Matthew 5:39

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.

📖 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

Referenced Verses

• 1 Cor 6:7 : 7 Therefore it is already altogether a defect in you, that you have lawsuits one with another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?
• Prov 24:29 : 29 Don't say, "I will do to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work."
• Isa 50:6 : 6 I gave my back to the strikers, and my cheeks to those who plucked off the hair; I didn't hide my face from shame and spitting.
• Lam 3:30 : 30 Let him give his cheek to him who strikes him; let him be filled full with reproach.
• Lev 19:18 : 18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people; but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am Yahweh.
• 1 Sam 26:8-9 : 8 Then said Abishai to David, God has delivered up your enemy into your hand this day: now therefore please let me strike him with the spear to the earth at one stroke, and I will not strike him the second time. 9 David said to Abishai, Don't destroy him; for who can put forth his hand against Yahweh's anointed, and be guiltless? 10 David said, As Yahweh lives, Yahweh will strike him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall go down into battle and perish.
• 1 Pet 3:9 : 9 not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but instead blessing; knowing that to this were you called, that you may inherit a blessing.
• 1 Kgs 22:24 : 24 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of Yahweh from me to speak to you?
• 1 Sam 24:10-15 : 10 Behold, this day your eyes have seen how that Yahweh had delivered you today into my hand in the cave: and some bade me kill you; but [my eye] spared you; and I said, I will not put forth my hand against my lord; for he is Yahweh's anointed. 11 Moreover, my father, behold, yes, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe, and didn't kill you, know you and see that there is neither evil nor disobedience in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, though you hunt after my life to take it. 12 Yahweh judge between me and you, and Yahweh avenge me of you; but my hand shall not be on you. 13 As says the proverb of the ancients, Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness; but my hand shall not be on you. 14 After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom do you pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea. 15 Yahweh therefore be judge, and give sentence 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 shall be no grief to you, nor offense of heart to my lord, either that you have shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself. When Yahweh shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember your handmaid. 32 David said to Abigail, Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me: 33 and blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, that have kept me this day from blood guiltiness, and from avenging myself with my own hand. 34 For in very deed, as Yahweh, the God of Israel, lives, who has withheld me from hurting you, except you had hurried and come to meet me, surely there wouldn't have been left to Nabal by the morning light so much as one man-child.
• 1 Thess 5:15 : 15 See that no one returns evil for evil to anyone, but always follow after that which is good, for one another, and for all.
• Jas 5:6 : 6 You have condemned, you have murdered the righteous one. He doesn't resist you.
• 1 Pet 2:20-23 : 20 For what glory is it if, when you sin, you patiently endure beating? But if, when you do well, you patiently endure suffering, this is commendable with God. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you{TR reads "us" instead of "you"} an example, that you should follow his steps, 22 who did not sin, "neither was deceit found in his mouth." 23 Who, when he was cursed, didn't curse back. When he suffered, didn't threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously;
• Job 31:29-31 : 29 "If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me, Or lifted up myself when evil found him; 30 (Yes, I have not allowed my mouth to sin By asking his life with a curse); 31 If the men of my tent have not said, 'Who can find one who has not been filled with his meat?'
• Prov 20:22 : 22 Don't say, "I will pay back evil." Wait for Yahweh, and he will save you.
• Luke 6:29-30 : 29 To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer also the other; and from him who takes away your cloak, don't withhold your coat also. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and don't ask him who takes away your goods to give them back again.
• Luke 22:64 : 64 Having blindfolded him, they struck him on the face and asked him, "Prophesy! Who is the one who struck you?"
• Rom 12:17-19 : 17 Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men. 19 Don't seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God's wrath. For it is written, "Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord."
• Heb 12:4 : 4 You have not yet resisted to blood, striving against sin;
• Job 16:10 : 10 They have gaped on me with their mouth; They have struck me on the cheek reproachfully. They gather themselves together against me.
• Mic 5:1 : 1 Now you shall gather yourself in troops, Daughter of troops. He has laid siege against us; They will strike the judge of Israel with a rod on the cheek.