Discipline/Instruct
יָסַר (Yasar)
To discipline, instruct, correct, or chasten — training through correction.
The Hebrew word yasar means to discipline, instruct, or chasten — describing the loving correction God uses to train His children in righteousness.
"My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth." — Proverbs 3:11-12 (KJV)
Key Verses
Proverbs 3:11-12
“My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.”Read in context
Psalm 94:12
“Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law.”Read in context
Deuteronomy 8:5
“Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.”Read in context
Strong's Concordance
Strong's H3256 — Discipline/Instruct (יָסַר (Yasar))
Browse the full lexicon entry and every KJV verse where יָסַר (Yasar) appears.
Open Strong's H3256The Meaning of Yasar
Yasar means to discipline, correct, instruct, or chasten. It encompasses the full range of training — from gentle instruction to firm correction. The word carries the sense of a parent training a beloved child, not a judge punishing a criminal. Divine discipline is rooted in love and aimed at growth.
Discipline as Love
Proverbs 3:11-12 directly connects discipline with love: 'Whom the LORD loveth he correcteth.' Far from being evidence of God's anger, discipline is proof of His fatherly affection. A father who never corrects his child is negligent; God's discipline demonstrates that He takes His relationship with His children seriously.
The Fruit of Discipline
Hebrews 12:11 acknowledges that 'no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness.' Divine discipline is temporarily painful but ultimately produces maturity, peace, and righteousness. Those who submit to God's correction emerge stronger and wiser.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does yasar mean in Hebrew?
Yasar means to discipline, instruct, correct, or chasten. It describes the loving training a parent gives a child, used of God's corrective work in the lives of His people.
Why does God discipline His children?
God disciplines out of love (Proverbs 3:12) and for our good — to produce holiness, righteousness, and spiritual maturity. Discipline is evidence of sonship, not rejection.
What is the Hebrew word for "Discipline/Instruct" in the Bible?
יָסַר (Yasar), pronounced "yah-SAHR." It means to discipline, instruct, correct, or chasten — training through correction. Its Strong's number is H3256. It is the word behind "Discipline/Instruct" in the Old Testament, for example in Proverbs 3:11-12.
Which Bible verse uses the word "Discipline/Instruct"?
Proverbs 3:11-12 — "My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth" (KJV). It also appears in Psalm 94:12, Deuteronomy 8:5.
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Discipline/Instruct (יָסַר (Yasar))
To discipline, instruct, correct, or chasten — training through correction.
Strong's H3256 — Discipline/Instruct
יָסַר (Yasar) • To discipline, instruct, correct, or chasten — training through correction.
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