Lamentations 3:30

Hebrew Bible

25 ט (Tet) The Lord is good to those who trust in him, to the one who seeks him. 26 It is good to wait patiently for deliverance from the Lord. 27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young. 28 י (Yod) Let a person sit alone in silence, when the Lord is disciplining him. 29 Let him bury his face in the dust; perhaps there is hope. 30 Let him offer his cheek to the one who hits him; let him have his fill of insults. 31 כ (Kaf) For the Lord will not reject us forever. 32 Though he causes us grief, he then has compassion on us according to the abundance of his loyal kindness.

Matthew 5:39

New Testament

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, do not resist the evildoer. But whoever strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well. 40 And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your coat also. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not reject the one who wants to borrow from you.

 Notes and References

"... the fact that Matthew may have already alluded to chapter 3 of Lamentations ear­lier in his Gospel should be considered. Lamentations 3:30 reads: δώσει τω παίοντι αυτόν σιαγόνα χορτασθήσεται όνειδισμών ('he will give the cheek to the one who strikes him, he will be sated with insults'). Matthew 5:39 advances a similar idea when Jesus exhorts: όστις σε ραπίζει εις την δεξιάν σιαγόνα [σου], στρέψον αύτω και την άλλην ('[if] anyone strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him also the other;). Davies and Allison point out that the parallel between these two texts was noted at least as early as Origen (Matthew, 1:543). If this is an allusion to Lamentations 3:30, then it strengthens the case for an allusion to 3:30 at Matt 27:34 ..."

Moffitt, David M. Righteous Bloodshed, Matthew's Passion Narrative, and the Temple's Destruction: Lamentations as a Matthean Intertext (pp. 299-320) Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 125, No. 2, 2006

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