Godly Correction (1 of 5)

Mankind’s morals, standards, and practice of correction have varied across the span of many ages and throughout a widespread diversity of cultures. Understanding correction as God has revealed in scripture will help today’s followers gain the right perception to exercise correction acceptably and effectually.

Correction Defined

Correction, or the act of correcting, is inspired by a belief of acceptable moral behavior and is motivated by a desire to provoke another to depart from evil and to do right. God sets the true bounds of acceptable moral behavior and sanctifies his people through the correction defined in the scriptures of his word.

• Strong’s Hebrew 3198 - יָכַח yâkach; a primitive root; to be right (i.e. correct); reciprocally, to argue; causatively, to decide, justify or convict

• Strong’s Hebrew 4148 - מוּסָר mûwçâr; from 3256; properly, chastisement; figuratively, reproof, warning or instruction; also restraint

• Strong’s Hebrew 8433 -תּוֹכֵחָה tôwkêchâh; and תּוֹכַחַת tôwkachath; from 3198; chastisement; figuratively (by words) correction, refutation, proof (even in defence)

• Strong’s Greek 1882 - ἐπανόρθωσις ěpanǒrthōsis; from a compound of 1909 and 461; a straightening up again, i.e. (figuratively) rectification (reformation)

Gesenius Hebrew Lexicon (yâkach): "to make or set right, e.g. a cause, to decide, to judge …to set right from error, etc. to admonish, to warn”

Gesenius Hebrew Lexicon (mûwçâr): "correction, chastisement …discipline, i.e. warning, admonition, reproof…so of the reproof of other men…Hence example, by which others are warned”

Gesenius Hebrew Lexicon (tôwkêchâh): "reproof, admonition, correction by words …reproof of life, life-giving ...reproofs of instruction, instructive …correction, chastisement, punishment"

Thayer's Greek Lexicon (epanórthōsis): "restoration to an upright or a right state; correction, improvement"

Habakkuk 1:12 KJV - "Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction." (See in context Habakuk 1)

John 17:8, 17 KJV - "8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. ... 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."

2 Timothy 3:16 KJV - "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"

The Essence of Correction

Correction is comprised of abstract qualities which are conveyed through the act and result of correction. God reveals the true essence of correction in scripture.

A Good Thing

Giving and receiving correction is for the good of both the receiver and the giver. For the receiver, correction brings forth wisdom, understanding, humility, happiness, healing, deliverance, redemption, protection, provision, peace, confidence, prosperity, and life. For the giver, correction brings forth delight, blessing, and favor.

Job 5:17-27 KJV - "17 Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: 18 For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole. 19 He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee. 20 In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword. 21 Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh. 22 At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth. 23 For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee. 24 And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin. 25 Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, and thine offspring as the grass of the earth. 26 Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season. 27 Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know thou it for thy good."

Job 33:23, 25-28 KJV - "23 If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness: ... 25 His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth: 26 He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness. 27 He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; 28 He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light."

​Psalm 39:11 KJV - "When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah."

Proverbs 15:31 KJV - "The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise."

Proverbs 15:32 KJV - "He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding."

Proverbs 22:15 KJV - "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him."

Proverbs 24:24-25 KJV - "24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: 25 But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them."

Proverbs 27:5 KJV - "Open rebuke is better than secret love."

Proverbs 28:23 KJV - "He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue."

Proverbs 29:15 KJV - "The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame."

Proverbs 29:17 KJV - "Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul."

Ecclesiastes 7:5 KJV - "It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools."

Hebrews 12:9 KJV - "Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?"

An Act of Redemptive Love

Sin is destructive and brings forth death. A painful correction is an act of redemptive love from the giver.

Leviticus 19:17 KJV - "Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him."

James 1:15 KJV - "Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."

Proverbs 13:24 KJV - "He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes."

Proverbs 27:6 KJV - "Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful."

James 5:20 KJV - "Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins."

Proverbs 3:12 KJV - "For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth."

Revelation 3:19 KJV - "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent."

An Act of Kindness

A strike of correction is an act of kindness.

Psalm 141:5 KJV - "Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities."

An Act of Graciousness

Correction is an act of God's graciousness.

Job 33:23-24 KJV - "23 If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness: 24 Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom."

An Act of Mercy & Gentleness

Correction is an act of mercy and gentleness that is given in the place of God's desolating wrath.

Psalm 141:5 KJV - "Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities."

Jeremiah 10:24 KJV - "O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing."

Jeremiah 30:11 KJV - "For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished." (also Jeremiah 46:28)

Malachi 4:5-6 KJV - "5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."

An Act of Light

Correction is an act of light, as it manifests the dark works of iniquity.

Ephesians 5:13 KJV - "But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light."

Job 33:29-30 KJV - "29 Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man, 30 To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living."

Job 34:22 KJV - "There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves."

Romans 13:12 KJV - "The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light."

An Act of Winning & Gaining Souls

Correction is the act of winning, or gaining, souls. 

​Proverbs 11:30 KJV - "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise."

Proverbs 18:19 KJV - "A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle."

1 Peter 3:1 KJV - "Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;"

Matthew 18:15 KJV – “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother."

1 Corinthians 9:19 KJV - "For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

Matthew 16:26 KJV - "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (also Mark 8:36)

Proverbs 11:30 was made manifest through Solomon. The Hebrew man spoke by the Holy Spirit who declared the wisdom of winning souls. The Hebrew people did not proselyte to Gentiles; however, winning over others to good works was a well-known concept.

In Proverbs 18:19, the word "offended", according to Strong's Hebrew 6586, means, "through the idea of expansion); to break away (from just authority), i.e. trespass, apostatize, quarrel".  Thus, it is hard to win a brother through correction who is in a state of rebellion.

In 1 Peter 3:1, the phrase "be won", according to Strong's Greek 2770, means, "to gain (literally or figuratively)". The same Greek word is rendered "gain" and "gained" in Matthew 16:26, 18:15, and 1 Corinthians 9:19.

The Source, Efficacy & Power of Correction

Correction comes from the Word of God with the efficacy of a dividing sword and devouring fire; and is given to mankind by the power of the Holy Spirit.

From the Word of God

Every absolute moral truth that governs correction comes by the Word of God and is written in scripture.

2 Timothy 3:16 KJV - "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"

Romans 10:17 KJV - "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

1 Peter 1:23 KJV - "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."

A Dividing Sword

The efficacy of correction is as a sharp and two-edged sword that separates evil from good.

Psalm 149:6-9 KJV - "6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand; 7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; 8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; 9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD."

Matthew 10:34-35 KJV - "34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law."

Romans 13:3-4 KJV - "3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil."

Ephesians 6:17 KJV - "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:"

Hebrews 4:12 KJV - "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

Revelation 1:16 KJV - "And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength."

Revelation 2:12, 16 KJV - "12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; ... 16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth."

Revelation 19:15, 21 KJV - "15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. ... 21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh."

A Devouring Fire

The efficacy of correction is as as a fire going forth from the mouth to devour wickedness.

Psalm 18:6-8, 15 KJV - "6 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears. 7 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth. 8 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. ... 15 Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils." (also 2 Samuel 22:7-9, 16)

Jeremiah 5:14 KJV - "Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them."

Jeremiah 20:9 KJV - "Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay."

Jeremiah 23:29 KJV - "Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?"

Revelation 11:3-5 KJV - "3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed."

By The Power of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit brings the power of correction to and through mankind.

John 16:8-11, 13 KJV - "8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. ... 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come."

Acts 2:4 KJV - "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."

2 Peter 1:21 KJV - "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

*This study continues in Godly Correction (2 of 5).