[Greek] τύπτω (typtō), [Latin] percutere: to strike, to beat, to smite, to wound, to thump, to hit, to injure, to stamp; Mt.24:49, Mt. 27:30, Mk.15:19, Lk.6:29, Lk.12:45, Lk.18:13, Lk.22:64, Acts 18:17, Acts 21:32, Acts 23:2-3, 1Cor.8:12
Pompeian mosaic of tympanon (drum) made of sheepskin
Background Information:
Greek Hellenism: This term, used in varied and nuanced ways, means to strike, to smite, to be stabbed, and to experience grief. This term derives from the underlying meaning of to stupefy by a blow. A tympanon is a drum which one strikes (beats). Striking can be carried about by hands (fists), feet, rods, whips, or with various weapons. An image can be stamped (struck) on a coin. Homer’s Illiad II 4,531 states, “Thoas of Aetolia drew his sharp sword and smote him therewith full upon the belly and took away his life.” Smiting can mean killing someone, stressing one’s body in physical training, and expressing grief and remorse (striking one’s breast). Herodotus’ Histories III, 64 states, “Perceiving that he had killed his brother without cause, he wept bitterly (pang of conscience) for Smerdis. Having wept, and grieved by all his misfortune, he sprang upon his horse.”
Old Testament: This term, essentially used the same way as with the Hellenistic culture, refers to literally striking someone (or something), to be filled with grief, and to be smite oneself. Striking with hand, fist, foot, or weapon is found in smiting mortally, in smiting an enemy, and smiting a land with deadly force. Grief is illustrated by the “stabbing” of the heart, the heart filled with remorse or fear of God, and the pang of conscience. The heart is the stabbing or sorrow- causing source. Smiting oneself is found in training oneself for the games and to expressing grief and remorse. Training oneself essentially stresses the body in improving endurance and muscle tone. Expressing grief and remorse is illustrated by beating the forehead, and beating the breast. Jewish customs states that one smites the heart because sin and guilt originate there (in the heart).
Go struck Uzzah on that spot (2Kgs.6:7). Then pull back and leave him to be struck down dead (2Kgs.11:15). I will send a plague of frogs over all your territory (Exo.7:27). Abner struck him in the abdomen (2Kgs.2:23). Hannah, why do you weep? (1Kgs.1:8). Like a noble athlete, the old man, while beaten, was victorious over his torturers (4Macc.6:10). The lowly and afflicted man who trembles at My word (Isa.66:2). In attacking the land David would not leave a man or woman alive (1Kgs.27:9). I turn in repentance…I strike my breast (Jer.31:19). They only caused further disaster to him and to all of Israel (2Chr.28:23). Cursed be who slays his neighbor in secret! (Deut.27:24). Like a noble athlete the old man being beaten, was victorious over his torturers (4Macc.6:10).
New Testament: This term refers to physically striking others, striking one’s breast, God’s seeking justice, and wounding one’s conscience. Besides Jesus, Paul, Sothenes, and other servants are physically beaten (or struck). Jesus preaches turning the other cheek as the way to confront opponents. The tax collector and the spectators at the Cross beat their breasts as a form of penance and consolation. Paul states will God will “strike” those hypocrites with His judgment. Paul also states those, who sin against their brothers, wound their consciences.
Turning the other cheek:
What is a common perception of turning the other cheek? This does not mean becoming a complete doormat in allowing one to be attached by an aggressor. “Ok. You slapped me on my right cheek. Why don’t also you slap me on my left cheek.”
How did the Roman soldiers view the Jews? The Jews were considered as second class citizens. Soldiers tended to be right-handed. When Romans struck an “inferior” person, they would give a back-handed slap on that person’s right cheek.
How did the Roman soldiers strike someone considered their equal? The soldier would punch that person’s left cheek with his right fist.
What does turning the other cheek accomplish? The Jewish person forces his Roman attacker to treat him as an equal. Jesus wants the Jews to stand up and demand respect. This action is intended to challenge (motivate) the soldier’s conscience
Scripture:
“Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall. Do you indeed sit in judgment upon me according to the law and yet in violation of the law order me to be struck?” Acts 23:3
Paul accuses Ananias of being a hypocrite. This is a common Jewish curse. Interestingly, Ananias is later murdered by the Zealots.
“When you sin in this way against your brothers and wound their consciences, weak as they are, you are sinning against Christ.” 1Cor.8:12
This sinful activity weakness the conscience of the weaker brethren. This leads the stronger person to act against his conscience, which damages his relationship with God.
When all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what happened, they returned home beating their breasts. Lk.23:48
This act was a form of mourning, penitence, and self-contemplation.
Conclusion:
Type, smitten, typewriter, timpani, persecute
It is interesting to discover this same term can be used to convey killing someone (smite one’s enemy) and to convey grief (stabbing the heart). Even in the Greco-Roman era, the heart had already been perceived as the “seat” of emotions.
It is very apparent that the Old Testament experienced many types of violent (and non-violent) actions and movements. This word occurs at least over 500 times in the Old Testament. It was interesting to discover that smiting oneself can refer to stressing one’s body (physical training) for competition. After all, Paul does mention training oneself to be fit to run the Christian race of life. So it is probably not surprising that today that “working out” sounds much better than “smiting oneself.”
To be honest, I was really not much aware that Jesus was also mocked as a prophet by being blindfolded and struck. I also had never really understood the meaning behind one beating the breast. Essentially, the heart is the seat of emotions and decisions. It was very interesting that Jesus was using very astute psychological methods in “smiting” an adversary’s conscience.
The Greek tympanon is drum which is struck or beaten. The Latin tympanum is the ear drum in our ears. Timpani are kettledrums.
This also gives a further insight about the expressions “being smitten with love” and “love struck”. In a sense, one smites (strikes) another with love. And for some it may sometimes hurt. I also was “struck” (sorry…couldn’t resist) about how many times the word smite was found in the Old Testament.