Smite
Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words [1]
"to strike, smite," is used (I) literally, of giving a blow with the hand, or fist or a weapon, Matthew 26:51 , RV, "smote" (AV, "struck"); Luke 22:49,50; Acts 7:24; 12:7; (II) metaphorically, (a) of judgment meted out to Christ, Matthew 26:31; Mark 14:27; (b) of the infliction of disease, by an angel, Acts 12:23; of plagues to be inflicted upon men by two Divinely appointed witnesses, Revelation 11:6; (c) of judgment to be executed by Christ upon the nations, Revelation 19:15 , the instrument being His Word, described as a sword.
"to strike, smite, beat," is rendered "to smite" in Matthew 24:49 , AV (RV, "beat"); 27:30; Mark 15:19; Luke 6:29; 18:13; in some texts in Luke 22:64 (1st part: RV omits; for the 2nd part see No. 3); 23:48; Acts 23:2,3 (twice). See Beat , No. 2.
signifies "to strike or smite" (a) with the hand or fist, Matthew 26:68; Luke 22:64 (see No. 2); (b) with a sword, Mark 14:47; John 18:10 , AV (RV, "struck"); (c) with a sting, Revelation 9:5 , "striketh."
"to flay, to beat," akin to derma, "skin," is translated "to smite" in Luke 22:63 , AV (RV, "beat"); John 18:23; 2—Corinthians 11:20 . See Beat , No. 1.
akin to plege, "a plague, stripe, wound," is used figuratively of the effect upon sun, moon and stars, after the sounding of the trumpet by the fourth angel, in the series of Divine judgments upon the world hereafter, Revelation 8:12 .
primarily "to strike with a rod" (rhapis, "a rod"), then, "to strike the face with the palm of the hand or the clenched fist," is used in Matthew 5:39; 26:67 , where the marg. of AV and RV has "with rods." Cp. rhapisma, Note (2), below.
"to cast down," is translated "smitten down" in 2—Corinthians 4:9 , RV. See Cast , No. 8.
"to beat upon," is translated "smote upon" in Matthew 7:27 . See Beat , No. 6.
"to slay," is translated "smitten unto death" in Revelation 13:3; see Kill , Slay.
Matthew 26:51 John 19:3 John 18:22 Mark 14:65 Matthew 26:67
Webster's Dictionary [2]
(1): ( v. t.) To cause to strike; to use as an instrument in striking or hurling.
(2): ( v. t.) To destroy the life of by beating, or by weapons of any kind; to slay by a blow; to kill; as, to smite one with the sword, or with an arrow or other instrument.
(3): ( v. t.) To blast; to destroy the life or vigor of, as by a stroke or by some visitation.
(4): ( v. t.) To afflict; to chasten; to punish.
(5): ( n.) The act of smiting; a blow.
(6): ( v. t.) To put to rout in battle; to overthrow by war.
(7): ( v. i.) To strike; to collide; to beat.
(8): ( v. t.) To strike or affect with passion, as love or fear.
(9): ( v. t.) To strike; to inflict a blow upon with the hand, or with any instrument held in the hand, or with a missile thrown by the hand; as, to smite with the fist, with a rod, sword, spear, or stone.
King James Dictionary [3]
Smite pret. smote pp. smitten, smil. This verb is the L. mitto.
1. To strike to throw, drive or force against, as the fist or hand, a stone or a weapon to reach with a blow or a weapon as, to smite one with the fist to smite with a rod or with a stone. Whoever shall smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. Matthew 5 . 2. To kill to destroy the life of by beating or by weapons of any kind as, to smite one with the sword, or with an arrow or other engine. David smote Goliath with a sling and a stone. The Philistines were often smitten with great slaughter. This word, like slay, usually or always signification, that of beating, striking, the primitive mode of killing. We never apply it to the destruction of life by poison, by accident or by legal execution. 3. To blast to destroy life as by a stroke or by something sent. The flax and the barley were smitten. Exodus 9 . 4. To afflict to chasten to punish. Let us not mistake God's goodness, nor imagine, because he smites us, that we are forsaken by him. 5. To strike or affect with passion. See what the charms that smite the simple heart. Smit with the love of sister arts we came.
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature [4]
( נָכָה , ‘ Τύπτω , etc.), To Stike, is often used in Scripture for To Kill. Thus David smote the Philistine, i.e. he killed Goliath. The Lord smote Nabal and Uzziah, i.e. he put them to death. To smite an army is to conquer it, to rout it entirely. To smite with the tongue is to load with injuries and reproaches, with scandalous reflections. To smite the thigh denotes indignation, trouble, astonishment ( Jeremiah 31:19).
