### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **siagṓn**, represented by `{{G4600}}`, is defined as the jaw-bone or, by implication, the **cheek** or side of the face. It appears **2 times** across **2 unique verses** in the Bible. While its usage is infrequent, it plays a pivotal role in a well-known command from Jesus regarding personal conduct and response to insult.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical occurrences, `{{G4600}}` is used exclusively by Jesus in the context of his teachings on non-retaliation. In the Sermon on the Mount, he instructs his followers, "whosoever shall smite thee on thy right **cheek**, turn to him the other also" [[Matthew 5:39]]. A parallel account in Luke presents a similar directive: "unto him that smiteth thee on the one **cheek** offer also the other" [[Luke 6:29]]. In both instances, the cheek is the target of a demeaning physical act, and the prescribed response is one of peace rather than vengeance.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide context for the actions and principles surrounding `{{G4600}}`:
* `{{G4474}}` **rhapízō** (to slap:--smite (with the palm of the hand)): This verb is used in Matthew's account to describe the specific action of striking the cheek, indicating a personal insult [[Matthew 5:39]].
* `{{G5180}}` **týptō** (to "thump", i.e. cudgel or pummel... by repeated blows): This is the word used for smiting the cheek in Luke's gospel, highlighting the physical aggression to which a follower should not respond in kind [[Luke 6:29]].
* `{{G1188}}` **dexiós** (the right side or (feminine) hand): This term specifies the "right **cheek**" in [[Matthew 5:39]], which contextually implies a particularly offensive back-handed slap in that culture, intensifying the insult.
* `{{G4190}}` **ponērós** (hurtful, i.e. evil): This adjective sets the stage for Jesus's teaching in [[Matthew 5:39]], where the command to turn the other cheek is the alternative to resisting an "evil" person.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{G4600}}` comes entirely from its placement within Jesus's ethical framework for his disciples.
* **The Principle of Non-Retaliation:** The act of turning the other **cheek** is the primary illustration of Jesus's command not to resist an evil person [[Matthew 5:39]]. It calls for a radical departure from the natural human response to personal attack.
* **A Proactive Response to Insult:** Rather than passive submission, offering the other **cheek** is a deliberate and disarming act. It is part of a larger teaching to love enemies and do good to those who are "evil" ([[Luke 6:29]], [[Luke 6:35]]), thereby breaking the cycle of offense.
* **Emblem of Christian Discipleship:** The image of a smitten **cheek** being turned for another blow has become a symbol of a disciple's commitment to peace and forbearance in the face of personal persecution.
### Summary
In summary, `{{G4600}}` is far more than a simple anatomical term for the **cheek**. Within scripture, its two appearances anchor a profound ethical teaching from Jesus. It functions as the focal point of a command that challenges believers to absorb personal insult and respond not with retaliation, but with a revolutionary act of peace, as seen in both [[Matthew 5:39]] and [[Luke 6:29]].
TRV