Matthew 5:39

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other also.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω ὑμῖν, Μὴ ἀντιστῆναι τῷ πονηρῷ: ἀλλʼ ὅστις σε ῥαπίσει ἐπί τὴν δεξιάν σου σιαγόνα, στρέψον αὐτῷ καὶ τὴν ἄλλην.

Transliteration

Egō de legō to-you, Not antistēnai to-the ponērō: but hostis you rapisei upon the dexian of-you siagona, strepson to-him also the allēn.

Grammar Details

• *Egō*: nominative personal pronoun - I
• *de*: postpositive conjunction - but/and
• *legō*: present active indicative, 1st person singular - I say/tell
• *antistēnai*: aorist active infinitive - to resist/oppose
• *ponērō*: dative masculine singular - to evil/evil person
• *hostis*: indefinite relative pronoun - whoever
• *rapisei*: future active indicative, 3rd person singular - will slap/strike
• *dexian*: accusative feminine singular - right
• *siagona*: accusative feminine singular - cheek
• *strepson*: aorist active imperative, 2nd person singular - turn!
• *allēn*: accusative feminine singular - other/another

Word Meanings

• *Egō*: I/myself
• *legō*: say/tell/speak
• *antistēnai*: to resist/oppose/stand against
• *ponērō*: evil person/evil one/evil (could be person or abstract)
• *hostis*: whoever/anyone who
• *rapisei*: will slap/strike/hit
• *dexian*: right/right-hand
• *siagona*: cheek/jawbone
• *strepson*: turn/twist/direct
• *allēn*: other/another/different

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  But I say to you, do not resist an evil person: but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  but{G1161} I{G1473} say{G3004} unto you,{G5213} resist{G436} not{G3361} him that is evil:{G4190} but{G235} whosoever{G3748} smiteth{G4474} thee{G4571} on{G1909} thy{G4675} right{G1188} cheek,{G4600} turn{G4762} to him{G846} the other{G243} also.{G2532}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  But{G1161} I{G1473} say{G3004}{(G5719)} unto you{G5213}, That ye resist{G436}{(G5629)} not{G3361} evil{G4190}: but{G235} whosoever{G3748} shall smite{G4474}{(G5692)} thee{G4571} on{G1909} thy{G4675} right{G1188} cheek{G4600}, turn{G4762}{(G5657)} to him{G846} the other{G243} also{G2532}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  But I saye to you that ye resist not wroge. But whosoever geve the a blowe on thy right cheke tourne to him the other.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  But I saye vnto you: that ye resist not euell. But whosoeuer geueth the a blowe on thy right cheke, turne to him the other also.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  But I say vnto you, Resist not euill: but whosoeuer shall smite thee on thy right cheeke, turne to him the other also.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  But, I say vnto you, that ye resist not euyll. But, whosoeuer geueth thee a blowe on thy right cheeke, turne to him the other also.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ‹But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.›

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  But I tell you, don't resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  but I -- I say to you, not to resist the evil, but whoever shall slap thee on thy right cheek, turn to him also the other;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  but I say unto you, resist not him that is evil: but whosoever smiteth thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  but I say unto you, resist not him that is evil: but whosoever smiteth thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  But I say to you, Do not make use of force against an evil man; but to him who gives you a blow on the right side of your face let the left be turned.

• World English Bible (2000)

  But I tell you, don't resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  But I say to you, do not resist the evildoer. But whoever strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well.

Referenced Verses

• 1 Cor 6:7 : 7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?
• Prov 24:29 : 29 Do not say, 'I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his deeds.'
• Isa 50:6 : 6 I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard. I did not hide my face from insults and spitting.
• Lam 3:30 : 30 Let him offer his cheek to the one who strikes him, and let him be filled with disgrace.
• Lev 19:18 : 18 Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
• 1 Sam 26:8-9 : 8 Abishai said to David, "Today God has delivered your enemy into your hand. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won't need to strike him twice." 9 But David said to Abishai, "Do not destroy him, for who can lay a hand on the LORD's anointed and be guiltless?" 10 David also said, "As surely as the LORD lives, the LORD Himself will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish.
• 1 Pet 3:9 : 9 Do not repay evil for evil or insult for insult, but on the contrary, give a blessing, because to this you were called, so that you may inherit a blessing.
• 1 Kgs 22:24 : 24 Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah went up and slapped Micaiah on the cheek and demanded, 'Which way did the spirit of the LORD go when he left me to speak to you?'
• 1 Sam 24:10-15 : 10 David said to Saul, 'Why do you listen to the words of men who say, "David seeks your harm"?' 11 'This day you have seen with your own eyes how the LORD delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you and said, "I will not lay my hand on my lord because he is the LORD’s anointed."' 12 Look, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. Know and understand that I am not guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not sinned against you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. 13 May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD avenge me against you, but my hand will not be against you. 14 As the old proverb says, 'From evil people comes evil deeds,' so my hand will not be against you. 15 Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea?
• 1 Sam 25:31-34 : 31 my lord will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself. And when the Lord has brought my lord success, remember your servant. 32 David said to Abigail, 'Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me. 33 Blessed be your discernment, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand. 34 Otherwise, as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, who has prevented me from harming you, if you had not hurried to come to meet me, not one male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by morning.
• 1 Thess 5:15 : 15 See that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good, both for one another and for everyone.
• Jas 5:6 : 6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous person, who does not resist you.
• 1 Pet 2:20-23 : 20 What credit is it if you sin and are beaten for it, and you endure? But if you do good and suffer for it, and you endure, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example to follow in His footsteps. 22 He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth. 23 When He was reviled, He did not revile in return. When He suffered, He did not threaten, but entrusted Himself to the One who judges justly.
• Job 31:29-31 : 29 If I have rejoiced at my enemy's misfortune or gloated when harm came to him— 30 I have not allowed my mouth to sin by invoking a curse against their life— 31 if those of my household have never said, ‘Who has not been satisfied with Job’s meat?’
• Prov 20:22 : 22 Do not say, 'I will repay evil'; wait for the Lord, and He will deliver you.
• Luke 6:29-30 : 29 If someone strikes you on one cheek, offer them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt either. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.
• Luke 22:64 : 64 They blindfolded him, struck him in the face, and demanded, 'Prophesy! Who hit you?'
• Rom 12:17-19 : 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord.
• Heb 12:4 : 4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
• Job 16:10 : 10 They gape at me with their mouths; they strike my cheeks in scorn and together they conspire against me.
• Mic 5:1 : 1 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come one for me to be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.