{k} The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.

(k) Sharp punishment that pierces even the inward parts is profitable for the wicked to bring them to amendment.

Wesley's Notes

20:30 The blueness - Grievous wounds, which make men black and blue; or severe punishments. Cleanseth - Are the means to reclaim a wicked man, and to purge out his corruption. The belly - Of the heart. Grievous wounds or stripes cleanse not only the outward man by keeping it from evil actions, but even the inward man, by expelling or subduing vile affections: which is a great and blessed benefit of afflictions.

King James Translators' Notes

cleanseth...: Heb. is a purging medicine against

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

30. blueness-literally, "joining," the process of uniting the edges of a wound throws off purulent matter.

stripes . belly-So punishment provides healing of soul (Pr 18:8), by deterring from evil courses.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

20:30. Severe rebukes sometimes do a great deal of good. But such is the corruption of nature, that men are loth to be rebuked for their sins. If God uses severe afflictions, to purify our hearts and fit us for his service, we have cause to be very thankful.

Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary

Verse 30

Note, 1. Many need severe rebukes. Some children are so obstinate that their parents can do no good with them without sharp correction; some criminals must feel the rigour of the law and public justice; gentle methods will not work upon them; they must be beaten black and blue. And the wise God sees that his own children sometimes need very sharp afflictions. 2. Severe rebukes sometimes do a great deal of good, as corrosives contribute to the cure of a wound, eating out the proud flesh. The rod drives out even that foolishness which was bound up in the heart, and cleanses away the evil there. 3. Frequently those that most need severe rebukes can worse bear them. Such is the corruption of nature that men are as loth to be rebuked sharply for their sins as to be beaten till their bones ache. Correction is grievous to him that forsakes the way, and yet it is good for him, Heb. 12:11.