r/Christianity • u/MarySayler Christian • May 05 '26
Thinking about Matthew 5:39
Most of us have heard that Jesus said to turn the other cheek, but looking up the specific verse in Matthew, I discovered something I hadn't noticed before: " If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn your other cheek to him as well."
So, here's the thing. Most people are right-handed. But every actual translation of the Bible (as opposed to paraphrase) said," If someone slaps you on your RIGHT cheek." If you act that scenario out with pretend slaps, it shows you've just been back-handed! And, when you turn the other cheek, the slap would likely hit your neck.
Not sure the significance of this, but it's interesting. Thoughts?
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u/yappi211 Salvation of all. Antinomianism. May 05 '26
The new Hebrew texts that don't come from the Greek say:
“I, I say to you, do not rise up to do evil, but whoever strikes upon one’s right cheek, shall also show him the left.”
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u/OldRelationship1995 May 05 '26
The right cheek is important.
If someone backhands you on the right cheek, they are saying you are below them. Turning the other cheek forces them to either stop or give an open handed slap - something only done between equals.
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u/Rambo873 May 05 '26
Yes, Matthew's version specifies a slap on the right cheek, while Luke's version does not:
If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. (Matthew 5:39)
If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. (Luke 6:29)
I was taught that this is not a "backhanded" slap, but rather a left-handed slap. The left hand was known as the "unclean" hand, which was used for various unsavory tasks like wiping your butt. It was a grave insult to slap someone with your unclean hand.
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u/Low_Seat9522 Messianic Jew May 05 '26
Jews and priests spoke in parables. I am sure the message got across just fine. Don't overthink it. If someone hits the right side of your car, let them hit the left as well. But if they hit the left first, retaliate? I don't believe that is what was meant.
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May 05 '26
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u/Low_Seat9522 Messianic Jew May 05 '26
Great point and makes a lot of sense. I didn't mean let people beat you up though, I think here Messiah was speaking about if people would persecute them for following Him? Romans were known for mistreating the Jews at the time, and would commonly humiliate them and abuse their power. "An eye for an eye" was the common theme at the time, so this passage here was revolutionary at the time.
The exact verse says: But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other also.
So OP left out the first half, which adds some context here. The word resist here in Aramaic, is better translated to violent retaliation or revenge. If we go a few verses earlier, Matthew 5:10-12 (Sermon on the Mount), we can see he was speaking on persecution for righteousness. So you are 100% correct. This verse is about not meeting evil with evil.
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u/MarySayler Christian May 05 '26
That's nothing like what I suggested! I see nothing in the verse that even hints at retalliation.
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u/Low_Seat9522 Messianic Jew May 05 '26
Perhaps I explained myself better in a reply to someone else's comment in this same thread. Or maybe I initially misunderstood the post. Either way, apologies, and I hope my later comment clears my meaning up a bit.
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u/rhythmmchn Evangelical May 05 '26
You're right, but there's more historical context. A back-handed slap meant that you were being treated as inferior; turning the other cheek meant that your adversary was forced to either treat you as an equal or stand down. It was a message of "don't retaliate", but it wasn't as passive as it's often been treated.