And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Apostle isn't just quoting Proverbs; he's revealing that the words of Scripture, like this fatherly counsel from Solomon, are actually God speaking directly to us as His children. This shifts the focus from ancient wisdom to a present, intimate conversation with the Lord about how we handle His discipline.
And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The author is reminding the Hebrew Christians that they've faced hardships before and have forgotten a crucial truth: God disciplines His children. He quotes Proverbs to show that suffering is not arbitrary but a loving correction meant to guide them, urging them not to dismiss or despair when God steps in to refine them.
Have you ever felt like God's guidance was distant or harsh? This verse reminds us that His communication, even in tough times, is deeply personal.
The author of Hebrews quotes Proverbs 3:11, framing it as an "exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children." This isn't just a general saying; it's presented as God's direct voice, like a father speaking to his beloved son.
When life gets tough, we can either dismiss God's hand or collapse under its weight. This verse warns against both extremes.
The core of this exhortation tackles two common reactions to God's discipline:
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Understand the original words
paideia · Greek Noun
The training, correction, or upbringing provided by a father to a child. In a theological sense, it is the redemptive, loving correction God uses to form the character of His children and bring them to maturity.
The exhortation to view God's discipline not lightly, but with patient endurance, comes from ancient Israelite wisdom literature, which was familiar to the early Jewish Christians. The author of Hebrews draws on this established understanding to encourage perseverance amidst their current suffering.
c. 950 BC
Solomon's Proverbs Written
King Solomon, known for his wisdom, compiles the Book of Proverbs, including the foundational counsel found in Proverbs 3:11-12, which addresses the proper response to God's discipline.
c. 500-450 BC
Septuagint Translation
The Book of Proverbs is translated into Greek as part of the Septuagint, making its wisdom accessible to a wider Hellenistic Jewish audience and preserving the wording quoted in Hebrews.
c. AD 60-65— this verse
Epistle to the Hebrews Written
The author of Hebrews writes to a community of Jewish Christians facing severe persecution and pressure to revert to Judaism. The letter encourages them to persevere in their faith in Jesus.
This is the direct source of the quote in Hebrews, establishing the foundation of God's fatherly discipline as a loving correction, not mere punishment.
Job 5:17This passage echoes the sentiment that the 'blessed' person is one whom God corrects, reinforcing the idea that discipline is a sign of favor and a path to wisdom.
Psalm 119:71This verse highlights how affliction (suffering) can be beneficial for learning God's statutes, aligning with the purpose of discipline mentioned in Hebrews.
1 Corinthians 11:32This passage speaks of believers being disciplined by the Lord so they will not be condemned with the world, emphasizing that God's correction is for our ultimate good and salvation.
Revelation 3:19Jesus tells the church at Laodicea that He disciplines those He loves, showing that enduring God's correction is a sign of His ongoing love and care for His people.
vincentHebrews 12:5: "And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:"
Ye have forgotten (ἐκλέλησθε)N.T.o. Common in Class., olxx. The simple verb λανθάνειν means to escape notice; to be unseen or unknown. Middle and passive, to let a thing escape; forget. Some render interrogatively, "have ye forgotten?"Speaketh unto you (ὑμῖν διαλέγεται)The verb always in the sense of mu…
barnesHebrews 12:5: "And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:"
And ye have forgotten the exhortation - This exhortation is found in Proverbs 3:11-12 . The object of the apostle in introducing it here is, to show that afflictions were designed on the part of God to produce some happy effects in the lives of his people, and that they ought, therefore, to bear them patientl…
The Apostle isn't just quoting Proverbs; he's revealing that the words of Scripture, like this fatherly counsel from Solomon, are actually God speaking directly to us as His children. This shifts the focus from ancient wisdom to a present, intimate conversation with the Lord about how we handle His discipline.
The author is reminding the Hebrew Christians that they've faced hardships before and have forgotten a crucial truth: God disciplines His children. He quotes Proverbs to show that suffering is not arbitrary but a loving correction meant to guide them, urging them not to dismiss or despair when God steps in to refine them.
The author is reminding the Hebrew Christians that they've faced hardships before and have forgotten a crucial truth: God disciplines His children. He quotes Proverbs to show that suffering is not arbitrary but a loving correction meant to guide them, urging them not to dismiss or despair when God steps in to refine them.
"And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him." — The Apostle isn't just quoting Proverbs; he's revealing that the words of Scripture, like this fatherly counsel from Solomon, are actually God speaking directly to *us* as His children. This shifts t…
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Last reviewed October 2026