"to strike, beat upon; to smite, wound, Mt. 26:51; Lk. 22:49, 50; by impl. to kill, slay, Mt. 26:31; Mk. 14:27; Acts 7:24; to strike gently, Acts 12:7; from the Hebrew, to smite with disease, plagues, etc., Acts 12:23; Rev. 11:6; 19:15*"
Definition and meaning
to strike, beat upon; to smite, wound, Mt. 26:51; Lk. 22:49, 50; by impl. to kill, slay, Mt. 26:31; Mk. 14:27; Acts 7:24; to strike gently, Acts 12:7; from the Hebrew, to smite with disease, plagues, etc., Acts 12:23; Rev. 11:6; 19:15*
In the original Greek the word is written: πατάσσω
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 patasso (G3960) across the King James Bible.
Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.
And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.
When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?
And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.
And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:
And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
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Common questions
Strong's G3960 (patasso) is a Greek word that means: to strike, beat upon; to smite, wound, Mt. 26:51; Lk. 22:49, 50; by impl. to kill, slay, Mt. 26:31; Mk. 14:27; Acts 7:24; to strike gently, Acts 12:7; from the Hebrew, to smite with disease, plagues, ... It appears 10 times in the King James Bible.
The word patasso (G3960) appears 10 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G3960 is patasso, a Greek word defined as: to strike, beat upon; to smite, wound, Mt. 26:51; Lk. 22:49, 50; by impl. to kill, slay, Mt. 26:31; Mk. 14:27; Acts 7:24; to strike gently, Acts 12:7;. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
patasso is a Greek word found in the New Testament.