# Didache 4.9

- Author: Anonymous
- Work: [Didache](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/didache/) (*Doctrina duodecim apostolorum*)
- Date: ca. 50–150 (often ca. 100) (disputed)
- Source: Lake, LCL 24:316; Kirsopp Lake, ed. and trans., The Apostolic Fathers, vol. 1, LCL 24 (London: Heinemann; New York: Macmillan, 1912), 308–333 (Greek text: K. Lake, The Apostolic Fathers (LCL, 1912-1913), digitized by the First Thousand Years of Greek project (Open Greek and Latin), CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26
- Canonical URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/didache/4/9/

Summary: Discipline your children and teach them the fear of God from youth.

## Greek text

Οὐκ ἀρεῖς τὴν χεῖρά σου ἀπὸ τοῦ υἱοῦ σου ἢ ἀπὸ τῆς θυγατρός σου, ἀλλὰ ἀπὸ νεότητος διδάξεις τὸν φόβον τοῦ θεοῦ.

## English translation (Claude)

You shall not withhold your hand from your son or your daughter, but from their youth you shall teach them the fear of God.

## Scripture references

- Eph 6:4: echo, medium confidence
- Prov 13:24: echo, low confidence

## Translation notes

- “Not withhold your hand”: that is, do not neglect to discipline or train them.

## Citation (SBL)

Did. 4.9 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/didache/4/9/).