PROVERBS 26:3 " A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fools back."(KJV) Proverbs is a series of one or two verses together to teach a message. In this case the lesson that is brought out is discipline. All have sinned and need to be taught to not sin. In many cases discipline is applied to enforce obedient behavior. A horse that isn't obedient may require a whip to bring him into obedience of the rider. An ass (or donkey) has a very stubborn personality, and to get it to do what the owner wants, a bridal is placed in his mouth, and pulled to the right or to the left to direct the ass (or donkey) to go the way he would be needed to go. Now for individuals, sometimes a rod for a fools back. This is not to be used to bring blood, but used often enough to bring about obedience and submission to those who are teaching him to follow instructions that will lead him to a righteous life, and away from evil. Some scriptures that indicate that a rod would be for correction: 1 CORINTHIANS 4:20,21 "For the Kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. What will ye? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?"(KJV) 1 SAMUEL 7:14 "I will be his father and he will be my son, if he commit iniquity, I will chasen him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men."(KJV) JOB 21:9 "Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them."(KJV) PSALM 23:4 "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."(KJV) PSALM 89:32 "Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes."(KJV) PROVERBS 10:13 "In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back oh him that is void of understanding."(KJV) PROVERBS 13:24 "He that spareth the rod hateth his son: but he that loves him chasteneth him betimes."(KJV) PROVERBS 22:15 "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him."(KJV) PROVERBS 23:13 "Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die."(KJV) PROVERBS 29:15 "The rod of reproff gives wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame."(KJV) As we can see from these scriptures, God's Word says it is very important to apply the rod of correction to those needing correcting. If no correction, no discipline, let the children do as they please- we find in our society a generation of children left to themselves-as Satan has influenced the parents not to correct them. This is contrary to the teaching of the Bible--what is exactly what Satan wants. We are to follow the teachings in the Bible, as Peter said in ACTS 5:29 "...we ought to obey God rather than men."(KJV) Discipline used properly, brings results. Don't you think that God's way is the best way? Just Thought I'd Ask