American Standard Version
Matthew 5:39
39but I say unto you, Resist not him that is evil: but whosoever smiteth thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Matthew 5:39 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.
- English Standard Version (ESV)But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
Context of Matthew 5:39
37But let your speech be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: and whatsoever is more than these is of the evil one. 38Ye have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 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. 40And if any man would go to law with thee, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. 41And whosoever shall compel thee to go one mile, go with him two.
Read all of Matthew 5Matthew 5:39 word by word
ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω ὑμῖν μὴ ἀντιστῆναι τῷ πονηρῷ. ἀλλ᾽ ὅστις σε ῥαπίζει εἰς τὴν δεξιὰν σιαγόνα σου, στρέψον αὐτῷ καὶ τὴν ἄλλην·Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Matthew 5:39
- Leviticus 19:18Thou shalt not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people; but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am Jehovah.
- 1 Samuel 24:10Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that Jehovah had delivered thee to-day into my hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee; but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth my hand against my lord; for he is Jehovah’s anointed.
- 1 Samuel 25:31that this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood without cause, or that my lord hath avenged himself. And when Jehovah shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thy handmaid.
- 1 Samuel 26:8Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered up thine enemy into thy hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear to the earth at one stroke, and I will not smite him the second time.
- Job 31:29If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, Or lifted up myself when evil found him
- Proverbs 20:22Say not thou, I will recompense evil: Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee.
- Proverbs 24:29Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.
- Luke 6:29To him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and from him that taketh away thy cloak withhold not thy coat also.
- Romans 12:17Render to no man evil for evil. Take thought for things honorable in the sight of all men.
- 1 Corinthians 6:7Nay, already it is altogether a defect in you, that ye have lawsuits one with another. Why not rather take wrong? why not rather be defrauded?
- 1 Thessalonians 5:15See that none render unto any one evil for evil; but always follow after that which is good, one toward another, and toward all.
- Hebrews 12:4Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin:
- James 5:6Ye have condemned, ye have killed the righteous one; he doth not resist you.
- 1 Peter 3:9not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but contrariwise blessing; for hereunto were ye called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
- 1 Kings 22:24Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of Jehovah from me to speak unto thee?
- Job 16:10They have gaped upon me with their mouth; They have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully: They gather themselves together against me.
Commentaries on Matthew 5:39
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 39Resist not evil - Or, the evil person. So, I am fully persuaded, ought to be translated. Our Lord's meaning is, "Do not repel one outrage by another." He that does so makes himself precisely what the other is, a wicked person. Turn to him the other also - That is, rather than avenge thyself, be ready to suffer patiently a repetition of the same injury. But these exhortations belong to those principally who are persecuted for righteousness' sake. Let such…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 38-41Verses 38-41 An eye for an eye - This command is found in Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20, and Deuteronomy 19:21. In these places it was given as a rule to regulate the decisions of judges. They were to take eye for eye, and tooth for tooth, and to inflict burning for burning. As a judicial rule it is not unjust. Christ finds no fault with the rule as applied to magistrates, and does not take upon himself to repeal it. But instead of confining it to…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 38-42Verses 38-42 The plain instruction is, Suffer any injury that can be borne, for the sake of peace, committing your concerns to the Lord's keeping. And the sum of all is, that Christians must avoid disputing and striving. If any say, Flesh and blood cannot pass by such an affront, let them remember, that flesh and blood shall not inherit the kingdom of God; and those who act upon right principles will have most peace and comfort.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 38-42The Old Testament allowed fair retribution (payback) (Exodus 21:24–25; Deuteronomy 19:16–21) to keep punishments from being too severe. Yet, Jesus does not allow personal revenge for his disciples. Instead, Jesus teaches finding victory through suffering and the cross (1 Peter 2:23). Some consider this teaching as a guide for all aspects of life, including politics. Others consider it to apply to personal willingness to give up rights and forgive as God…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3939. But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil; but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right check, turn to him the other also--Our Lord's own meek, yet dignified bearing, when smitten rudely on the cheek (Joh 18:22, 23), and not literally presenting the other, is the best comment on these words. It is the preparedness, after one indignity, not to invite but to submit meekly to another, without retaliation, which this strong language is meant to convey.Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 5:39
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain
Commentaries