Proverbs 20:30
The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly. |
Stubbornness and foolishness are wicked traits from Adam. Sin is more than a bad habit; it is the inborn nature of rebellious humanity. So we must be bruised, wounded, and beaten to be corrected. Physical pain works. Severe rebukes work. This is the lesson.
Do you give wounds well? Do you receive them well? Severe punishment is much less painful in its consequences than uncorrected self-will. Resenting and eliminating this form of correction is destroying our nation. Do you dislike it? This is the application.
Parents drive foolishness from children with the rod (22:15; 23:13-14); the Lord scourges foolishness from His children (3:11-12; Heb 12:5-11); friends correct one another by faithful blows (27:6; Ps 141:5); and the Lord Jesus was bruised and wounded for our iniquities (Gen 3:15; Is 53:5,10). And in a wise society, magistrates would beat criminals (Deut 25:2-3), and employers would beat offending employees (29:19; Ex 21:20-21).
What a beautiful proverb! Here we see the nature of proverbs as clearly as anywhere. The words are chosen and arranged to create maximum beauty, force, and rhythm; but the sense is slightly hidden for us to discover and relish. Can you find numerous metonyms?
When a body is bruised or wounded, the area usually turns blue. We describe it as "black and blue." The first clause teaches that physical punishment will drive wickedness from a person, as in 22:15. Severe correction and discipline, including corporal punishment, is God's ordained means for purging sin and reforming us. See the comments on 26:3.
Notice the metonyms. Neither blueness nor wounds correct rebels. Corporal punishment properly applied reforms them; which creates wounds, which often turn blue! These are metonyms, the substitution of one thing for another related thing. And this is metonymy of effect, where the effect is put for the cause. For metonymy, see the comments on 20:1.
And corporal punishment does not truly cleanse evil away; it more correctly trains fools. Here again is metonymy of the effect, where "evil" is substituted for the rebellious sinner. And by synecdoche, where an associated idea is used for another, "cleanseth" is used for reformation or correction of the disobedient fool.
Combining three cases of metonymy and one of synecdoche, we have this sense of the first clause - corporal punishment corrects rebels. To master Proverbs, you must learn several figures of speech. But you can grasp most of it by slowing down and meditating!
In the second clause, "stripes" are metonymy of effect for beating with a rod (17:10; 19:29; Ps 89:32; Deut 25:2-3); the "inward parts" are and "belly" is metonymy of subject for man's soul and spirit (18:8; 20:27; Job 32:18-19; Ps 44:25). Stripes, applied on the back by a rod, for the purpose of correcting behavior, will have the same training result that the wound of the first clause has (17:10;19:29; Ps 89:32; Deut 25:2-3).
Our beautiful proverb teaches God's ordinance of corporal punishment. But our twisted society will suction babies apart in the womb, while protecting teenagers and criminals from being touched! These perverse persons are the devilish corrupters of our nation.
Let every parent remember the rule - the rod works. Let every school principal and magistrate consider - the rod works. Let every friend consider - sharp reproofs work! The wise use of corporal punishment will correct fools and sinners and reform the heart.
Let every man humbly and gratefully receive wounds from God and man. For without them, there is no evidence either loves you, and there is no hope for your perfection.
Some natural men limit this proverb to medical advice. The blue color around a wound is evidence that infection is being purged from it! And developed abdominal muscles ("a six-pack") promote the health of your lower internal organs! What an ignorant travesty!
God hates sin. So He severely bruised and wounded the Lord Jesus. During the hours leading to His death, He turned blue from many wounds, and many stripes covered His back. Why? Because He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, chastised for our peace, and by His stripes we are healed (Is 53:5,10). Praise ye the Lord!
