4148. musar
Lexical Summary
musar: Discipline, instruction, correction, chastisement

Original Word: מוּסָר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: muwcar
Pronunciation: moo-sar'
Phonetic Spelling: (moo-sawr')
KJV: bond, chastening ((-eth)), chastisement, check, correction, discipline, doctrine, instruction, rebuke
NASB: instruction, discipline, chastening, correction, punishment, chastise, disciplines
Word Origin: [from H3256 (יָסַר - chasten)]

1. (properly) chastisement
2. (figuratively) reproof, warning or instruction
3. also restraint

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
bond, chastening eth, chastisement, check, correction, discipline

From yacar; properly, chastisement; figuratively, reproof, warning or instruction; also restraint -- bond, chastening ((-eth)), chastisement, check, correction, discipline, doctrine, instruction, rebuke.

see HEBREW yacar

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from yasar
Definition
discipline, chastening, correction
NASB Translation
chastening (3), chastise (1), correction (3), discipline (18), disciplines (1), instruction (20), punishment (2), reproof (1), warning (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
מוּסָר noun masculineProverbs 15:10 discipline (of the moral nature), chastening, correction; — ׳מ Jeremiah 2:30 31t. (Ezekiel 5:15 strike out Co); construct מוּסַר Deuteronomy 11:2 14t. (for Job 12:28 see אסר); suffix מוּסָרִי Proverbs 8:10; מוּסָֽרְךָ Isaiah 26:16; מֹסָרָם Job 33:16 (for מֻסָרָם Di SS); — discipline, correction, of God, Deuteronomy 11:2 ׳מוּסַר י the discipline of ׳י (of Y.'s wonders, as exercising a disciplinary, educating influence upon Israel, compare Dr); ׳לקח מ Jeremiah 17:23; Jeremiah 32:33; Jeremiah 35:13; Zephaniah 3:2,7; Psalm 50:17; Job 33:16; Job 36:10; בְּלִמָּתִי ׳מ the correction of (i.e. which lead-eth to) my shame Job 20:3.

b. הבלים עֵץ הוּא ׳מ the discipline of unreal gods is wood (is like themselves, destitute of true moral force) Jeremiah 10:8; Ezekiel 5:15 = warning example (?) Ew Sm ("" שְׁמָמָה; strike out ᵐ5 CO).

c. in Proverbs, discipline in the school of wisdom: ׳חכמה ומ Ezekiel 1:2,7; Ezekiel 23:23; חכמה ׳מ discipline of wisdom Ezekiel 15:33; הַשְׂכֵּל ׳מ Ezekiel 1:3; ׳תוכחות מ Ezekiel 6:23; לִבֶּ֑ךָ ׳הָבִיאָה לַמּ Ezekiel 23:12 apply thy mind to discipline; ׳קבּל מ Ezekiel 19:20; ׳לקח מ Ezekiel 1:3; Ezekiel 8:10; Ezekiel 24:32 (compare Jeremiah above); קנה ׳מ Ezekiel 23:23; ׳שׁמע מ Ezekiel 8:23; Ezekiel 19:27; ׳שׁמר מ Ezekiel 10:17; ׳אהב מ Ezekiel 12:1; ׳החזק במ Ezekiel 4:13; the reverse ׳שׂנא מ Ezekiel 5:12; פרע ׳מ Ezekiel 13:18; Ezekiel 15:32; ׳בזה מ Ezekiel 1:7; ׳באין מ for lack of discipline Ezekiel 5:23 ("" בְּרֹב אִיַלְתּוֺ); אֱוִלִים אִוֶּלֶת ׳מ Ezekiel 16:22 the discipline of fools is folly; of paternal discipline, correction, Proverbs 1:8; Proverbs 4:1; Proverbs 13:1.

2 more severely, chastening, chastisement: a. of God, יהוה ׳מ Proverbs 3:11 chastening of Yahweh; שׁדַּי ׳מ Job 5:17; מוּסָֽרְךָ Isaiah 26:16; שְׁלוֺמֵנוּ עָלָיו ׳מ Isaiah 53:5 chastisement of (i.e. leading to) our peace was upon him; ׳לקח מ Jeremiah 2:30; Jeremiah 5:3; Jeremiah 7:28; אַכְזָרִי ׳מ Jeremiah 30:14 chastisement of a cruel one, ᵑ0, but read ׳מוּסָר א cruel chastisement, Gf and especially Gie; לְכֻלָּם ׳אני מ Hosea 5:2 I am a chastisement for them all.

b. of man, Proverbs 15:5; Proverbs 23:13; ׳שִׁחֲרוֺ מ Proverbs 13:24; ׳שֵׁבֶט מ Proverbs 22:15; אויל ׳מ Proverbs 7:22 chastisement of a fool; מוּסָר רָע Proverbs 15:10 grievous chastisement.

Topical Lexicon
Overview and Semantic Range

מוּסָר brings together the ideas of discipline, correction, chastening, rebuke, and formative instruction. It may be administered by parents (Proverbs 1:8), sages (Proverbs 8:33), kings (Proverbs 29:15), or by the LORD Himself (Job 5:17; Proverbs 3:11-12). Always implicit is the goal of shaping character toward covenant fidelity and reverent wisdom rather than mere punishment.

Occurrences across the Old Testament

Approximately fifty appearances span Wisdom Literature (especially Proverbs), the Prophets, and selected Psalms and historical reflections:
• Wisdom corpus: Proverbs (roughly thirty instances), Job 5:17; Ecclesiastes 7:5.
• Psalms: 50:17; 94:12; 118:18.
• Major Prophets: Isaiah 26:16; 53:5; Jeremiah 2:30; 5:3; 7:28; 17:23; 32:33.
• Minor Prophets: Zephaniah 3:2, 3:7.

Relationship to Covenant Life

Divine מוּסָר is covenantal in tone. Blessing and curse motifs intertwine: “Blessed is the man You discipline, O LORD, and teach from Your law” (Psalm 94:12). Conversely, national refusal of מוּסָר invites judgment: “This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the LORD their God or accept correction” (Jeremiah 7:28). Thus, discipline safeguards covenant continuity while its rejection threatens exile and devastation.

Parental and Pedagogical Dimension

Parental exhortations in Proverbs establish home life as the seedbed of covenant obedience:
• “My son, do not despise the discipline of the LORD, and do not loathe His correction” (Proverbs 3:11).
• “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him” (Proverbs 22:15).

Such passages assume parents mirror God’s formative purposes, blending firmness and love (compare Hebrews 12:5-11 for later resonance).

Prophetic and Exilic Contexts

Pre-exilic prophets frame national calamities as intensified מוּסָר meant to produce repentance: “In vain I struck your sons; they accepted no discipline” (Jeremiah 2:30). Even after Jerusalem’s fall the objective remained restorative: “Surely you will fear Me, accept correction… but they were quick to act corruptly” (Zephaniah 3:7). Exilic suffering, therefore, functions as extended covenant discipline rather than permanent rejection.

Wisdom Literature Emphasis

Proverbs regularly pairs מוּסָר with “knowledge,” “understanding,” and “fear of the LORD,” insisting that wisdom cannot be grasped without receptivity to correction. “He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding” (Proverbs 15:32). Wisdom’s personified call (Proverbs 1:23-25) shows that to refuse discipline is to refuse life.

Contrast with Folly and Rebellion

Fools and scoffers are defined by their allergy to מוּסָר. “How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?” (Proverbs 1:22). Refusal results in calamity when wisdom’s protective boundary is withdrawn (Proverbs 1:26-33). Thus, discipline is a mercy; rejection of it is self-destructive.

Messianic and Eschatological Echoes

Isaiah 53:5 links מוּסָר with redemptive suffering: “The chastisement that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” The Servant bears covenant discipline in place of the guilty, achieving peace and opening a path for renewed obedience. Eschatologically, Zechariah 13:9 (using the cognate verb) hints at a refined remnant responding to divine correction, previewing the final restoration when discipline has done its full work.

Practical Ministry Implications

1. Pastoral care should reflect God’s pattern—discipline aimed at restoration, never humiliation (Galatians 6:1 parallels the concept).
2. Preaching that omits corrective elements deprives hearers of an essential means of grace.
3. Parental training must couple admonition with instruction, modeling the balance of Proverbs 29:17: “Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will bring delight to your soul.”
4. Church discipline, wisely exercised (Matthew 18:15-17), continues the biblical trajectory of מוּסָר, safeguarding the testimony of the gospel and the holiness of the congregation.

New Testament Resonance

Though Greek terms shift, the thematic continuity is evident: παιδεία (paideia) in Hebrews 12:5-11 quotes Proverbs 3:11-12 verbatim, affirming that God’s fatherly discipline “produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Revelation 3:19 echoes the prophetic pattern: “Those I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent.” Thus, מוּסָר remains a living category, fulfilled and embodied in the redemptive work of Christ and the ongoing sanctifying ministry of the Spirit.

Forms and Transliterations
בַּמּוּסָ֣ר במוסר וּ֝מוּסָ֗ר וּמוּסַ֖ר וּמוּסַ֥ר וּמוּסָ֑ר וּמוּסָ֣ר ומוסר לַמּוּסָ֑ר לַמּוּסָ֣ר למוסר מ֝וּסָ֗ר מ֣וּסַר מ֭וּסָר מוּסַ֖ר מוּסַ֣ר מוּסַ֤ר מוּסַ֥ר מוּסָ֑ר מוּסָ֔ר מוּסָ֖ר מוּסָ֛ר מוּסָ֣ר מוּסָ֥ר מוּסָֽר׃ מוּסָרְךָ֖ מוּסָרִ֥י מוסר מוסר׃ מוסרי מוסרך bam·mū·sār bammuSar bammūsār lam·mū·sār lammuSar lammūsār mū·sā·rə·ḵā mū·sā·rî mū·sar mū·sār muSar mūsar mūsār musareCha mūsārəḵā musaRi mūsārî Musor ū·mū·sar ū·mū·sār umuSar ūmūsar ūmūsār
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Deuteronomy 11:2
HEB: רָא֔וּ אֶת־ מוּסַ֖ר יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם
NAS: have not seen the discipline of the LORD
KJV: and which have not seen the chastisement of the LORD
INT: have not seen the discipline of the LORD your God

Job 5:17
HEB: יוֹכִחֶ֣נּֽוּ אֱל֑וֹהַּ וּמוּסַ֥ר שַׁ֝דַּ֗י אַל־
NAS: So do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
KJV: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:
INT: reproves God the discipline of the Almighty nay

Job 12:18
HEB: מוּסַ֣ר מְלָכִ֣ים פִּתֵּ֑חַ
KJV: He looseth the bond of kings,
INT: the bond of kings loosens

Job 20:3
HEB: מוּסַ֣ר כְּלִמָּתִ֣י אֶשְׁמָ֑ע
NAS: I listened to the reproof which insults
KJV: I have heard the check of my reproach,
INT: to the reproof insults listened

Job 36:10
HEB: וַיִּ֣גֶל אָ֭זְנָם לַמּוּסָ֑ר וַ֝יֹּ֗אמֶר כִּֽי־
NAS: their ear to instruction, And commands
KJV: also their ear to discipline, and commandeth
INT: opens their ear to instruction and commands for

Psalm 50:17
HEB: וְ֭אַתָּה שָׂנֵ֣אתָ מוּסָ֑ר וַתַּשְׁלֵ֖ךְ דְּבָרַ֣י
NAS: For you hate discipline, And you cast
KJV: Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest
INT: you hate discipline cast my words

Proverbs 1:2
HEB: לָדַ֣עַת חָכְמָ֣ה וּמוּסָ֑ר לְ֝הָבִ֗ין אִמְרֵ֥י
NAS: wisdom and instruction, To discern
KJV: wisdom and instruction; to perceive
INT: to know wisdom and instruction to discern the sayings

Proverbs 1:3
HEB: לָ֭קַחַת מוּסַ֣ר הַשְׂכֵּ֑ל צֶ֥דֶק
NAS: To receive instruction in wise behavior,
KJV: To receive the instruction of wisdom,
INT: to receive instruction wise Righteousness

Proverbs 1:7
HEB: דָּ֑עַת חָכְמָ֥ה וּ֝מוּסָ֗ר אֱוִילִ֥ים בָּֽזוּ׃
NAS: despise wisdom and instruction.
KJV: despise wisdom and instruction.
INT: of knowledge wisdom and instruction Fools despise

Proverbs 1:8
HEB: שְׁמַ֣ע בְּ֭נִי מוּסַ֣ר אָבִ֑יךָ וְאַל־
NAS: your father's instruction And do not forsake
KJV: hear the instruction of thy father,
INT: Hear my son instruction your father's not

Proverbs 3:11
HEB: מוּסַ֣ר יְ֭הוָה בְּנִ֣י
NAS: do not reject the discipline of the LORD
KJV: despise not the chastening of the LORD;
INT: the discipline of the LORD my son

Proverbs 4:1
HEB: שִׁמְע֣וּ בָ֭נִים מ֣וּסַר אָ֑ב וְ֝הַקְשִׁ֗יבוּ
NAS: [O] sons, the instruction of a father,
KJV: ye children, the instruction of a father,
INT: Hear sons the instruction of a father and give

Proverbs 4:13
HEB: הַחֲזֵ֣ק בַּמּוּסָ֣ר אַל־ תֶּ֑רֶף
NAS: Take hold of instruction; do not let go.
KJV: Take fast hold of instruction; let [her] not go:
INT: Take of instruction not let

Proverbs 5:12
HEB: אֵ֭יךְ שָׂנֵ֣אתִי מוּסָ֑ר וְ֝תוֹכַ֗חַת נָאַ֥ץ
NAS: I have hated instruction! And my heart
KJV: How have I hated instruction, and my heart
INT: How have hated instruction reproof spurned

Proverbs 5:23
HEB: יָ֭מוּת בְּאֵ֣ין מוּסָ֑ר וּבְרֹ֖ב אִוַּלְתּ֣וֹ
NAS: for lack of instruction, And in the greatness
KJV: He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness
INT: will die lack of instruction the greatness of his folly

Proverbs 6:23
HEB: חַ֝יִּ֗ים תּוֹכְח֥וֹת מוּסָֽר׃
NAS: And reproofs for discipline are the way
KJV: and reproofs of instruction [are] the way
INT: of life and reproofs discipline

Proverbs 7:22
HEB: וּ֝כְעֶ֗כֶס אֶל־ מוּסַ֥ר אֱוִֽיל׃
NAS: Or as [one in] fetters to the discipline of a fool,
KJV: or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
INT: fetters to the discipline of a fool

Proverbs 8:10
HEB: קְחֽוּ־ מוּסָרִ֥י וְאַל־ כָּ֑סֶף
NAS: Take my instruction and not silver,
KJV: Receive my instruction, and not silver;
INT: Take my instruction and not silver

Proverbs 8:33
HEB: שִׁמְע֖וּ מוּסָ֥ר וַחֲכָ֗מוּ וְאַל־
NAS: Heed instruction and be wise,
KJV: Hear instruction, and be wise,
INT: Heed instruction and be wise not

Proverbs 10:17
HEB: לְ֭חַיִּים שׁוֹמֵ֣ר מוּסָ֑ר וְעוֹזֵ֖ב תּוֹכַ֣חַת
NAS: who heeds instruction, But he who ignores
KJV: that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth
INT: of life heeds instruction ignores reproof

Proverbs 12:1
HEB: אֹהֵ֣ב מ֭וּסָר אֹ֣הֵֽב דָּ֑עַת
NAS: Whoever loves discipline loves
KJV: Whoso loveth instruction loveth
INT: loves discipline loves knowledge

Proverbs 13:1
HEB: בֵּ֣ן חָ֭כָם מ֣וּסַר אָ֑ב וְ֝לֵ֗ץ
NAS: [accepts his] father's discipline, But a scoffer
KJV: [heareth] his father's instruction: but a scorner
INT: son A wise discipline father's A scorner

Proverbs 13:18
HEB: וְ֭קָלוֹן פּוֹרֵ֣עַ מוּסָ֑ר וְשׁוֹמֵ֖ר תּוֹכַ֣חַת
NAS: [will come] to him who neglects discipline, But he who regards
KJV: [shall be to] him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth
INT: and shame neglects discipline regards reproof

Proverbs 13:24
HEB: וְ֝אֹהֲב֗וֹ שִֽׁחֲר֥וֹ מוּסָֽר׃
NAS: But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.
KJV: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
INT: loves diligently disciplines

Proverbs 15:5
HEB: אֱוִ֗יל יִ֭נְאַץ מוּסַ֣ר אָבִ֑יו וְשֹׁמֵ֖ר
NAS: his father's discipline, But he who regards
KJV: his father's instruction: but he that regardeth
INT: A fool rejects discipline his father's regards

50 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 4148
50 Occurrences


bam·mū·sār — 1 Occ.
lam·mū·sār — 2 Occ.
mū·sar — 38 Occ.
mū·sā·rə·ḵā — 1 Occ.
mū·sā·rî — 1 Occ.
mū·sār — 2 Occ.
ū·mū·sar — 5 Occ.

4147
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