5:39–42

As mentioned above, Jesus’ teaching went beyond forbidding retaliation. Jesus taught that a disciple must show love to a person who mistreats him by doing good to him. Verses 5:39–42 talk about four different situations in which to do this. In the first three cases, a disciple is to show love by doing even more than the unjust person demands.

5:39a

But I tell you: The clause But I tell you also occurs in 5:22a, 5:28a, 5:32a, and 5:34a. Translate it here as you did there.

not to resist an evil person: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as resist:

(1) It means resist or oppose. According to this interpretation, Jesus’ teaching went beyond forbidding retaliation. Jesus taught that his followers must even be willing to accept mistreatment from evil people. For example:

not to oppose an evil person (God’s Word)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version, NET Bible, New American Standard Bible, Revised English Bible, New Living Translation (2004), New Century Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, King James Version, God’s Word, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

(2) It means retaliate or take revenge. According to this interpretation, Jesus was saying that his followers must not retaliate or seek revenge. For example:

do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you (Good News Translation)

(Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) and the majority of English versions.

5:39b–c and 5:40a–b are two examples of not to resist an evil person.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Do not resist those who wrong you (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Do not fight those who do evil things to you

5:39b

The Greek of 5:39b begins with a word that is often translated as “but” or “and.” For example:

But if anyone slaps you (English Standard Version)

There is a contrast between 5:39a and 5:39b–42b. The contrast is between the idea of opposing an evil person and Jesus’ commands to allow such a person to do what he wants. Most English versions like the Berean Standard Bible do not translate this conjunction here, possibly because we are told not to oppose an evil person. So the contrast is not obvious. In many languages, it will not be necessary to have a conjunction here either.

If someone slaps you on your right cheek: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as slaps also means “hits” or “strikes.” Here it implies using the hand. Such an action was a serious insult.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

If anyone slaps you on the right cheek (Good News Translation)
-or-
If someone ⌊insults⌋ you with a slap on the right cheek
-or-
If a person hits you on your right cheek with his hand

5:39c

turn to him the other also: The purpose of turn to him the other also is implied here. It is also “to be slapped,” as in the previous clause. The one who has received the slap is to offer the other (left) cheek to be slapped as well. It may be more natural in your language to include the implied purpose. For example:

turn to him the other ⌊cheek⌋ ⌊to be slapped⌋ as well

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