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.
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.
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.
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.
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