Turn the other cheek

To turn the other cheek means to refuse to answer an insult or injury with revenge; it appears in Jesus’ teaching in the Gospel of Matthew. Today, the phrase usually describes choosing restraint instead of retaliation, rather than literally offering your face for another blow.

Where it comes from

The biblical teaching

The phrase appears in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. It challenges the idea that an injury should be answered with an equal injury.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells his listeners to offer the other cheek after being struck on one cheek. He places this teaching alongside other examples of refusing retaliation.

In Gospel of Matthew by Traditionally attributed to Matthew

The meaning today

The phrase now often means meeting cruelty or provocation without paying it back. It can describe a deliberate act of mercy, not merely doing nothing.

In Les Misérables, the bishop protects Jean Valjean after Valjean steals his silver, then gives him silver candlesticks as well. His response illustrates the mercy that the phrase can suggest.

In Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

How to use Turn the other cheek

Use it when someone chooses not to retaliate.
Make clear what insult or injury prompted the choice.
Avoid using it to pressure someone to accept ongoing harm.

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Does turning the other cheek mean being weak?

No, it can mean choosing self-control rather than revenge. The phrase describes a response to wrongdoing, not a person's strength or worth. Someone can refuse retaliation while still objecting firmly, setting boundaries, or seeking help.

Is turning the other cheek the same as forgiving someone?

No, refusing retaliation and forgiving someone are related but different choices. Turning the other cheek concerns how someone responds to an injury. Forgiveness concerns their attitude toward the person responsible, and neither choice necessarily means restoring trust or allowing further harm.