📖 Biblical Definition
Christ's command in the Sermon on the Mount: "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" (Matt 5:39). The right-cheek detail is significant: a back-handed insult-strike rather than a fist-fight blow. The command is to refuse retaliation in honor-shame contexts — not to enable abuse but to disarm the cycle of vengeance.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Mt 5:39: refuse retaliation in honor-shame contexts; disarm vengeance-cycle.
expand to see more
Christ's command in the antitheses of the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5:39; par. Luke 6:29): "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." The right-cheek detail matters: in a culture of right-handed dominance, a strike on the RIGHT cheek would be a back-handed slap — an honor-shame insult-strike, not a serious fist-fight blow. The command is to refuse retaliation in honor-disputes, breaking the cycle of vengeance that drives so much social conflict. The command does NOT mean enabling abuse, refusing self-defense in life-threatening situations, or accepting injustice generally; it means refusing personal-honor retaliation. Paired with: "to him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other" (Luke 6:29) and "recompense to no man evil for evil" (Rom 12:17).
📖 Key Scripture
Matthew 5:38-39 — "Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 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."
Luke 6:29 — "And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also."
Romans 12:17, 19 — "Recompense to no man evil for evil... Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Either weaponized to enable abuse or dismissed as impractical idealism; Christ's command is precise (honor-shame retaliation refused) without being abuse-enabling.
expand to see more
Two opposite errors: (1) weaponized — abusers use the verse to keep victims compliant ("turn the other cheek!"); (2) dismissed — "that's impractical, you have to fight back." Christ's command is more precise: refuse personal-honor retaliation. The right-cheek detail is honor-strike, not life-threat. Christians can flee danger (Acts 9), defend others (Neh 4), submit to legitimate authority that punishes evil (Rom 13) — AND refuse personal vengeance (Rom 12).
Recover the precision: turn-the-other-cheek refuses personal honor-vengeance. It does not abolish self-defense, others-protection, or government's sword.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek strepson autō kai tēn allēn.
expand to see more
['Greek', 'G4762', 'strephō', 'to turn']
['Greek', 'G243', 'allos', 'other']
Usage
"Refuse personal honor-vengeance."
"Right cheek = back-handed insult-strike."
"Doesn't abolish self-defense or government's sword."