The term "smiter" in the Bible generally refers to one who strikes or inflicts blows, often with the intent to harm or punish. This concept is woven throughout the Scriptures, illustrating both divine judgment and human conflict. The role of the smiter can be seen in various contexts, from God's righteous judgment to the actions of individuals in historical narratives.

Divine Judgment:

In the context of divine judgment, God is sometimes depicted as a smiter, executing justice upon nations or individuals who have turned away from His commandments. For instance, in Isaiah 10:20, the prophet speaks of a remnant of Israel returning to the Lord, "the Holy One of Israel," after being struck by the Assyrian oppressor, whom God used as an instrument of His judgment: "In that day the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob will no longer depend on him who struck them, but will truly rely on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel" .

The imagery of God as a smiter is also evident in the plagues of Egypt, where God strikes the land with various calamities to compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites (Exodus 7-12). These acts demonstrate God's power and serve as a warning against disobedience and idolatry.

Human Conflict:

In human interactions, the smiter often appears in narratives involving violence or retribution. For example, in Exodus 21:12, the law given to Moses states, "Whoever strikes a man so that he dies must surely be put to death" . This law underscores the seriousness of taking a life and the principle of justice that governs human relationships.

The concept of the smiter is also present in the Psalms, where David frequently prays for deliverance from his enemies who seek to harm him. In Psalm 3:7, David cries out, "Arise, O LORD! Save me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked" . Here, the smiter is invoked as a divine protector who defends the righteous against their adversaries.

Messianic Fulfillment:

The role of the smiter takes on a profound dimension in the prophetic anticipation of the Messiah. In Isaiah 53:4, the suffering servant is described as one who bears the afflictions of others: "Surely He took on our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken by God, struck down and afflicted" . This passage is understood by Christians as a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, who was "stricken" for the transgressions of humanity, fulfilling the ultimate purpose of redemption through His sacrificial death.

Conclusion:

The concept of the smiter in the Bible serves as a multifaceted symbol of justice, judgment, and redemption. Whether as an agent of divine wrath or a figure in human conflict, the smiter reflects the broader biblical themes of sin, punishment, and the hope of salvation through God's intervention.(n.) One who smites.3389. metroloas -- a matricide
... of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: metroloas Phonetic Spelling:
(may-tral-o'-as) Short Definition: a matricide Definition: a matricide, smiter of ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3389.htm - 6k

4131. plektes -- a striker
... bully, striker. From plesso; a smiter, ie Pugnacious (quarrelsome) -- striker. see
GREEK plesso. (plekten) -- 2 Occurrences. 4130, 4131. plektes. 4132 . ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4131.htm - 6k

1987. Helem -- an Asherite
... Word Origin from halam Definition an Asherite NASB Word Usage Helem (1). Helem.
From halam; smiter; Helem, the name of two Israelites -- Helem. see HEBREW halam ...
/hebrew/1987.htm - 6k

4661. mappets -- a war-club
... Word Origin from naphats Definition a war-club NASB Word Usage war-club (1). battle
ax. From naphats; a smiter, ie A war club -- battle ax. see HEBREW naphats. ...
/hebrew/4661.htm - 6k

5221. nakah -- to smite
... 1), slaughtered (1), slaughtering (2), slay (5), slayer (1), slayers (1), slaying
(1), slays (1), slew (8), smashed (1), smite (12), smiter (1), smiting (1 ...
/hebrew/5221.htm - 7k

5222. nekeh -- smitten, stricken
... abject. From nakah; a smiter, ie (figuratively) traducer -- abject. see HEBREW
nakah. 5221, 5222. nekeh. 5223 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/5222.htm - 6k

Seeing, Then, Man's Own Reflections, Even in Spite of the ...
... our Lord? The devil, forsooth, makes it part, too, of his teaching, that
the cheek is to be meekly offered to the smiter. In the ...
/.../tertullian/the shows or de spectaculis/chapter xxiii seeing then mans.htm

Calvary.
... "Crucify Him, crucify!". Can we view the Saviour given. To the smiter's hands for
us? Can we all unmoved, unhumbled,. See Him mocked and slighted thus? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/borthwick/hymns from the land of luther/calvary.htm

And that He Shall be Despised and Tormented and in the End Put to ...
... [238] And Jeremiah the prophet says the same, thus: He shall give his cheek
to the smiter: he shall be filled with reproaches. All ...
/.../the demonstration of the apostolic preaching/chapter 68 and that he.htm

Non-Resistance
... The other cheek is to be given to the smiter; the more costly and ample outer garment
is to be yielded up; the load is to be carried for two miles. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/non-resistance.htm

The Precept of Loving One's Enemies it is as Much Taught in the ...
... dispensations of the Father, both revealed and made intelligible, [4052] when He
commanded that "the other cheek should be offered (to the smiter)," in order ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/chapter xvi the precept of loving.htm

Homilies on the Epistles to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.
... night and day, [3159]ib.; the husband of one wife, [3160]437, [3161]438 (note) ;
must be blameless, [3162]438; apt to teach, [3163]ib.; no smiter, [3164]ib ...
/.../homilies on the epistles to.htm

Letter Lxxxiv. To Pammachius and Oceanus.
... are commanded not to return evil for evil [2549] but to overcome evil with good,
[2550] to take our fill of insults, and to turn the other cheek to the smiter. ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter lxxxiv to pammachius and.htm

Epistle Lxiii. To Dominicus, Bishop of Carthage.
... For to commit things worthy of scourges when placed in the midst of scourges is
to be peculiarly proud against the smiter, and provokes the incensed one to ...
/.../the epistles of saint gregory the great/epistle lxiii to dominicus bishop.htm

God Punishes Both in Wrath and in Mercy.
... there are no punishments, no correction, no scourge of God, but what are owing to
sin, except in the case of Him who prepared His back for the smiter, in order ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 25 god punishes both in.htm

On the Words, Crucified and Buried.
... after her, hath committed adultery with her already [1500] ; not for smiting or
striking hastily, for He turned the other cheek also to the smiter; not for ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/lecture xiii on the words.htm

Smiter (9 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) One who smites. Multi-Version Concordance
Smiter (9 Occurrences). Exodus 21:19 if he rise, and hath ...
/s/smiter.htm - 9k

Leant (7 Occurrences)
... 10:20 And it hath come to pass, in that day, The remnant of Israel, And the escaped
of the house of Jacob, Do not add any more to lean on its smiter, And have ...
/l/leant.htm - 8k

Regulations (37 Occurrences)
... Numbers 35:24 then the congregation shall judge between the smiter and the
avenger of blood according to these ordinances; (See NIV). ...
/r/regulations.htm - 17k

Cessation (4 Occurrences)
... Exodus 21:19 if he rise, and hath gone up and down without on his staff, then hath
the smiter been acquitted; only his cessation he giveth, and he is ...
/c/cessation.htm - 7k

Acquitted (24 Occurrences)
... Exodus 21:19 if he rise, and hath gone up and down without on his staff, then hath
the smiter been acquitted; only his cessation he giveth, and he is ...
/a/acquitted.htm - 13k

Ax (12 Occurrences)
... feller," hence, an axe. (9) mapets (Jeremiah 51:20), literally, "a smiter,"
hence, a war club or battle-axe. The Greek word used ...
/a/ax.htm - 14k

Axe (19 Occurrences)
... feller," hence, an axe. (9) mapets (Jeremiah 51:20), literally, "a smiter,"
hence, a war club or battle-axe. The Greek word used ...
/a/axe.htm - 18k

Axhead (1 Occurrence)
... feller," hence, an axe. (9) mapets (Jeremiah 51:20), literally, "a smiter,"
hence, a war club or battle-axe. The Greek word used ...
/a/axhead.htm - 10k

Ax-head
... feller," hence, an axe. (9) mapets (Jeremiah 51:20), literally, "a smiter,"
hence, a war club or battle-axe. The Greek word used ...
/a/ax-head.htm - 9k

Slaying (21 Occurrences)
... (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV). Isaiah 27:7 As the smiting of his smiter hath He
smitten him? As the slaying of his slain doth He slay? (YLT). ...
/s/slaying.htm - 13k

Smiter: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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