Bible Dictionaries
Smite

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

"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.

Notes: (1) In Matthew 26:51 , AV, aphaireo, "to take away, take off," is translated "smote off" (RV, "struck off"). (2) The noun rhapisma, "a blow," in the plural, as the object of didomi, "to give," in John 19:3 is translated "smote (Him) with their hands" (RV, "struck, etc."), lit., "gave ... blows" (RV marg., "with rods"); in John 18:22 (where the phrase is used with the singular of the noun) the RV renders it "struck ... with his hand"), (AV, "struck ... with the palm of his hand"), marg. of both, "with a rod." The same word is used in Mark 14:65 , "(received Him) with blows (of their hands)," RV [AV, "did strike Him with the palms (of their hands)," RV margin, "strokes of rods"]. See BLOW (Noun). Cp. No. 6, above, Matthew 26:67 .