Mazmur 89:30-32

89:30 If his sons reject my law

and disobey my regulations,

89:31 if they break ¹  my rules

and do not keep my commandments,

89:32 I will punish their rebellion by beating them with a club, ² 

their sin by inflicting them with bruises. ³ 

[89:31]  ¹ tn Or “desecrate.”

[89:32]  ² tn Heb “I will punish with a club their rebellion.”

[89:32]  sn Despite the harsh image of beating…with a club, the language reflects a father-son relationship (see v. 30; 2 Sam 7:14). According to Proverbs, a שֵׁבֶט (shevet, “club”) was sometimes utilized to administer corporal punishment to rebellious children (see Prov 13:24; 22:15; 23:13-14; 29:15).

[89:32]  ³ tn Heb “with blows their sin.”