cheek

"Turn the other cheek". I came across another interpretation. It does not mean to be a door mat. It means to insist on being heard as an equal in a conflict. In ancient times if you were slapped across the right cheek in a back handed fashion you were ignored as second class like an animal, a child or a woman. If you were slapped across your left cheek with the palm of the hand you were considered an equal. To "turn the other cheek" means that you take the hand of your assailant and insist that he dignify you with a slap to your left cheek, not back handed.So I do believe that 'turn the other cheek" means to listen to others, and stand up and be counted yourself.