Bible Dictionaries
Blow

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

(a) "a blow with a rod or staff," (b) "a blow with the hand, a slap or cuff," is found in three places; of the maltreatment of Christ by the officials or attendants of the high priest, Mark 14:65 , RV, "received (according to the most authentic mss.) Him with blows of their hands," (AV, "did strike Him with the palms of their hands"); that they received, or took, Him would indicate their rough handling of Him; John 18:22; 19:3; in all three places the RV marg. gives the meaning (a), as to the use of a rod.

So with the corresponding verb rhapizo, in Matthew 26:67 . The soldiers subsequently beat Him with a reed, 27:30, where tupto, "to beat," is used; rhapizo occurs elsewhere in Matthew 5:39 . See SMITE.