What literal smiting is, all know, and most have felt, but had Job any about him who used him thus rudely? I conceive, not; and therefore we may understand him metaphorically. So, smiting on the cheek, is to reproach: And these words, They have smitten me on the cheek reproachfully, are no more nor less, then, They have reproached me. To smite on the cheek, is a thing so reproachful, that, by an Hebraism,1 it signifieth to reproach (Lam. 3.30.) He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him, which is expounded in the latter clause by this, he is filled full with reproach. The sufferings of Christ, which were full of reproach, are thus Prophesied, I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting (Isa. 50.6.) Christ was smitten on the face literally (Matth. 26.67.) Then did they spit in his face and buffeted him, and others smote him with the palms of their hands. He was smitten also tropically, being put to open shame, and disgracefully dealt with. That of the Apostle ⟨p. 270⟩clears this sense (2 Cor. 11.20.) Ye suffer a man to bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face, that is, If he disgrace you: So the Apostle expounds it (Vers. 21.) I speak concerning reproach. Paul (Chap. 12.) had a messenger of Satan sent to buffet him, to cuff, or smite him with the fist, so the word signifies; what that was, at least in part, he explains (Vers. 10.) I will therefore take pleasure in reproaches. Thus the Prophet describes the dishonour which should be put upon the Judge (Micah. 5.1.) Now gather thy self in Troops, O daughter of Troops, he hath laid siege against us; they shall smite the Judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek, that is, The Enemy shall pour contempt upon thy Kings and Princes;2 in which sense they may be said to be smitten upon the cheek, though no rod nor hand touch them. And some interpret that (Mat. 5.39.) If any man smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him the left also, not of hand, but tongue smiting, or of suffering reproach. As if Christ had said, If any one disgrace thee a little, bear it, yea though he should disgrace thee a great deal more, yet bear it: Smiting upon the right cheek, notes a lesser injury received.
What literall smiting is, all know, and most have felt, but had Job any about him who used him thus rudely? I conceive, not; and therefore we may understand him metaphorically. So, smiting on the cheek, is to reproach: And these words, They have smitten me on the cheek reproachfully, are no more nor lesse, then, They have reproached me. To smite on the cheek, is a thing so reproachfull, that, by an Hebraisme,1 it signifieth to reproach (Lam. 3.30.) He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him, which is expounded in the latter clause by this, he is filled full with reproach. The sufferings of Christ, which were full of reproach, are thus Prophesied, I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the haire: I hid not my face from shame and spitting (Isa. 50.6.) Christ was smitten on the face literally (Matth. 26.67.) Then did they spit in his face and buffeted him, and others smote him with the palmes of their hands. Hee was smitten also tropically, being put to open shame, and disgracefully dealt with. That of the Apostle ⟨p. 270⟩cleares this sense (2 Cor. 11.20.) Yee suffer a man to bring you into bondage, if a man devoure you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himselfe, if a man smite you on the face, that is, If he disgrace you: So the Apostle expounds it (Vers. 21.) I speake concerning reproach. Paul (Chap. 12.) had a messenger of Satan sent to buffet him, to cuffe, or smite him with the fist, so the word signifies; what that was, at least in part, hee explaines (Vers. 10.) I will therefore take pleasure in reproaches. Thus the Prophet describes the dishonour which should be put upon the Judge (Micah. 5.1.) Now gather thy selfe in Troops, O daughter of Troops, he hath layd seige against us; they shall smite the Judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek, that is, The Enemy shall powre contempt upon thy Kings and Princes;2 in which sense they may be sayd to be smitten upon the cheek, though no rod nor hand touch them. And some interpret that (Mat. 5.39.) If any man smite thee on the right cheeke, turne to him the left also, not of hand, but tongue smiting, or of suffering reproach. As if Christ had sayd, If any one disgrace thee a little, beare it, yea though he should disgrace thee a great deale more, yet beare it: Smiting upon the right cheek, notes a lesser injury received.
- 1Percutere maxillam Hebraica locutio est, quae significat gravissima contumelia aliquem afficere.
- 2Cum aliquis propter gravem aliquam ignominiam pudefit, licet vis omnis absit, & plaga verberari dicitur in maxilla. Sanct. in Mic. c. 5. v. 1.
