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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comVincent Word Studies - John 18:22 - 18:22
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Struck - with the palm of his hand (ἔδωκε ῥάπισμα)
Literally, gave a blow. Interpreters differ as to whether it was a blow with a rod, or with the hand. The kindred verb ῥαπίζω, from ῥαπίς, a rod, is etymologically related to ῥαβδίζω, from ῥάβδος, a rod, and occurs Mat 5:39, of smiting on the cheek, and Mat 26:67, where it is distinguished from κολαφίζω, to strike with the fist. This latter passage, however, leaves the question open, since, if the meaning to smite with a rod can be defended, there is nothing to prevent its being understood there in that sense. The earlier meaning of the word was, undoubtedly, according to its etymology, to smite with a rod. So Herodotus of Xerxes. “It is certain that he commanded those who scourged (ῥαπι.ζοντας) the waters (of the Hellespont) to utter, as they lashed them, these barbarian and wicked words” (vii., 35). And again: “The Corinthian captain, Adeimantus, observed, 'Themistocles, at the games they who start too soon are scourged (ῥαπίζονται)'” (viii., 59). It passes, in classical Greek, from this meaning to that of a light blow with the hand. The grammarian Phrynichus (A. D. 180) condemns the use of the word in the sense of striking with the hand, or slapping, as not according to good Attic usage, and says that the proper expression for a blow on the cheek with the open hand is ἐπὶ κόρρης πατάξαι. This shows that the un-Attic phrase had crept into use. In the Septuagint the word is clearly used in the sense of a blow with the hand. See Isa 50:6 : “I gave my cheeks to blows (εἰς ῥαπι.σματα). Hos 11:4, “As a man that smiteth (ῥαπίζων) upon his cheeks” (A.V. and Rev., that take off the yoke on their jaws). In 1Ki 22:24, we read, “Zedekiah - smote Micaiah on the cheek (ἐπάταξε ἐπὶ τὴν σιαγόνα).” The word in Joh 18:23, δέρεις, literally, flayest, hence, do beat or thrash (compare Luk 12:47), seems better to suit the meaning strike with a rod; yet in 2Co 11:20, that verb is used of smiting in the face (εἰς πρόσωπον δέρει), and in 1Co 9:27, where Paul is using the figure of a boxer, he says, “So fight I (πυκτεύω, of boxing, or fighting with the fists), not as one that beateth (δέρων) the air.” These examples practically destroy the force of the argument from δέρεις. It is impossible to settle the point conclusively; but, on the whole, it seems as well to retain the rendering of the A.V. and Rev.