ῥάπισμα. Elsewhere only John 19:3 and Mark 14:65. Literally, ‘a blow with a rod,’ and δέρεις (John 18:23) agrees with this. But ῥάπισμα is also used for ‘a blow with the open hand:’ comp. ῥαπίζειν, Matthew 5:39. In later Greek this meaning prevailed, perhaps exclusively. Christ’s conduct here shews how Matthew 5:39 is to be understood: personal retaliation is forbidden, but not calm protest and rebuke.

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Old Testament