Bible Dictionary: Cheek

Jump to: ISBE • Easton's • Webster's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Smiting on the cheek was accounted a grievous injury and insult (Job 16:10; Lamentations 3:30; Micah 5:1). The admonition (Luke 6:29), "Unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other," means simply, "Resist not evil" (Matthew 5:39; 1 Peter 2:19-23). Psalm 3:7 = that God had deprived his enemies of the power of doing him injury.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) The side of the face below the eye.

2. (n.) The cheek bone.

3. (n.) Those pieces of a machine, or of any timber, or stone work, which form corresponding sides, or which are similar and in pair; as, the cheeks (jaws) of a vise; the cheeks of a gun carriage, etc.

4. (n.) The branches of a bridle bit.

5. (n.) A section of a flask, so made that it can be moved laterally, to permit the removal of the pattern from the mold; the middle part of a flask.

6. (n.) Cool confidence; assurance; impudence.

7. (v. t.) To be impudent or saucy to.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

CHEEK TEETH

(methalle`ah, transposed from malta`ah (only in Psalm 58:6), literally "the biter," "crusher," "molar," "jaw-teeth," "great teeth" (Job 29:17 m; Joel 1:6)).

Figurative: The word is used as a synonym of reckless strength and cruelty.

CHEEK; CHEEKBONE

chek, chek'-bon:

(1) lechi; siagon, "the jaw," "jaw-bone," "side of the face." The Hebrew word denotes originally freshness and rounded softness of the cheek, a sign of beauty in youth and maiden (Songs 1:10; Songs 5:13). The oriental guards with jealous care his cheek from touch or defilement, therefore a stroke on the cheek was, and is to this day, regarded as an act of extreme rudeness of behavior, a deadly affront. Our Saviour, however, teaches us in Matthew 5:39 and Luke 6:29 that even this insult is to be ignored and pardoned.

Jawbones of animals have been frequently used as tools and weapons among primitive people. We see this sufficiently proven from cave deposits in many parts of the world, and from recent ethnological researches, especially in Australia. In the light of this evidence it is interesting to note that Samson used a jawbone of an ass with success against his enemies the Philistines (Judges 15:15).

(2) malqoach (Psalm 22:15), is a dual form indicative of the two jaws, to which a parched tongue seems to cleave.

(3) methalle`ah (Job 29:17), better "cheek teeth" (which see).

H. L. E. Luering

Greek

4600. siagon -- a jawbone, by impl. cheek
... cheek. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: siagon Phonetic Spelling:
(see-ag-one') Short Definition: the jawbone, cheek Definition: the jawbone ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4600.htm - 6k

4475. rhapisma -- a blow (with a stick or the palm of the hand)
... of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: rhapisma Phonetic Spelling: (hrap'-is-mah)
Short Definition: a slap Definition: a slap, blow on the cheek with the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4475.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

3895. lechi -- jaw, cheek
... 3894, 3895. lechi. 3896 . jaw, cheek. Transliteration: lechi Phonetic
Spelling: (lekh-ee') Short Definition: cheek. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/3895.htm - 6k

4973. methalleoth -- teeth
... cheek jaw tooth, jaw. Contr. From yala'; properly, a biter, ie A tooth -- cheek
(jaw) tooth, jaw. see HEBREW yala'. 4972, 4973. methalleoth. 4974 . ...
/hebrew/4973.htm - 6k

8377. teo -- antelope
... wild bull ox. And towt (the original form) {toh}; from ta'ah; a species of antelope
(probably from the white stripe on the cheek) -- wild bull (ox). ...
/hebrew/8377.htm - 6k

Library

Of the Feigned Patience of Some who Offer the Other Cheek to be ...
... The Conferences of John Cassian. Chapter XX. Of the feigned patience of
some who offer the other cheek to be smitten. We are not ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter xx of the feigned.htm

As, when we Read in the Gospel, "Thou Hast Received a Blow in The. ...
... 27. As, when we read in the Gospel, "Thou hast received a blow in the face, make
ready the other cheek." [2339] Now as an example of patience can none be found ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/on lying/section 27 as when we.htm

The Answer that Christ Looks not Only at the Action but Also at ...
... store it up in the inmost recesses of the soul) gave us this summary of evangelical
perfection, saying: "If any one smites thee on thy right cheek, offer him ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter xxii the answer that.htm

Non-Resistance
... 39. 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.40. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/non-resistance.htm

Chapter xix.
... said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: but I say unto you, that ye resist
not evil; [167] but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/our lords sermon on the mount/chapter xix.htm

Celsus Then Extracts from the Gospel the Precept, "To Him who ...
... time, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth;" [4732] and on the other, we have
read, "I say unto you, Whoever shall smite thee on the one cheek, turn to ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter xxv celsus then extracts.htm

The Precept of Loving One's Enemies it is as Much Taught in the ...
... in requiring "an eye for an eye, [4040] and a tooth for a tooth," [4041] and bids
us, on the contrary, "to him who smiteth us on the one cheek, to offer the ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/chapter xvi the precept of loving.htm

But, Before I Make My Answer to Your Letter, I must Expostulate ...
... homicide? Have you learned from your Saviour the lesson that if one strike
you on the one cheek you should turn to him the other also? ...
/.../2 but before i make.htm

Nevertheless, a Necessity, as it Were, is Laid Upon Me to Reply ...
... But it is not true, as he says, that he turns the left cheek to one who
smites him on the right. It is on one who is stroking him ...
/.../2 nevertheless a necessity as.htm

Matt. v. 38, 39, 40
... But I say unto you, that ye resist not the evil: [787] but whosoever shall
smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily xviii matt v 38.htm

Thesaurus

Cheek (9 Occurrences)
... Smiting on the cheek was accounted a grievous injury and insult (Job 16:10;
Lamentations 3:30; Micah 5:1). The admonition (Luke 6:29), "Unto him that smiteth ...
/c/cheek.htm - 12k

Cheek-teeth (1 Occurrence)
Cheek-teeth. Cheeks, Cheek-teeth. Cheer . Multi-Version Concordance
Cheek-teeth (1 Occurrence). Psalms 58:6 Break their ...
/c/cheek-teeth.htm - 6k

Cheekbone (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia CHEEK; CHEEKBONE. chek, chek'-bon: (1) lechi;
siagon, "the jaw," "jaw-bone," "side of the face." The ...
/c/cheekbone.htm - 8k

Slapped (5 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 22:24 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and struck Micaiah on
the cheek, and said, "Which way did the Spirit of Yahweh go from me to speak ...
/s/slapped.htm - 7k

Strikes (39 Occurrences)
... Strikes (39 Occurrences). Matthew 5:39 But I tell you, don't resist him who is evil;
but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. ...
/s/strikes.htm - 16k

Teeth (50 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. CHEEK TEETH. ... Save me, my God! For you have struck
all of my enemies on the cheek bone. You have broken the teeth of the wicked. ...
/t/teeth.htm - 25k

Kenaanah (5 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 22:24 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and struck Micaiah on
the cheek, and said, "Which way did the Spirit of Yahweh go from me to speak ...
/k/kenaanah.htm - 7k

Jaw (6 Occurrences)
... jo, jo'-bon (lechi, "cheek (bone)," "jaw (bone)"): In Job 41:2, the Revised Version
(British and American) gives "pierce his jaw through with a hook" for the ...
/j/jaw.htm - 11k

Check (9 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 22:24 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah on
the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of Jehovah from me to speak ...
/c/check.htm - 11k

Chenaanah (5 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 22:24 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and struck Micaiah on
the cheek, and said, "Which way did the Spirit of Yahweh go from me to speak ...
/c/chenaanah.htm - 9k

Bible Concordance

Cheek (9 Occurrences)

Matthew 5:39 But I tell you, don't resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 6:29 To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer also the other; and from him who takes away your cloak, don't withhold your coat also.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 22:24 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, "Which way did the Spirit of Yahweh go from me to speak to you?"
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

2 Chronicles 18:23 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of Yahweh from me to speak to you?
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Job 16:10 They have gaped on me with their mouth. They have struck me on the cheek reproachfully. They gather themselves together against me.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 3:7 Arise, Yahweh! Save me, my God! For you have struck all of my enemies on the cheek bone. You have broken the teeth of the wicked.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Lamentations 3:30 Let him give his cheek to him who strikes him; let him be filled full with reproach.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Joel 1:6 For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion.
(KJV DBY WBS)

Micah 5:1 Now you shall gather yourself in troops, daughter of troops. He has laid siege against us. They will strike the judge of Israel with a rod on the cheek.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Cheek

Cheek Teeth

Related Terms

Cheek-teeth (1 Occurrence)

Cheekbone (1 Occurrence)

Slapped (5 Occurrences)

Strikes (39 Occurrences)

Teeth (50 Occurrences)

Kenaanah (5 Occurrences)

Jaw (6 Occurrences)

Check (9 Occurrences)