κολαφίζω (kolaphizō)
kolaphizō
to beat
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb kolaphizō describes a specific physical act: striking someone with a closed fist or knuckles. It is not a general term for hitting but denotes a brutal, intimate blow intended to humiliate and inflict pain. In the New Testament, it appears in only five verses, primarily within the passion narratives where Jesus is arrested and tried.
This word carries heavy theological weight because it captures the violence inflicted on the Son of God. Matthew 26:67 and Mark 14:65 use it to describe the soldiers mocking Jesus by spitting on him and striking his face. The physical brutality here underscores the depth of Christ’s suffering, showing that he endured not just death but contemptuous abuse at the hands of men.
Paul also uses this term in 2 Corinthians 12:7 to describe how "a messenger of Satan" buffeted him, illustrating that apostolic ministry often involves severe physical opposition. By choosing such a visceral word, the biblical authors emphasize that the Gospel was advanced through tangible suffering, linking Jesus’ experience directly with that of his followers.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word kolaphizō describes a very specific kind of violence: being struck with a closed fist or knuckles. It is not a casual push or a general scolding, but a brutal, intimate blow designed to humiliate and cause pain. In the New Testament, this visceral term appears primarily in the passion narratives, where soldiers mock Jesus by spitting on his face and beating him with their fists (Matthew 26:67). This detail grounds our faith in history; it reminds us that Christ did not just die for sin, but endured contemptuous abuse at the hands of men.
Paul later uses this same word to describe the physical opposition he faced as an apostle (1 Corinthians 4:11), linking his suffering directly to Jesus’ experience. When we read that Peter encourages believers to endure such treatment patiently when doing good (1 Peter 2:20), we are not being asked to seek out abuse, but to find strength in the example of Christ. His willingness to bear these blows shows us that God is present even in our most humiliating moments.
This word invites us to look at suffering differently. It is not a sign of God’s absence, but often a participation in the costs of following Him. When we face unjust treatment or physical hardship, we can remember that Jesus knows exactly what it feels like to be struck with a fist. He does not ask us to bear these burdens alone, but walks through them with us, turning our pain into a shared testimony of His grace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to strike1×
- struck1×
- he may buffet1×
- being struck1×
- are buffeted1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐκολάφισαν1×
- κολαφίζῃ1×
- κολαφίζειν1×
- κολαφιζόμενοι1×
- κολαφιζόμεθα1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 26:67
Then they spat in his face and beat him with their fists, and some slapped him,
This verse uses the word to depict the soldiers' mocking humiliation of Jesus, highlighting the intentional cruelty inflicted on Him during His arrest.
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Mark 14:65
Some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to beat him with fists, and to tell him, “Prophesy!” The officers struck him with the palms of their hands.
Here the term appears alongside orders to 'prophesy,' showing how the beating was used as a cruel parody of spiritual insight rather than genuine justice.
-
I Corinthians 4:11
Even to this present hour we hunger, thirst, are naked, are beaten, and have no certain dwelling place.
Paul lists being beaten among his hardships, using this specific term to connect his physical suffering directly to the pattern of Christ's passion.
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I Peter 2:20
For what glory is it if, when you sin, you patiently endure beating? But if when you do well, you patiently endure suffering, this is commendable with God.
Peter uses this word to distinguish between enduring punishment for sin and the commendable grace of patiently suffering while doing good.