אַל־תִּמְנַ֣ע מִנַּ֣עַר מוּסָ֑ר כִּֽי־תַכֶּ֥נּוּ בַ֝שֵּׁ֗בֶט לֹ֣א יָמֽוּת׃ (Proverbs 23:13)
Do not withhold discipline from a youth for if you strike him with the rod he will not die
Introduction: A Verse of Tension and Training
Proverbs 23:13 addresses discipline—its necessity, its form, and its outcome. The Hebrew verbs in this verse are not merely descriptions of action; they carry strong rhetorical force. The binyanim here give weight to the commands and underline their emotional tone. Each stem—Piel, Qal, and Hiphil (implied)—shows a different aspect of discipline: withholding, striking, and surviving. Let’s explore how binyanim shape this sharp but measured proverb.
Key Verbs and Their Binyanim
1. תִּמְנַע — “you must not withhold”
2. תַכֶּנּוּ — “you strike him”
3. יָמוּת — “he will die”
1. תִּמְנַע — Qal, Imperfect Jussive, 2ms
Root: מָנַע (to withhold)
Binyan: Qal
Voice: Active
Morphology:
– Prefix ת־: 2nd person masculine singular
– Imperfect/jussive mood: polite command with negation אַל
Interpretive Impact:
– The Qal form reflects basic withholding—no causation, just restraint.
– The negation אַל + imperfect suggests a prohibition: “Do not do this.”
– Tone: Firm yet restrained—fitting for correction that avoids overreaction.
2. תַכֶּנּוּ — Piel, Imperfect, 2ms + 3ms suffix
Root: נָכָה (to strike)
Binyan: Piel
Voice: Intensive/Factitive
Morphology:
– Prefix ת־: 2ms imperfect
– Dagesh in second radical = Piel indicator
– Final ־נּוּ: 3ms object suffix (“him”)
Why Piel?
– Qal of נכה is rare and ambiguous.
– Piel brings clarity: it intensifies or renders the action deliberate.
– In context, this is purposeful correction, not incidental striking.
– This form distinguishes the act from abuse—it is measured, moral chastisement.
3. יָמוּת — Qal, Imperfect, 3ms
Root: מוּת (to die)
Binyan: Qal
Voice: Stative
Morphology:
– Prefix י־: 3rd person masculine singular
– Root vowel ָוּ: characteristic of strong stative verb
Interpretive Role:
– The Qal form conveys a state or condition, not an action.
– It reassures: this discipline is not lethal.
– The stative Qal balances the intensive Piel: the blow is real, but its result is not fatal.
Comparative Table: Discipline and the Binyanim
| Verb | Root | Binyan | Voice | Meaning | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| תִּמְנַע | מנע | Qal | Active | Do not withhold | Frames the moral duty: engage in discipline |
| תַכֶּנּוּ | נכה | Piel | Intensive | You strike him | Deliberate and measured corrective action |
| יָמוּת | מות | Qal | Stative | He will not die | Reassures limits of proper discipline |
When Grammar Guards the Line
Discipline is a sensitive subject, and this proverb walks a moral tightrope. The binyanim make that walk possible:
– Qal prohibits passivity: don’t withhold.
– Piel commands intentional action: strike to instruct, not to harm.
– Qal again offers comfort: he shall not die.
The verbal stems structure the verse as a moral staircase—from command, to correction, to containment. The binyanim aren’t just grammar—they are the voice of divine pedagogy.
Discipline, yes. But wisely, and with limits.
