In the Bible, the act of kissing is depicted as a gesture of affection, respect, and reverence, appearing in various contexts throughout the Scriptures. The cultural and relational significance of kissing in biblical times provides insight into the social and spiritual dynamics of the ancient world.

1. Kissing as a Sign of Affection and Family Bond:

Kissing is often portrayed as an expression of familial love and affection. In Genesis 27:26-27, Isaac kisses his son Jacob as a sign of blessing and affection: "Then his father Isaac said to him, 'Please come near and kiss me, my son.' So he came near and kissed him. When Isaac smelled his clothing, he blessed him and said, 'Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed.'" Similarly, in Genesis 29:11, Jacob kisses Rachel upon meeting her, demonstrating a familial bond and affection: "Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud."

2. Kissing as a Greeting and Sign of Respect:

In the New Testament, kissing is often used as a form of greeting among believers, symbolizing unity and brotherly love. Romans 16:16 instructs, "Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send you greetings." This practice is echoed in 1 Corinthians 16:20, 2 Corinthians 13:12, and 1 Thessalonians 5:26, emphasizing the importance of fellowship and mutual respect within the Christian community.

3. Kissing as a Sign of Devotion and Worship:

Kissing is also depicted as an act of devotion and worship. In 1 Kings 19:18, God tells Elijah that He has preserved a remnant in Israel who have not bowed to Baal or kissed him, indicating that kissing was associated with worship and allegiance: "Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him."

4. Kissing as a Betrayal:

One of the most poignant uses of a kiss in the Bible is Judas Iscariot's betrayal of Jesus. In Matthew 26:48-49, Judas uses a kiss to identify Jesus to the arresting soldiers: "Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: 'The one I kiss is the man; arrest Him.' Going directly to Jesus, he said, 'Greetings, Rabbi,' and kissed Him." This act of betrayal highlights the potential for a kiss to be used deceitfully, contrasting its usual connotations of love and loyalty.

5. Kissing in Romantic Contexts:

The Song of Solomon, a poetic book celebrating love and marriage, includes references to kissing as an expression of romantic love. Song of Solomon 1:2 states, "Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is more delightful than wine." This illustrates the deep emotional and physical connection between lovers, celebrated within the bounds of marriage.

6. Cultural and Historical Context:

In biblical times, kissing was a common cultural practice, often used to convey a range of emotions and intentions. It was a customary greeting, a sign of respect, and a demonstration of loyalty or submission. Understanding the cultural context of kissing in the Bible helps to illuminate the relational dynamics and social customs of the ancient Near East.

Overall, the act of kissing in the Bible is multifaceted, serving as a powerful symbol of love, respect, devotion, and, at times, betrayal. Its varied uses across different contexts underscore the depth and complexity of human relationships as portrayed in the Scriptures.Kiss

Kissing the lips by way of affectionate salutation was customary among near relatives of both sexes, in both patriarchal and later times. (Genesis 29:11; Solomon 8:1) Between individuals of the same sex, and in a limited degree between those of different sexes, the kiss on the cheek as a mark of respect or an act of salutation has at all times been customary in the East, and can hardly be said to be extinct even in Europe. In the Christian Church the kiss of charity was practiced not only as a friendly salutation, but as an act symbolical of love and Christian brotherhood. (Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:6; 1 Peter 5:14) It was embodied in the earlier Christian offices, and has been continued in some of those now in use. Among the Arabs the women and children kiss the beards of their husbands or fathers. The superior returns the salute by a kiss on the forehead. In Egypt an inferior kisses the hand of a superior, generally on the back, but sometimes, as a special favor, on the palm also. To testify abject submission, and in asking favors, the feet are often kissed instead of the hand. The written decrees of a sovereign are kissed in token of respect; even the ground is sometimes kissed by Orientals int he fullness of their submission. (Genesis 41:40; 1 Samuel 24:8; Psalms 72:9) etc. Kissing is spoken of in Scripture as a mark of respect or adoration to idols. (1 Kings 19:18; Hosea 13:2)

Kiss

This salutation was customary in the East, to express regard and reverence, as well as affection, Gen 29...13; Ru 1...14; Acts 20...37. Sometimes the beard was kissed, 2 Samuel 20:9; and in token of humble affection, the feet, Luke 7:38. Images and the heavenly bodies were worshipped by kissing the hand towards them, 1 Kings 19:18 Job 31:27 Hosea 13:2. The expression, "Kiss the Son," Psalm 2:12, may be illustrated by 1 Samuel 10:1, where king Saul receives the kiss of allegiance from Samuel. This salutation being customary in those days between man and man, was used in the early church as a pledge of Christian peace and charity, Romans 16:16 1 Peter 5:14.

Of affection (Genesis 27:26, 27; 29:13; Luke 7:38, 45); reconciliation (Genesis 33:4; 2 Samuel 14:33); leave-taking (Genesis 31:28, 55; Ruth 1:14; 2 Samuel 19:39); homage (Psalm 2:12; 1 Samuel 10:1); spoken of as between parents and children (Genesis 27:26; 31:28, 55; 48:10; 50:1; Exodus 18:7; Ruth 1:9, 14); between male relatives (Genesis 29:13; 33:4; 45:15). It accompanied social worship as a symbol of brotherly love (Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:26; 1 Peter 5:14). The worship of idols was by kissing the image or the hand toward the image (1 Kings 19:18; Hosea 13:2). 1. (v. t.) To salute with the lips, as a mark of affection, reverence, submission, forgiveness, etc.

2. (v. t.) To touch gently, as if fondly or caressingly.

3. (v. i.) To make or give salutation with the lips in token of love, respect, etc.; as, kiss and make friends.

4. (v. i.) To meet; to come in contact; to touch fondly.

5. (n.) A salutation with the lips, as a token of affection, respect, etc.; as, a parting kiss; a kiss of reconciliation.

6. (n.) A small piece of confectionery.

KISS

(nashaq; phileo, kataphilo, philema): The kiss is common in eastern lands in salutation, etc., on the cheek, the forehead, the beard, the hands, the feet, but not (in Pal) the lips (Cheyne, E B, under the word "Salutations"). In the Bible there is no sure instance of the kiss in ordinary salutation. We have in the Old Testament naschaq, "to kiss," used

(1) of relatives (which seems the origin of the practice of kissing; compare Songs 8:1, "Oh that thou wert as my brother.... I would kiss thee; yea, and none would despise me"); Genesis 27:26, 27 (Isaac and Jacob); 29:11 (Jacob and Rachel); 33:4 (Esau and Jacob); 45:15 (Joseph and his brethren); 48:10 (Jacob and Joseph's sons); 50:1 (Joseph and his father); Exodus 4:27 (Aaron and Moses); 18:7 (Moses and Jethro, united with obeisance); Ruth 1:9, 14 (Naomi and her daughters-in-law-a farewell); 2 Samuel 14:33 (David and Absalom); 1 Kings 19:20 (Elisha and his parents-a farewell); see also Genesis 29:13; Genesis 31:28, 55; Tobit 7:6; 10:12.

(2) Of friendship and affection; compare 1 Samuel 20:41 (David and Jonathan); 2 Samuel 15:5 (Absalom and those who came to him); 19:39 (David and Barzillai-a farewell); 20:9 (Joab and Amasa); Proverbs 27:6 ("the kisses (neshiqah) of an enemy"); 1 Esdras 4:47 ("the king stood up, and kissed him").

(3) Of love; compare Songs 1:2, "Let him kiss me with the kisses (neshiqah) of his mouth"; Proverbs 7:13 (of the feigned love of "the strange woman").

(4) Of homage, perhaps; compare 1 Samuel 10:1 (Samuel after anointing David king); Genesis 41:40, "Unto thy word shall all my people be ruled," the Revised Version margin "order themselves," or "do homage," the King James Version margin "Hebrew be armed or kiss" (nashaq); Psalm 2:12, "Kiss the son" (American Standard Revised Version), the English Revised Version margin "Some versions render, `Lay hold of (or receive) instruction'; others, `Worship in purity' "; some ancient versions give `Kiss (or, do homage) purely.'

(5) Of idolatrous practices; compare 1 Kings 19:18 Hosea 13:2 (compare 8:5, 6; 10:5); Job 31:27, probably, "kissing the hand to the sun or moon" (compare 31:26, 27). See ADORATION.

(6) A figurative use may be seen in Psalm 85:10 Proverbs 24:26 Ezekiel 3:13, where "touched" is nashaq (see the King James Version margin).

(7) In Additions to Esther 13:13 we have "I could have been content.... to kiss the soles of his feet," and in Ecclesiasticus 29:5, "Till he hath received, he will kiss a man's hands"-marks of self-humiliation or abasement.

In the New Testament we have phileo, "to kiss," "to be friendly," and kataphileo, "to kiss thoroughly," "to be very friendly"-the first in Matthew 26:48 Mark 14:44 Luke 22:47, of the kiss with which Judas betrayed his Master. This was probably meant to be taken as an expression of special regard, which is expressed by the kataphileo of Matthew 26:49 Mark 14:45; the same word is used of the woman who kissed the feet of Christ (Luke 7:38, 45); of the father's greeting of the returning prodigal (Luke 15:20); and of the farewell to Paul of the Ephesian Christians (Acts 20:37); philema, "a kiss," "a mark of friendship," is used by our Lord as that which Simon omitted to give him (which may refer to ordinary hospitality), but which the woman had bestowed so impressively (Luke 7:45); of the kiss of Judas (Luke 22:48); and of the "holy kiss" wherewith Christians greeted each other, which, according to the general usage we have seen, would be as the members of one family in the Lord, or as specially united in holy love (Romans 16:16 1 Corinthians 16:20 2 Corinthians 13:12 1 Thessalonians 5:26 1 Peter 5:14). There is reason to believe that, as a rule, men only thus greeted men, and women, women. In the Apostolical Constitutions (3rd century) it is so enjoined.

W. L. Walker

2705. kataphileo -- to kiss fervently
... to kiss fervently. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: kataphileo Phonetic Spelling:
(kat-af-ee-leh'-o) Short Definition: I kiss affectionately Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2705.htm - 7k

5370. philema -- a kiss
... philema. 5371 . a kiss. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: philema
Phonetic Spelling: (fil'-ay-mah) Short Definition: a kiss Definition: a kiss. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5370.htm - 6k

5368. phileo -- to love
... to love. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: phileo Phonetic Spelling:
(fil-eh'-o) Short Definition: I love, kiss Definition: I love (of friendship), regard ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5368.htm - 8k

4352. proskuneo -- to do reverence to
... 4352 (from 4314 , "towards" and , ""-- properly, to kiss the ground when prostrating
before a superior; to , ready "to fall down/prostrate oneself to adore on ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4352.htm - 10k

5401. nashaq -- to kiss
... 5400, 5401. nashaq. 5401a . to kiss. Transliteration: nashaq Phonetic Spelling:
(naw-shak') Short Definition: kiss. armed men, rule, kiss, that touched ...
/hebrew/5401.htm - 6k

5390. neshiqah -- a kiss
... 5389, 5390. neshiqah. 5391 . a kiss. Transliteration: neshiqah Phonetic Spelling:
(nesh-ee-kaw') Short Definition: kisses. ... kiss. From nashaq; a kiss -- kiss ...
/hebrew/5390.htm - 6k

5401a. nashaq -- to kiss
... 5401, 5401a. nashaq. 5401b . to kiss. Transliteration: nashaq Short
Definition: kissed. Word Origin a prim. root Definition to kiss ...
/hebrew/5401a.htm - 5k

The Stichera of the Last Kiss.
... THE STICHERA OF THE LAST KISS. Deute teleutaion aspasmon domen. ... 9,8,9,8,9,8,9,8,
7,7. John Damascene, 780. Take the last kiss,"the last for ever! ...
/.../neale/hymns of the eastern church/the stichera of the last.htm

Of the Kiss of Peace.
... Chapter XVIII."Of the Kiss of Peace. ... Such as are fasting withhold the kiss of peace,
which is the seal of prayer, after prayer made with brethren. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/on prayer/chapter xviii of the kiss of.htm

Verse 1. Let Him Kiss Me with the Kisses of his Mouth.
... COMMENTARY. CHAPTER I. VERSE 1. Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth. ... All
these unions are divine embraces"but they are not the Kiss of His mouth. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/guyon/song of songs of solomon/verse 1 let him kiss.htm

Betrayed by a Kiss.
... CHAPTER IV. BETRAYED BY A KISS. The foulest ... out. I will hasten up to him,
and the man whom I shall kiss; that is he; bind him!". Then ...
//christianbookshelf.org/stead/king of the jews/chapter iv betrayed by a.htm

That Love Tends to Union.
... Now making the spouse or bride begin first by manner of a certain surprise of love,
he first puts into her mouth this ejaculation: Let him kiss me with the ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter ix that love tends.htm

That we Cannot Attain to Perfect Union with God in this Mortal ...
... for these affections turn into eternal resolutions; yet she cannot consider that
she kisses him with the nuptial kiss till she meet with him in her mother's ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter vi that we cannot.htm

2 Cor. xiii. 10
... Ver.12. "Salute one another with a holy kiss.". What is "holy?" not hollow, [1054]
not treacherous, like the kiss which Judas gave to Christ. ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xxx 2 cor xiii.htm

I am Told that He Also Carps at Me for the Translation I have ...
... Nescu, translated literally, is Kiss. I wished not to give a distasteful ... loss even
in Latin. Nescu, translated literally, is Kiss. I wished not ...
/.../19 i am told that.htm

Miracles of Destruction.
... note, with the questions they suggest. The synoptical Gospels record the
Judas-kiss: St John does not. St John alone records the ...
/.../macdonald/miracles of our lord/x miracles of destruction.htm

The Captive Christ and the Circle Round Him
... And he that betrayed Him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall
kiss, that same is He; take Him, and lead Him away safely.45. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/the captive christ and the.htm

Kiss (39 Occurrences)
... 3. (vi) To make or give salutation with the lips in token of love, respect, etc.;
as, kiss and make friends. ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. KISS. ...
/k/kiss.htm - 25k

Salute (48 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) Hence, to give a sign of good will; to compliment by an act or ceremony,
as a kiss, a bow, etc. ... Romans 16:16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. ...
/s/salute.htm - 19k

Greet (46 Occurrences)
... (WEB NAS RSV NIV). Romans 16:16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. ... 1 Corinthians
16:20 All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. ...
/g/greet.htm - 19k

Betraying (14 Occurrences)
... (WEY NAS). Matthew 26:48 Now he who betrayed him gave them a sign, saying,
"Whoever I kiss, he is the one. Seize him." (See NAS). ...
/b/betraying.htm - 10k

Cease (138 Occurrences)
... In the New Testament it illustrates Christ's power over Nature; wind and raging
sea ceased (Luke 8:24); over a sinner's heart: "not ceased to kiss my feet ...
/c/cease.htm - 40k

Adoration
... 5. Kiss of Adoration: The heathen practice of kissing hands to the heavenly bodies
as a sign of adoration is referred to in Job 31:27, and of kissing the idol ...
/a/adoration.htm - 20k

Weep (97 Occurrences)
... Genesis 29:11 And weeping for joy, Jacob gave Rachel a kiss. (Root in BBE YLT NIV). ...
Then she gave them a kiss; and they were weeping bitterly. (Root in BBE YLT). ...
/w/weep.htm - 37k

Gavest (36 Occurrences)
... (KJV ASV DBY WBS). Luke 7:45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time
I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. (KJV ASV DBY WBS). ...
/g/gavest.htm - 17k

Greetings (48 Occurrences)
... Romans 16:16 Salute one another with a holy kiss. All the Churches of Christ send
greetings to you. (WEY NIV). ... Greet one another with a holy kiss. (WEY RSV NIV). ...
/g/greetings.htm - 18k

Gesture
... and bowing to the ground, 3 times (1 Samuel 20:41 Genesis 23:7 2 Samuel 9:8; 2 Samuel
18:21 1 Kings 2:19); it was common also to embrace and kiss (Exodus 18:7 ...
/g/gesture.htm - 20k

What exactly is a holy kiss? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean to kiss the son (Psalm 2:12)? | GotQuestions.org

What is the significance of Judas betraying Jesus with a kiss? | GotQuestions.org

Kiss: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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