"a blow with the palm of the hand, cuff, slap, Mk. 14:65; Jn. 18:22; 19:3*"
Definition and meaning
a blow with the palm of the hand, cuff, slap, Mk. 14:65; Jn. 18:22; 19:3*
In the original Greek the word is written: ῥάπισμα
Historical context
The Gospel of Mark moves urgently — the word "immediately" appears over 40 times. It was written for a Roman audience familiar with power and action. Jesus is portrayed as a man who acts, heals, and commands authority that the Roman world had never seen from a Jewish teacher.
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 rhapisma (G4475) across the King James Bible.
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.
And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.
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Common questions
Strong's G4475 (rhapisma) is a Greek word that means: a blow with the palm of the hand, cuff, slap, Mk. 14:65; Jn. 18:22; 19:3* It appears 2 times in the King James Bible.
The word rhapisma (G4475) appears 2 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4475 is rhapisma, a Greek word defined as: a blow with the palm of the hand, cuff, slap, Mk. 14:65; Jn. 18:22; 19:3*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
rhapisma is a Greek word found in the New Testament.