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 Living Translation (NLT)But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.

Context of Matthew 5:39

37But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. 38“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41And whoever compels 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Butδέde · thenG1161
• Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• unto youσύsu · youG4771
• That ye resistἀνθίστημιanthistēmi · to opposeG436
• notμήmē · notG3361
• evilπονηρόςponēros · evil/badG4190
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• whosoeverὅστιςhostis hētis ho6ti · who/whichG3748
• shall smiteῥαπίζωrhapizō · to slapG4474
• onἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• rightδεξιόςdexios · rightG1188
• cheekσιαγώνsiagōn · cheekG4600
• turnστρέφωstrephō · to turnG4762
• to himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• the otherἄλλοςallos · anotherG243
• alsoκαίkai · andG2532

Cross-references for Matthew 5:39

• Leviticus 19:18You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
• 1 Samuel 24:10Look, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you, and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’
• 1 Samuel 25:31that this will 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. But when the Lord has dealt well with my lord, then remember your maidservant.”
• 1 Samuel 26:8Then Abishai said to David, “God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore, please, let me strike him at once with the spear, right to the earth; and I will not have to strike him a second time!”
• Job 31:29“If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me, Or lifted myself up when evil found him
• Proverbs 20:22Do not say, “I will recompense evil”; Wait for the Lord, and He will save you.
• Proverbs 24:29Do not say, “I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.”
• Luke 6:29To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.
• Romans 12:17Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
• 1 Corinthians 6:7Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?
• 1 Thessalonians 5:15See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.
• Hebrews 12:4You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.
• James 5:6You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.
• 1 Peter 3:9not 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 Kings 22:24Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, “Which way did the spirit from the Lord go from me to speak to you?”
• Job 16:10They gape at me with their mouth, They strike me reproachfully on the cheek, They gather 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

• 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