Matthew 5:39

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 make sure your statement is, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil origin. 38“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I say to you, do not show opposition against an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other toward him also. 40And if anyone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.

Matthew 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

• But I sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• to you, do not showἀνθίστημιanthistēmi · to opposeG436
• against an evilπονηρόςponēros · evil/badG4190
• whoeverὅστιςhostis hētis ho6ti · who/whichG3748
• slapsῥαπίζωrhapizō · to slapG4474
• you on your rightδεξιόςdexios · rightG1188
• cheekσιαγώνsiagōn · cheekG4600
• turnστρέφωstrephō · to turnG4762
• the otherἄλλοςallos · anotherG243
• toward him alsoκαίkai · andG2532

Cross-references for Matthew 5:39

• Leviticus 19:18You shall not take vengeance, nor hold any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.
• 1 Samuel 24:10Behold, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord had handed you over to me today in the cave, and someone said to kill you, but I spared you; and I said, ‘I will not reach out with my hand against my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’
• 1 Samuel 25:31this will not become an obstacle to you, or a troubled heart to my lord, both by having shed blood without cause and by my lord’s having avenged himself. When the Lord deals well with my lord, then remember your slave.”
• 1 Samuel 26:8Then Abishai said to David, “Today God has handed your enemy over to you; now then, please let me pin him with the spear to the ground with one thrust, and I will not do it to him a second time.”
• Job 31:29“Have I rejoiced at the misfortune of my enemy, Or become excited when evil found him?
• Proverbs 20:22Do not say, “I will repay evil”; Wait for the Lord, and He will save you.
• Proverbs 24:29Do not say, “I shall do the same to him as he has done to me; I will repay the person according to his work.”
• Luke 6:29Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic from him either.
• Romans 12:17Never repay evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all people.
• 1 Corinthians 6:7Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather suffer the wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?
• 1 Thessalonians 5:15See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek what is good for one another and for all people.
• Hebrews 12:4You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;
• James 5:6You have condemned and put to death the righteous person; he offers you no resistance.
• 1 Peter 3:9not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you would inherit a blessing.
• 1 Kings 22:24Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah approached and struck Micaiah on the cheek; and he said, “How did the Spirit of the Lord pass from me to speak to you?”
• Job 16:10They have gaped at me with their mouths, They have slapped me on the cheek with contempt; They have massed themselves 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

• Assault and Battery
• Commandments
• Forgiveness
• Instruction
• Judaism
• Law
• Malice
• Meekness
• Religion
• Retaliation
• Strife

In the dictionaries

• Agree
• Cheek
• Communication
• Despitefully
• Enemy
• Fornication
• Forswear
• Gift
• Hunger
• Inherit

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