To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer also the other; and from him who takes away your cloak, don’t withhold your coat also.
Parallel translations
- KJV And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.
- BSB If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone takes your cloak, do not withhold your tunic as well.
- NKJV To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.
- NASB Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic from him either.
- NLT If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
When wronged, the disciple should refuse retaliation and even be willing to suffer further loss. Jesus calls for a non-vengeful spirit that overcomes evil with patient love.
Overview
These vivid examples illustrate a heart free from the demand for personal vindication, surrendering one's rights rather than escalating conflict. The point is the disposition of the heart, not a wooden rule against any self-defense or justice. Jesus embodied this principle supremely, offering Himself without striking back (1 Peter 2:23).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Heb 10:34For you both had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and an enduring one in the heavens.
- Matt 5:39–42But I tell you, don’t resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.
- 2 Cor 11:20For you bear with a man, if he brings you into bondage, if he devours you, if he takes you captive, if he exalts himself, if he strikes you on the face.
- 1 Cor 6:7Therefore it is already altogether a defect in you, that you have lawsuits one with another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?
- Lam 3:30Let him give his cheek to him who strikes him; let him be filled full with reproach.
- Matt 26:67Then they spit in his face and beat him with their fists, and some slapped him,
- Isa 50:6I gave my back to those who beat me, and my cheeks to those who plucked off the hair. I didn’t hide my face from shame and spitting.
- John 18:22When he had said this, one of the officers standing by slapped Jesus with his hand, saying, “Do you answer the high priest like that?”
- 1 Cor 4:11Even to this present hour we hunger, thirst, are naked, are beaten, and have no certain dwelling place.
- Luke 22:64Having blindfolded him, they struck him on the face and asked him, “Prophesy! Who is the one who struck you?”
- Acts 23:2The high priest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.
- 2 Sam 19:30Mephibosheth said to the king, “Yes, let him take all, because my lord the king has come in peace to his own house.”
- 2 Chr 18:23Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, “Which way did Yahweh’s Spirit go from me to speak to you?”
- Mic 5:1Now you shall gather yourself in troops, daughter of troops. He has laid siege against us. They will strike the judge of Israel with a rod on the cheek.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 6:29 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.