John 18:23
New International Version
“If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?”

New Living Translation
Jesus replied, “If I said anything wrong, you must prove it. But if I’m speaking the truth, why are you beating me?”

English Standard Version
Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?”

Berean Standard Bible
Jesus replied, “If I said something wrong, testify as to what was wrong. But if I spoke correctly, why did you strike Me?”

Berean Literal Bible
Jesus answered him, "If I spoke evil, bear witness concerning the evil; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?"

King James Bible
Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?

New King James Version
Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?”

New American Standard Bible
Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?”

NASB 1995
Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?”

NASB 1977
Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, bear witness of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?”

Legacy Standard Bible
Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, bear witness of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?”

Amplified Bible
Jesus replied, “If I have said anything wrong, make a formal statement about the wrong; but if [I spoke] properly, why did you strike Me?”

Christian Standard Bible
“If I have spoken wrongly,” Jesus answered him, “give evidence about the wrong; but if rightly, why do you hit me? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
“If I have spoken wrongly,” Jesus answered him, “give evidence about the wrong; but if rightly, why do you hit Me?”

American Standard Version
Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Yeshua answered and said to him, “If I have spoken evil, testify of the evil, but if I have spoken correctly, why do you strike me?”

Contemporary English Version
Jesus answered, "If I have done something wrong, say so. But if not, why did you hit me?"

Douay-Rheims Bible
Jesus answered him: If I have spoken evil, give testimony of the evil; but if well, why strikest thou me?

English Revised Version
Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Jesus replied to him, "If I've said anything wrong, tell me what it was. But if I've told the truth, why do you hit me?"

Good News Translation
Jesus answered him, "If I have said anything wrong, tell everyone here what it was. But if I am right in what I have said, why do you hit me?"

International Standard Version
Jesus answered him, "If I have said anything wrong, tell me what it was. But if I have told the truth, why do you hit me?"

Literal Standard Version
Jesus answered him, “If I spoke ill, testify concerning the ill; and if well, why do you strike Me?”

Majority Standard Bible
Jesus replied, “If I said something wrong, testify as to what was wrong. But if I spoke correctly, why did you strike Me?”

New American Bible
Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?”

NET Bible
Jesus replied, "If I have said something wrong, confirm what is wrong. But if I spoke correctly, why strike me?"

New Revised Standard Version
Jesus answered, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?”

New Heart English Bible
Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken evil, testify of the evil; but if well, why do you beat me?"

Webster's Bible Translation
Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear testimony of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?

Weymouth New Testament
"If I have spoken wrongly," replied Jesus, "bear witness to it as wrong; but if rightly, why that blow?"

World English Bible
Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, testify of the evil; but if well, why do you beat me?”

Young's Literal Translation
Jesus answered him, 'If I spake ill, testify concerning the ill; and if well, why me dost thou smite?'

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jesus Before the High Priest
22When Jesus had said this, one of the officers standing nearby slapped Him in the face and said, “Is this how You answer the high priest?” 23Jesus replied, “If I said something wrong, testify as to what was wrong. But if I spoke correctly, why did you strike Me?” 24Then Annas sent Him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest.…

Cross References
Matthew 5:39
But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also;

Acts 23:2
At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.


Treasury of Scripture

Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smite you me?

If.

2 Corinthians 10:1
Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:

1 Peter 2:20-23
For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God…

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Bear Beat Blow Blows Evil Jesus Rightly Smite Smitest Something Strike Testify Testimony True. Witness Wrong Wrongly
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Bear Beat Blow Blows Evil Jesus Rightly Smite Smitest Something Strike Testify Testimony True. Witness Wrong Wrongly
John 18
1. Judas betrays Jesus.
6. The officers fall to the ground.
10. Peter cuts off Malchus' ear.
12. Jesus is taken, and led unto Annas and Caiaphas.
15. Peter's denial.
19. Jesus examined before Caiaphas.
25. Peter's second and third denial.
28. Jesus arraigned before Pilate.
36. His kingdom.
40. The Jews prefer Barabbas.














(23) Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil.--Comp. Note on Matthew 5:39.

Bear witness of the evil.--That is," Produce the evidence which the law requires."

Verse 23. - Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, come forward as a witness of the evil which thou hast heard. Thus he took no notice of the charge brought against him. But if I have spoken well, why smitest thou me? A quiet appeal to the conscience of the wretched upstart who dared to insult the Lord of glory. It is thus that the Lord explained the spirit of his own injunction, "Whosoever shall smite thee on the one cheek, turn to him the other also" (Matthew 5:39). Nothing was gained by this private interrogatory except an appeal to the outside world of his hearers, and a call for testimony; and no decision could be legally taken against him without incriminating evidence. Dr. Farrar ('Life of Christ') has pointed out with great force that the chief priests and Pharisees, from their intestine animosities, had great difficulty in formulating any specific charge. The Pharisaic ratty, if they made a point of his doctrine and practice concerning the sabbath, would have been foiled by the Sadducean latitudinarians; and the priests did not dare to call in question his imperial cleansing of the temple, knowing that the Pharisees would immediately have justified the act. Consequently, Arums limited his inquiries to the supposed esoteric character of some private teachings to his initiated disciples - a charge that was refuted by the continual publicity and openness of all his teaching.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Jesus
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424: Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.

replied,
Ἀπεκρίθη (Apekrithē)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 611: From apo and krino; to conclude for oneself, i.e. to respond; by Hebraism to begin to speak.

“If
Εἰ (Ei)
Conjunction
Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.

I said
ἐλάλησα (elalēsa)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2980: A prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. Utter words.

[something] wrong,
κακῶς (kakōs)
Adverb
Strong's 2560: Badly, evilly, wrongly. From kakos; badly.

testify
μαρτύρησον (martyrēson)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 3140: To witness, bear witness, give evidence, testify, give a good report. From martus; to be a witness, i.e. Testify.

to
περὶ (peri)
Preposition
Strong's 4012: From the base of peran; properly, through, i.e. Around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time.

what
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

was wrong.
κακοῦ (kakou)
Adjective - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 2556: Bad, evil, in the widest sense. Apparently a primary word; worthless, i.e. depraved, or injurious.

But
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

if
εἰ (ei)
Conjunction
Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.

[I spoke] correctly,
καλῶς (kalōs)
Adverb
Strong's 2573: Well, nobly, honorably, rightly. Adverb from kalos; well.

why
τί (ti)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

did you strike
δέρεις (dereis)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 1194: To flay, flog, scourge, beat. A primary verb; properly, to flay, i.e. to scourge, or to thrash.

Me?”
με (me)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.


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NT Gospels: John 18:23 Jesus answered him If I have spoken (Jhn Jo Jn)
John 18:22
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