What does "Spare the rod, spoil the child" mean?

Question

I understand the 'spoil the child' part. But I don't get where the 'spare the rod' thing even comes in.

Answer 1

It means if you don't beat your kids(at least when they are acting bad), they will be spoiled.

Answer 2

a rod is like a cane and a spoil is like waste soil left over from mining...  so my (purposefully dumb) guess would be...

Don't get the kid caned, let them be a sl@gheap instead!  

Answer 3

It advocates corporal punishment ie. striking the child with a rod.

Answer 4

it means don't spank or hit the kid

Answer 5

If you don't chastise (i.e. do not beat your children with sticks/rods, spare as in its early meaning to not be used as in a spare pair of socks) your children will be spoilt.

Personally I have thought it was a tad harsh in modern child rearing practices.  

Answer 6

Spare the rod means don't beat your child. So this phrase means, if you don't beat your child, you will spoil him/her.

Answer 7

Years ago, a dictionary definition gave teaching as the rod.  If one does not teach their children  (sparing the rod) right from wrong and the importance of Independence, they spoil the child.

Answer 8

The rod would be the tool used to spank the child; to spare it means to not use it.

Answer 9

"Spare the rod" means withholding discipline.  The original saying referred to corporal punishment with a stick or a rod.  If you don't punish a child, you will spoil him or her.

Answer 10

it means if you don't spank your child  when they are naughty, they will grow up spoiled, and won't respect your authority.

Answer 11

I'm not even a Bible Thumper, or anything... but if I remember right, bible reads, "spare the rod, hate the child" right?