Matthew 5:39

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.

📖 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

• 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.

• 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.

• 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 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because you go to law one with another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather allow yourselves to be defrauded?
• Prov 24:29 : 29 Do not say, I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for his work.
• Isa 50:6 : 6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to those that plucked off the hair: I did not hide my face from shame and spitting.
• Lam 3:30 : 30 He gives his cheek to the one who strikes him; he is filled with reproach.
• Lev 19:18 : 18 You shall not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.
• 1 Sam 26:8-9 : 8 Then Abishai said to David, "God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day. Now, therefore, let me strike him with the spear to the ground with one stroke, and I will not strike him a second time." 9 And David said to Abishai, "Do not destroy him, for who can stretch out his hand against the LORD's anointed and be guiltless?" 10 David said furthermore, "As the LORD lives, the LORD will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he shall go down into battle and perish."
• 1 Pet 3:9 : 9 Not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
• 1 Kgs 22:24 : 24 But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way did the Spirit of the Lord go from me to speak to you?
• 1 Sam 24:10-15 : 10 Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the LORD delivered you today into my hand in the cave: and some urged me to kill you: but my eye spared you; and I said, I will not put forth my hand against my lord; for he is the LORD'S anointed. 11 Moreover, my father, see, yes, see the edge of your robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the edge of your robe and killed you not, know and see that there is neither evil nor rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you; yet you hunt my soul to take it. 12 The LORD judge between me and you, and the LORD avenge me of you; but my hand shall not be upon you. 13 As says the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness comes from the wicked: but my hand shall not be upon you. 14 After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom do you pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea. 15 The LORD therefore be judge and judge between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand.
• 1 Sam 25:31-34 : 31 that this will be no grief to you, nor a cause of remorse of heart to my lord, either that you have shed blood without cause or that my lord has avenged himself. But when the LORD has dealt well with my lord, then remember your maidservant. 32 And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me. 33 And blessed is your advice, and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand. 34 For indeed, as the LORD God of Israel lives, who has kept me back from harming you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, surely by morning light no males would have been left to Nabal.
• 1 Thess 5:15 : 15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone; but always pursue what is good, both for yourselves and for all.
• Jas 5:6 : 6 You have condemned and killed the righteous; and he does not resist you.
• 1 Pet 2:20-23 : 20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer for it, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22 Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth: 23 Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously:
• Job 31:29-31 : 29 If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted myself up when evil found him; 30 Neither have I allowed my mouth to sin by wishing a curse upon his soul. 31 If the men of my tent have not said, 'Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.'
• Prov 20:22 : 22 Do not say, I will recompense evil; wait on the LORD, and He shall save you.
• Luke 6:29-30 : 29 And to him who strikes you on one cheek, offer also the other; and to him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your coat also. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you; and from him who takes away your goods, do not ask them back.
• Luke 22:64 : 64 And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that struck you?
• Rom 12:17-19 : 17 Repay no one evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine; I will repay,' says the Lord.
• Heb 12:4 : 4 You have not yet resisted to the point of bloodshed, striving against sin.
• Job 16:10 : 10 They gape upon me with their mouth; they strike me on the cheek reproachfully; they gather themselves together against me.
• Mic 5:1 : 1 Now gather yourself in troops, O daughter of troops: he has laid siege against us; they shall strike the judge of Israel with a rod on the cheek.