σιαγών

the jawbone, cheek

Definition

Σιαγών (siagōn) refers specifically to the jawbone or cheek area of the face. In its two New Testament occurrences, it denotes the physical location struck in an act of violence or insult. In Matthew 5:39, Jesus instructs his followers not to resist an evildoer who strikes them on the right cheek, using the word to illustrate a point about non-retaliation. Similarly, in Luke 6:29, the same teaching appears, emphasizing turning the other cheek as a response to personal assault. The word does not carry a metaphorical meaning in these passages but is used literally to describe a vulnerable part of the body targeted in conflict.

Biblical Usage

This word is used exclusively in the teachings of Jesus within the Synoptic Gospels, specifically in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:39) and the Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6:29). In both contexts, it appears in the same proverbial saying about non-retaliation: 'If anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also.' The usage is identical, highlighting a physical blow meant to humiliate or provoke, and Jesus uses it to command a counter-cultural response of peace.

Etymology

The word σιαγών is a native Greek noun of uncertain deeper origin, though it may be connected to an older root meaning 'to be silent' or 'to be closed,' possibly relating to the jaw's function. It is not a compound word and does not have clear cognates in other Indo-European languages. In classical Greek literature, it consistently meant 'jaw' or 'cheek,' and this meaning carried directly into Koine Greek without significant development.

Semantic Range

While σιαγών itself is a simple anatomical term, its use by Jesus in Matthew 5:39 and Luke 6:29 gives it profound theological significance. It becomes the focal point for the radical ethic of non-retaliation and enemy love central to Jesus' kingdom teaching. Understanding that the 'strike on the cheek' was often a back-handed slap of insult and degradation (aimed at the right cheek) enriches the command. It shows Jesus calling his followers to absorb humiliation and break cycles of violence, embodying grace and reflecting the character of God, who is kind to the ungrateful.

In the first-century Mediterranean world, a strike on the cheek, particularly the right cheek (which for a right-handed person would typically be a back-handed slap), was not merely an act of violence but a grave insult and a challenge to one's honor. It was a demeaning gesture, often used by a social superior against an inferior. Jesus' command to 'turn the other cheek' would have been shocking, as it advocated refusing to engage in the expected cycle of honor-based retaliation, instead choosing vulnerability to potentially shame the aggressor and transform the interaction.

παρειά (pareia, G4600) — a more general term for 'cheek' or the side of the face, used in the LXX but not in the NT. σιαγών is more specific to the jawbone area.

Word Details

Scripture References