The meaning of Strike in the Bible
(From International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)
strik: The verbs "to strike" and "to stroke" (latter not in English Versions) have the same derivation, and originally "strike" was the intrans, "stroke" the transitive form. "Strike" however, became used in both senses (always transitive in English Versions of the Bible), while "to stroke" took on the meaning "to, rub gently." But in the King James Version this last force still belonged sometimes to "strike" and is so found in II Kings 5:11, "strike his hand over the place" (the Revised Version (British and American) "wave"), and perhaps Exodus 12:7, Exodus 12:22; Tobit 11:11 Otherwise AV's uses of the simple "strike" are modern, including "strike sail" (Acts 27:17; here and in Tobit 11:11 with an archaic preterite "strake," elsewhere "struck"). The Revised Version's "They lowered the gear" is a more precise translation, not a modernizing of the King James Version's English. The combination "to strike through," however, is not modern English, and was used by the King James Version as meaning either "to pierce" (Judges 5:26; Job 20:24; Proverbs 7:23; Lamentations 4:9), or, as an intensive, "to strike violently," "to crush" (Psalms 110:5). The Revised Version (British and American) has attempted to distinguish only in Habakkuk 3:14, "pierce," margin "smite." "Striking hands" is a common custom at the conclusion of a bargain (Additions to Esther 14:8), but in Job 17:3; Proverbs 6:1; Proverbs 17:18; Proverbs 22:26; the Revised Version margin Proverbs 11:15, the ceremony is used technically for an agreement to be surety for another. Striking (the Revised Version margin "firing") stones to produce a fire is mentioned (2 Macc 10:3).
The past participle of "strike" is stricken (modern English "struck") (compare Proverbs 23:35; Jeremiah 5:3; Lamentations 4:9). So Isaiah 1:5, "Why will ye be still stricken?" is equivalent to "Why should ye receive any more blows?" (compare Isaiah 16:7; Isaiah 53:4, Isaiah 53:8 margin). But in the phrase "stricken in age" (Genesis 18:11, etc.) "strike" has an older meaning, "advance."
Striker is found in I Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7 as a literal translation of plektes. A hot-tempered man, prone to physical outbursts, is meant. A stroke is simply a"blow," but in Deuteronomy 17:8; Deuteronomy 21:5, "stroke" is used technically for "assault."
Burton Scott Easton
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