Lexical Summary musar: Discipline, instruction, correction, chastisement Original Word: מוּסָר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance bond, chastening eth, chastisement, check, correction, disciplineFrom 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 Originfrom 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: 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: 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). 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 ūmūsārLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman'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 Job 12:18 Job 20:3 Job 36:10 Psalm 50:17 Proverbs 1:2 Proverbs 1:3 Proverbs 1:7 Proverbs 1:8 Proverbs 3:11 Proverbs 4:1 Proverbs 4:13 Proverbs 5:12 Proverbs 5:23 Proverbs 6:23 Proverbs 7:22 Proverbs 8:10 Proverbs 8:33 Proverbs 10:17 Proverbs 12:1 Proverbs 13:1 Proverbs 13:18 Proverbs 13:24 Proverbs 15:5 50 Occurrences |
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