Matthew 5:39 BSB — MannaFest

Matthew 5:39

But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also;

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

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.

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.

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Commentary

1 voice

Jerome

Commentary on Matthew (420)

(Verse 39.) But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. The man described in Ecclesiasticus is an imitator of him who says: Learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart (Matthew 11:29). And he confirms his promise by saying: If I have spoken wrongly, bear witness to the wrong; but if well, why do you strike me?

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

John Gill

1697–1771

Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748)

But I say unto you, that ye resist not evil,.... This is not to be understood of any sort of evil, not of the evil of sin, of bad actions, and false doctrines, which are to be opposed; nor of the evil one, Satan, who is to be resisted; but of an evil man, an injurious one, who has done us an injury. We must not render evil for evil, or repay him in the same way; see Jas 5:

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

But I say unto you, that ye resist not the evil man - Thus; the Greek word translated resist signifies standing in battle array, striving for victory.

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible (1832)

Resist not evil - Or, the evil person. So, I am fully persuaded, τω πονηρω 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 leave the judgment of their cause to Him for whose sake they suffer.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

22 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
ἐγὼ	egō	I myself	G1473 →
δὲ	de	however	G1161 →
λέγω	legō	say	G3004 →
ὑμῖν	humin	to you	G4771 →
μὴ	mē	not	G3361 →
ἀντιστῆναι	antistēnai	to resist	G436 →
τῷ	tō	the	G3588 →
πονηρῷ.	ponērō	evil [person].	G4190 →
ἀλλ᾽	all᾽	Instead	G235 →
ὅστις	hostis	whoever	G3748 →
σε	se	you	G4771 →
ῥαπίζει	rhapizei	strike	G4474 →
εἰς	eis	on	G1519 →
τὴν	tēn	the	G3588 →
δεξιὰν	dexian	right	G1188 →
σιαγόνα	siagona	cheek	G4600 →
σου,	sou	of you,	G4771 →
στρέψον	strepson	do turn	G4762 →
αὐτῷ	autō	to him	G846 →
καὶ	kai	also	G2532 →
τὴν	tēn	the	G3588 →
ἄλλην·	allēn	other;	G243 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Proverbs 20:22
Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.
leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 5:15
  Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
- 1 Peter 3:9
  Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
- Romans 12:17–19
  Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody.
- Proverbs 24:29
  Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”
- Proverbs 17:13
  If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
Through
1 Peter 3:9
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
leads to
- Romans 12:17
  Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody.
- Proverbs 20:22
  Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.
- Romans 12:14
  Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse.