traced to less positive views of children, and by placing limits on the Jewish father’s power over his children” (Gundry-Volf, 2001, p. 35-36).

Jesus changed everything for children.  In Matthew 18:1-4, Jesus held children up as models for adults.  Matthew 18:1-4 states, “At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

² He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. ³ And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

This was quite radical as children were never held up in such high esteem in the various cultures of the New Testament.  “Now children shared the social status of the poor, the hungry, and the suffering, whom Jesus calls ‘blessed.’  For this reason, apparently, he insists on receiving children into the reign of God.  John Dominic Crossan may be overstating his case when he asserts that Jesus taught a ‘kingdom of children’ in the sense of a ‘kingdom of nobodies,’ for ‘to be a child was to be a nobody’ (italics added)- an overstatement because children were emphatically not ‘nobodies’ in the Old Testament-Jewish tradition.  Nevertheless, it is still probably correct to say that children’s vulnerability and powerlessness seem to lie at the heart of Jesus’ extension of the reign of God to them” (Gundry-Volf, 2001, p. 38).  Another interesting thing regarding Jesus holding small children up as models is that children were not required to obey the Law of Moses, and, of course, they did not fulfill it.  As usual, Jesus has taken what the Jews believed was required for entering the Kingdom of Heaven (obedience of the Law), and has completely turned it upside down.  “Jesus can be taken to challenge the perception that adults who are under obligation to the Law, and do fulfill it, are thereby qualified to enter the reign of God.  Egger thus concludes that the phrase ‘as a child’ means ‘as one who has neither obedience nor obligation to the Law’” (Gundry-Volf, 2001, p. 39).   It is clear that God wants adults to have humility, love, forgiveness, and openness like children do.  We are to treat children, as well as others who are low on the social ladder, with kindness, love, and respect in keeping with God’s equal love for all.  To mistreat children by spanking and harshly punishing them is to go against God’s precepts.

“For God does not show favoritism” Romans 2:11.

“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. ⁹ But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. ¹⁰ For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it” James 2:8-10.

Caring for children was, and sadly still is, considered a low status job that was primarily for women during the New Testament time period.  However, in Mark 9:36-37, it says, “He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, ³⁷ “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.” Being kind to children in Jesus’ Name isn’t what Jesus is implying here.  We are to serve children.  “’Receive’ or ‘welcome’ (dechomai) in the New Testament is used especially for hospitality to guests, which implies serving them (see, e.g. Luke 10:8; 16:4).  Jesus’ taking the child into his arms demonstrates such service.  This action is more than a display of affection” (Gundry-Volf, 2001, p. 43).  So, how are we to serve our children in order to be great in the Kingdom of God?  By sacrificing for them; by patiently teaching them when it would be easier to punish them through spanking or an isolating time-out; by guiding with tender firmness as God does us, especially after redirecting a toddler for the twentieth time in an hour.  God implores that the humblest work is what makes us truly great in His eyes for both men and women.  We need to treat one another with patience and humility.  This includes children! “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” Colossians 3:12.

“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction” 2 Timothy 4:2.

Children were, and still are, representatives of Jesus Christ even though they were never sent to speak and heal as the disciples were.  Rejecting a child could be related to rejecting Jesus.  Why?  Because, as I pointed out earlier, children were treated with much brutality in the New Testament period, especially by the Romans.  If we look at Mark 9:30-32, which states, ”They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, ³¹ because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” ³² But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.” It is clear that Jesus is speaking of His own suffering and death.  Jesus goes on in Mark 33-37 to teach about welcoming children in His Name in order to be great in the Kingdom of Heaven.  This is NOT mere coincidence!  God’s Word is placed where it is throughout the Bible for a specific purpose.   The child is weak and needy.  “The child thus represents Jesus as a humble, suffering figure” (Author’s italics) (Gundry-Volf, 2001, p. 45).  This absolutely brings tears to my eyes.  Jesus can relate to the harsh punishment of humble, precious children because He went through it as a humble, suffering servant so that we wouldn’t have to.  “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

⁶ Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
⁷ rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
⁸ And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:5-8.

As Gundry-Volf (2001), so beautifully states, “To welcome a little child in Jesus’ name, I therefore propose, is to welcome Jesus himself in the sense that he humbled himself like a little child and endured the worst lot of the little child in carrying out his God-given mission” (p. 45).  I believe that it is safe to say that Mark, inspired by God, purposely links Jesus’ suffering with the child because of that society’s awareness of child brutality.  It is not surprising that Mark’s audience would clearly see this link.  When read closely and with open hearts, we too can begin to see this link.  This shows that spanking or otherwise harshly punishing children is frowned upon by Christ.  “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward” Matthew 10:42. Whatever we do to each other, including children, we also do to God Himself!

Children have a miraculous knowledge of who Christ is.  This is funny considering that adults in the New Testament thought children were ignorant.  Let’s look at Matthew 21:14: “The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. ¹⁵ But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. ¹⁶ “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.  “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?” Instead of the chief priests and scribes, who were well educated in the religion, proclaiming Christ as the Son of God and Messiah, it was the supposedly “ignorant” children doing so.  We see this throughout the entire Bible.  In fact, Jesus even thanks His Heavenly Father for hiding Godly things from the wise and revealing them to children.  “At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do” Luke 10:21. “In the gospel tradition, children are not mere ignoramuses in terms of spiritual insight.  They know Jesus’ true identity.  They praise him as the Son of David.  They have this knowledge from God and not from themselves, and because they do, they are living manifestations that God is the source of all true knowledge about Christ.  Jesus’ affirmation of the children’s praise of him in this periscope is thus an affirmation that children who ‘know nothing’ can also ‘know divine secrets’ and believe in him” (Gundry-Volf, 2001, p. 47-48).  This why young children never question if God truly exists.  Young children know God is real.  Yes, they need to be taught about God through reading developmentally appropriate Bibles, but they are already, in a sense, believers.  It isn’t until, through exposure to the world and satan’s influence, that older children may begin to question God’s existence as they struggle with their sinful nature that has now become much more defined in them.  This is why spanking them in Jesus’ Name is so dangerous.  Instead of being sinful yet innocent for as long as possible, they are taught and made aware of their sinful natural before they have the power to choose Christ in order to be able to truly fight the constant battle.  Children are weak.  They may know Christ, but they are not strong enough to fight this battle.  Then we inflict pain on them for not winning the battle.  Over time, this creates even more sin within them, and a very distorted view of God, whether they acknowledge it or not.  If adults struggle with sin all the time, is it really fair to punish children for their struggle before they can truly understand it?  Look at what Paul says about his own struggle with sin:

“So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ²² For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; ²³ but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. ²⁴ What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Romans 7:21-25.

We are to use God’s Word to lovingly admonish each other. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God” Colossians 3:16.

“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification” Romans 14:19.

Lastly, yes, children are to obey their parents in the Lord (Ephesians 6:1 & Colossians 3:20).  However, as with Ephesians 6:4 and Colossians 3:21 regarding parents not provoking their children to anger, we also leave out Ephesians 5:21 that prefaces the entire section of Christian household behaviors.   Ephesians 5:21 states, “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” This is exactly what Christ was talking about in Mark 36-37.  Children are to submit to parents in the Lord.  But, parents are also to submit to and serve their children in the Lord by treating them with love, kindness, and respect!

May we be blessed for obeying God’s Truth in Christ!

( Continued )

Spanking is NOT God’s Will by Steph is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at www.whynottrainachild.com.