Matthew 5:39
“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.”Read in Context
Modern Meaning
What Does “Turn the other cheek” Mean?
To respond to aggression without retaliation.
Biblical Origin
Where Does This Phrase Come From?
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught a radical ethic of non-retaliation that overturned the existing "eye for an eye" principle. Turning the other cheek was not passive — in its cultural context, it was an act of dignified defiance that exposed the aggressor's injustice.
The phrase appears in Matthew 5:39 in the King James Version of the Bible, first published in 1611.
Usage Today
How Is It Used Today?
Choosing not to retaliate. "She turned the other cheek when her colleague took credit for her work."
The KJV Verse
Matthew 5:39
“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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