"to beat with the fist, buffet, Mt. 26:67; Mk. 14:65; met. to maltreat, treat with excessive force, 1 Cor. 4:11; to punish, 1 Pet. 2:20; to buffet, fret, afflict, 2 Cor. 12:7*"
Definition and meaning
to beat with the fist, buffet, Mt. 26:67; Mk. 14:65; met. to maltreat, treat with excessive force, 1 Cor. 4:11; to punish, 1 Pet. 2:20; to buffet, fret, afflict, 2 Cor. 12:7*
In the original Greek the word is written: κολαφίζω
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of kolaphizo (G2852) across the King James Bible.
Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,
And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.
Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
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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Common questions
Strong's G2852 (kolaphizo) is a Greek word that means: to beat with the fist, buffet, Mt. 26:67; Mk. 14:65; met. to maltreat, treat with excessive force, 1 Cor. 4:11; to punish, 1 Pet. 2:20; to buffet, fret, afflict, 2 Cor. 12:7* It appears 5 times in the King James Bible.
The word kolaphizo (G2852) appears 5 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2852 is kolaphizo, a Greek word defined as: to beat with the fist, buffet, Mt. 26:67; Mk. 14:65; met. to maltreat, treat with excessive force, 1 Cor. 4:11; to punish, 1 Pet. 2:20; to buffet, fre. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
kolaphizo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.