τύπτω (tuptō)
tuptō
to strike
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 13 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek verb tuptō means to strike or beat with force. It appears thirteen times in the New Testament, primarily in the Gospels and Acts. The word describes physical blows, such as soldiers striking Jesus on the head (Matthew 27:30) or on the cheek (Luke 6:29). It also covers the act of beating someone with a staff or whip.
Beyond violence against others, tuptō has a distinct emotional usage. In Luke 18:13 and 23:48, it describes mourners striking their breasts in grief or repentance. This physical gesture outwardly expresses inner sorrow. Paul uses the word metaphorically in 1 Corinthians 8:12 to say that sinning against a brother wounds his conscience, effectively striking him spiritually.
Its root sense is direct impact. Translators render it variously as "strike," "beat," or "smite" depending on context. Whether describing physical abuse by guards or the symbolic self-harm of penitence, the word always conveys a sudden, forceful contact that leaves a mark.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tuptō reminds us that our actions leave real marks, whether on another person or within ourselves. When we read of soldiers striking Jesus or servants beating their peers, it highlights the cruelty that sin brings. Yet this same word appears in Luke 18:13, where the tax collector beats his chest in genuine repentance. Here, the physical act becomes a humble expression of a broken heart seeking mercy.
Paul extends this idea in 1 Corinthians 8:12, noting that hurting a fellow believer wounds their conscience. This shows that our words and deeds have spiritual weight. We are called to use our strength for protection and comfort, not for domination or harm. By treating others with the dignity Christ showed us, we avoid inflicting unnecessary pain.
May you find peace in knowing that God sees both the violence done to Him and the sincere sorrow of those who turn back to Him. Let your life reflect the gentleness that heals rather than the force that harms.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 13 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to beat2×
- they were striking2×
- beating2×
- wounding1×
- were striking [Him]1×
- was striking1×
- to strike1×
- to be struck?1×
- they were beating [him]1×
- striking1×
- To strike1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἔτυπτον4×
- τύπτειν4×
- τύπτοντες3×
- ἔτυπτεν1×
- τύπτοντί1×
- τύπτεσθαι;1×
Key Verses
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Luke 18:13
But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn’t even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’
This verse uses the word to describe the tax collector's physical gesture of grief and repentance, showing how tuptō expresses deep inner sorrow.
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Matthew 27:30
They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head.
Here the term describes the soldiers striking Jesus on the head with a reed, highlighting the physical abuse He endured during His passion.