What Does Luke 6:29 Mean in the King James?

And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.

Luke 6:29 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The hand that strikes can leave a mark, but it cannot turn its mark into your pattern.

THE MEANING

The verse meets you where another person strikes or takes from you: the injury and loss remain real. Yet the other cheek and the additional garment show that the first person’s act does not write your next one; your response need not copy their violence. The blow is not made harmless.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The lie that harm must be answered with matching harm.

THE ROOT

τύπτοντι

typtonti from týptō

GROWS FROM

τυπ-

typ-

Strike or beat; this word family also reaches into the impression or pattern a blow can leave.

“smiteth” in this verse is typtonti from týptō. Luke uses ⁨τύπτω⁩ (typtō, to strike) for the person striking you. Its word family includes ⁨τύπος⁩ (typos, an impression or pattern) and ⁨τυπόω⁩ (typoō, to form or stamp): the blow can leave a mark that becomes a model. The verse exposes whether that impact gets to shape what follows.

ALSO GROWS

typos: Impression, mark, model, or pattern.

τύπος

The striking word family also names an impression or pattern, linking the blow with the mark it may leave.

typoō: To form, mold, or stamp.

τυπόω

This related verb shows how an impression can shape a form; the verse turns on whether violence shapes the response that follows.

THE PATTERN

A violent act does not have to reproduce itself in the response it provokes.

Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

Proverbs 20:22 · KJVThe impulse to pay back harm is named, then interrupted rather than allowed to govern the response.

Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

Romans 12:17 · KJVThe refusal to return evil for evil echoes Luke’s break in the cycle of retaliation.

Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

1 Peter 2:23 · KJVReviling and suffering remain explicit, yet the one suffering does not answer threat with threat.

THE THREAD

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.

Matthew 5:39 · KJV

Matthew uses the same Greek verb ⁨τύπτω⁩ (typtō, to strike) for “smite” and links turning the cheek with “resist not evil.” That shared verb lets Luke’s cheek-answer read as a response to violence that does not take the striker’s shape.

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