Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts.
Note, 1. Many need severe rebukes. Some children are so obstinate that their parents can do no good with them without sharp correction; some criminals must feel the rigour of the law and public justice; gentle methods will not work upon them; they must be beaten black and blue. And the wise God sees that his own children sometimes need very sharp afflictions. 2.
The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil,.... Rubs it off and scours it away, as the word (m) signifies, or is a clearing and rubbing it off; some men must be beaten black and blue, or must have very sore correction, before they can be reclaimed and reformed from their evil ways; so some interpret it of the evil man (n): sanctified afflictions to...
blueness--literally, "joining," the process of uniting the edges of a wound throws off purulent matter. stripes . . . belly--So punishment provides healing of soul (Pro 18:8), by deterring from evil courses. Next: Proverbs Chapter 21