Lexical Summary rhapizó: To strike with a rod, to slap, to hit with the palm of the hand. Original Word: ῥαπίζω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance slap, smite with the palm of the hand. From a derivative of a primary rhepo (to let fall, "rap"); to slap -- smite (with the palm of the hand). Compare tupto. see GREEK tupto NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom a derivation of rhabdos Definition to strike with a rod, hence to strike with the palm of the hand NASB Translation slapped (1), slaps (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4474: ῤαπίζωῤαπίζω; future ῥαπίσω (cf. Buttmann, 37 (32f)); 1 aorist ἐρράπισα and (so L T Tr WH) ἐραπισα (see Rho); (from ῤαπίς a rod); 1. to smite with a rod or staff (Xenophanes in (Diogenes Laërtius 8, 36; Herodotus, Demosthenes, Polybius, Plutarch, others). 2. "to smite in the face with the palm of the hand, to box the ear: τινα, Matthew 26:67 (where it is distinguished from κολαφίζω (A. V. buffet); for Suidas says ῥαπισαι. πατάσσειν τήν γνάθον ἁπλῆ τῇ χειρί not with the fist; hence, the Vulg. renders itpalmas in faciem ei dederunt; (A. V. marginal reading (R. V. marginal reading) adopt sense 1 above)); τινα ἐπί (L T Tr text WH εἰς) τήν σιαγόνα, Matthew 5:39 (Hosea 11:4). Cf. Fischer, De vitiis Lexicons, etc., p. 61ff; Lob. ad Phryn., p. 175; (Schmidt, Syn., chapter 113, 10; Field, Otium Norv. pars iii., p. 71). Topical Lexicon Cultural BackgroundIn the first-century Mediterranean world, a slap to the face was more than a momentary act of violence; it was a public gesture of contempt meant to shame and dishonor. Jewish legal sources treat the slap as a humiliating offense, sometimes distinguished from more serious bodily harm in the scale of penalties. Such an insult challenged a person’s honor—the social capital of the ancient Near East. Understanding this cultural freight intensifies both New Testament scenes where the verb ῥαπίζω appears. Occurrences in the New Testament 1. Matthew 5:39—Jesus employs the image of a right-cheek slap while teaching His disciples the way of kingdom righteousness: “But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also”. The Lord chooses the most insulting form of aggression to illustrate radical, non-retaliatory love. 2. Matthew 26:67—In the night trial before the Sanhedrin, Jesus becomes the object of the same humiliating gesture: “Then they spat in His face and struck Him. Others slapped Him”. The verbs “struck” (ἐκολάφισαν) and “slapped” (ἐρράπισαν) together portray escalating abuse, fulfilling prophetic expectations of the suffering Servant. Fulfillment of Prophecy Isaiah foretold a Messiah who “offered My back to those who struck Me and My cheeks to those who pulled out My beard” (Isaiah 50:6). By recording that Jesus was slapped, Matthew points to this Servant imagery, showing that the promised Redeemer bore not only physical pain but also calculated humiliation on behalf of sinners. Ethics of the Kingdom In Matthew 5:39, Jesus reverses conventional responses to insult. Rather than defending personal honor through counter-violence, disciples mirror the Father’s grace. This teaching opposes vengeance, not lawful protection of the vulnerable. It calls believers to relinquish personal retaliation, entrusting vindication to God (Romans 12:19). Christ’s Model of Meek Endurance When Jesus Himself is slapped (Matthew 26:67), He embodies the ethic He earlier prescribed. Peter later reflects on this moment: “When He was insulted, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats” (1 Peter 2:23). The Lord’s silence converts shame into redemptive glory, setting the pattern for suffering believers. Early Church Reflection Patristic commentators, such as Tertullian and Chrysostom, saw in the slap a test case for Christian forbearance. They emphasized that the disciple’s willingness to “turn the other cheek” is not passive acceptance of evil but active testimony to the transforming power of grace. Practical Application for Believers • Personal Relationships—Christians are called to absorb personal insults without vindictive response, maintaining a witness of peace. Summary Strong’s Greek 4474 highlights two pivotal moments in Matthew’s Gospel: the ethic of non-retaliation proclaimed by Jesus and the humiliation He endures for humanity’s redemption. In both settings, the slap functions as a lens through which believers grasp the depth of Christ’s meekness and the radical call to embody His gracious response to insult. Forms and Transliterations εραπισαν ἐράπισαν ερράπισαν ραπιζει ῥαπίζει ραπίζων erapisan erápisan rapizei rhapizei rhapízeiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 5:39 V-PIA-3SGRK: ὅστις σε ῥαπίζει εἰς τὴν NAS: person; but whoever slaps you on your right KJV: but whosoever shall smite thee on INT: whoever you shall strike on the Matthew 26:67 V-AIA-3P Strong's Greek 4474 |