Matthew 5:39 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.
Matthew 5:39 NKJV
“But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
Matthew 5:39 MKJV
But I say to you, Do not resist evil. But whoever shall strike you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
Matthew 5:39 KJV 2000
But I say unto you, That you resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Interlinear KJV
But /de/ I /ego/ say /lego/ unto you, /humin/ That ye resist /anthistemi/ not /me/ evil: /poneros/ but /alla/ whosoever /hostis/ shall smite /rhapizo/ thee /se/ on /epi/ thy /sou/ right /dexios/ cheek, /siagon/ turn /strepho/ to him /autos/ the other /allos/ also. /kai/
Albert Barnes’ Commentary
Verse 39. No Barnes text on this verse. See Barnes for Mt 5:38
{e} “resist not evil” Pr 20:22; 24:29; Ro 12:17-19
{f} “smite thee” Isa 1:6
Ripley 4 Gospel
Resist not evil; resist not, in the spirit of retaliation, an evil, that is, an injurious man, one who has done thee evil. Resist him not by doing him evil in return. Do not to him as he has done to you.
Turn to him the other also. So far from resisting an injurious man by doing him a similar injury, submit to still further injury. If he has smitten one cheek, revenge not the insult, or the injury, by returning the blow; but rather, in meekness, not in a provoking spirit, turn to him your other cheek. Guard against a spirit of revenge; rather suffer repeated wrong, than do wrong. Compare Ro 12:19-21; 1Co 6:7; 1Pe 2:23; 3:9. That it is not the mere external act of turning the other cheek when one ahs been struck, that the Saviour enjoins, but that it is the spirit of forbearance, of meek submission, of quelling a revengeful temper, is manifest from the whole passage, and from the manner in which he himself bore the insult, and the injury, of being struck on the face. Joh 18:22-23.
British Family Bible
But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: No one can imagine that this injunction, and those of the same kind which follow, are to be understood strictly and literally; that we are to submit, without the least opposition, to every injury and insult that is offered us, and are absolutely precluded from every degree of self-preservation and self-defence. Common sense, as well as common utility, require that we should consider the particular instances of behaviour under the instances here specified, as proverbial and figurative expressions, intended to convey a general precept, and to describe that peculiar temper and disposition which the Gospel requires; that patience, gentleness, mildness, moderation, and forbearance under injuries and affronts, which is best calculated to preserve the peace of our own minds, as well as that of the world at large; which tends to soften resentment and turn away wrath; and without which, on one side or the other, provocations must be endless, and enmities eternal. Bp. Porteus.
It is incidental to our Saviour’s mode of instruction, which proceeds not by proof, but upon authority, not by disquisition, but by precept, that the rules will be conceived in absolute terms, leaving the application, and the distinctions that attend it, to the reason of the hearer. It is likewise to be expected that they will be delivered in terms by so much the more forcible and energetic, as they have to encounter natural or general propensities. It is further to be remarked, that many of the strong instances which appear in our Lord’s sermon, (as here at Mt 5:39-41,) though they appear in the form of specific precepts, are intended to be descriptive of disposition and character. A specific compliance with the precepts would be of little value; but the disposition which they inculcate is of the highest. He, who should content himself with waiting for the occasion, and with literally observing the rule when the occasion offered, would do nothing, or worse than nothing: but he who considers the character and disposition which is hereby model to which he should bring his own, takes perhaps the best possible method of improving the benevolence, and of calming and rectifying the vices, of his temper. Archdeacon Paley.