A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.

A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, And a rod for the back of fools.

A whip for a horse, and a snaffle for an ass, and a rod for the back of fools.

A whip for the horse, a mouth-bit for the ass, and a rod for the back of the foolish.

A whip is for a horse, and a muzzle is for donkey, and a rod is for the back of the imprudent.

A whip for the horse - Correction is as suitable to a fool, as a whip is for a horse, or a bridle for an ass.

A whip for the horse,.... One that is dull of going, or refractory and wants breaking;
a bridle for the ass; not to curb and restrain it from going too fist, asses being generally dull; but to direct its way and turn it when necessary, it being stiffnecked and obstinate; though the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions, render it a "spear" or "goad", something to prick with, and excite it to motion; and so the Targum; or otherwise one would have thought the whip was fitter for the ass and the bridle for the horse;
and a rod for the fool's back; suggesting that the fool, or wicked man, is like the horse or the mule; though not without understanding of things natural, yet of things divine and moral; and as stupid as the ass, however wise he may conceit himself to be, being born like a wild ass's colt; and instead of honour being given him, stripes should be laid upon him; he should be reproved sharply, and corrected for his wickedness, especially the causeless curser, Proverbs 19:29.

Every creature must be dealt with according to its nature, but careless and profligate sinners never will be ruled by reason and persuasion. Man indeed is born like the wild ass's colt; but some, by the grace of God, are changed.

The rod is as much needed by fools and as well suited to them, as whips and bridles are for beasts.

3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass,
And a rod for the back of fools.
J. D. Michaelis supposes that the order should be reversed: a bridle for the horse, a whip for the ass; but Arnoldi has here discovered the figure of speech merismus (cf. Proverbs 10:1); and Hitzig, in the manner of the division, the rhythmical reason of the combination (cf. שׁם חם ויפת for שׁם יפת וחם): whip and bridle belong to both, for one whips a horse (Nehemiah 3:2) and also bridles him; one bridles an ass (Psalm 32:9) and also whips him (Numbers 22:28.). As whip and bridle are both serviceable and necessary, so also serviceable and necessary is a rod, לגו כּסילים, Proverbs 10:13; Proverbs 19:29.