KJV: Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?
YLT: Jesus answered him, 'If I spake ill, testify concerning the ill; and if well, why me dost thou smite?'
Darby: Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why smitest thou me?
ASV: Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?
| Ἀπεκρίθη | Answered |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular Root: ἀποκρίνομαι Sense: to give an answer to a question proposed, to answer. |
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| Ἰησοῦς | Jesus |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: Ἰησοῦς Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor. |
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| κακῶς | evil |
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Parse: Adverb Root: κακῶς Sense: miserable, to be ill. |
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| ἐλάλησα | I spoke |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular Root: ἀπολαλέω Sense: to utter a voice or emit a sound. |
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| μαρτύρησον | bear witness |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular Root: μαρτυρέω Sense: to be a witness, to bear witness, i.e. to affirm that one has seen or heard or experienced something, or that he knows it because taught by divine revelation or inspiration. |
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| περὶ | concerning |
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Parse: Preposition Root: περί Sense: about, concerning, on account of, because of, around, near. |
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| κακοῦ | evil |
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Parse: Adjective, Genitive Neuter Singular Root: κακός Sense: of a bad nature. |
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| δὲ | however |
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Parse: Conjunction Root: δέ Sense: but, moreover, and, etc. |
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| καλῶς | rightly |
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Parse: Adverb Root: καλῶς Sense: beautifully, finely, excellently, well. |
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| τί | why |
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Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular Root: τίς Sense: who, which, what. |
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| με | Me |
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Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative 1st Person Singular Root: ἐγώ Sense: I, me, my. |
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| δέρεις | strike you |
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Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Singular Root: δέρω Sense: to flay, skin. |
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Greek Commentary for John 18:23
Condition of first class (assumed to be true), with ει ei and aorist active indicative. Jesus had not spoken evilly towards Annas, though he did not here turn the other cheek, one may note. For the sake of argument, Jesus puts it as if he did speak evilly. Then prove it, that is all. Bear witness of the evil First aorist active imperative of μαρτυρεω martureō to testify. This is the conclusion (apodosis). Jesus is clearly entitled to proof of such a charge if there is any. But if well Supply the same verb ελαλησα elalēsa The same condition, but with a challenging question as the apodosis. Smitest Old verb δερω derō to flay, to skin, to beat, as in Matthew 21:35; Luke 22:63; 2 Corinthians 11:20 (of an insulting blow in the face as here). [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 18:23
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 Matthew 5:39, of smiting on the cheek, and Matthew 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 Isaiah 50:6: “I gave my cheeks to blows ( εἰς ῥαπι.σματα ). Hosea 11:4, “As a man that smiteth ( ῥαπίζων ) upon his cheeks” (A.V. and Rev., that take off the yoke on their jaws ). In 1 Kings 22:24, we read, “Zedekiah - smote Micaiah on the cheek ( ἐπάταξε ἐπὶ τὴν σιαγόνα ).” The word in John 18:23, δέρεις , literally, flayest, hence, do beat or thrash (compare Luke 12:47), seems better to suit the meaning strike with a rod; yet in 2 Corinthians 11:20, that verb is used of smiting in the face ( εἰς πρόσωπον δέρει ), and in 1 Corinthians 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. [source]