Kiss
“To touch, to kiss”
Summary
A common form of greeting and expression of affection in the ancient Near East, used to convey love, respect, homage, and later adopted by the early Church as a sign of Christian fellowship.
☩Family and Social Custom
Kissing was the customary salutation in the East, expressing tender affection and respect. It was common between parents and children, as when Isaac kissed Jacob, Jacob kissed Rachel upon meeting her, and Joseph kissed his father at his death. Kissing was also practiced between brothers and near relatives, as when Esau embraced and kissed Jacob after their long separation, and Joseph kissed all his brothers when he revealed himself in Egypt. Between friends of the same sex, the kiss on the cheek served as a mark of respect or greeting, as demonstrated by Jonathan and David at their emotional parting. In the East today, men commonly kiss each other on both cheeks when greeting after a long absence.
☩Variations in Practice
The kiss could be placed on different parts of the body depending on the relationship and circumstance. Kissing the lips was customary among near relatives of both sexes in both patriarchal and later times. The kiss on the cheek or neck was common between those of the same age or status. Among Arabs, women and children kiss the beards of their husbands or fathers, with the superior returning the salute by a kiss on the forehead. Kissing the hand of another signified respect toward seniority and higher rank, commonly practiced by children toward parents and by inferiors toward superiors. In Egypt, an inferior kisses the hand of a superior, and as a special favor, sometimes the palm.
☩Homage and Religious Devotion
The kiss served as a token of homage and reverence. Samuel kissed Saul after anointing him king. To show abject submission or when asking favors, the feet were often kissed instead of the hand, as the sinful woman kissed Jesus' feet while weeping. In religious contexts, kisses were directed toward images of gods, and toward the sun and moon, with worshippers kissing their hands toward distant objects of worship. Job explicitly denies having engaged in such idolatrous practices. The custom of kissing in homage explains the command to "kiss the Son" in Psalm 2:12, where submission to Messiah is enjoined upon kings and judges.
☩The Deceitful Kiss
Scripture also records kisses used for treacherous purposes. Proverbs warns that "the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." Joab took Amasa by the beard as if to kiss him, then stabbed him with his sword. Absalom won the hearts of the men of Israel by kissing those who came to him, feigning affection while plotting rebellion against his father David. Most infamously, Judas identified Jesus to the arresting party with a kiss, using the sign of friendship and respect as the instrument of betrayal. The Greek term used suggests this was an emphatic kiss, making the treachery all the more heinous.
☩The Holy Kiss
The early Christian Church adopted the kiss as a sacred expression of fellowship and mutual love. The apostles exhorted believers to "greet one another with a holy kiss" or "kiss of love." This practice symbolized the new bond of brotherhood in the family of Christ and testified to perfect reconciliation and concord among church members. It was called simply "the peace" or "kiss of peace" and was exchanged especially in connection with the Lord's Supper. To maintain propriety, the kiss was generally exchanged between persons of the same sex only, with men greeting men and women greeting women, as specified in the Apostolical Constitutions. The practice eventually declined as a regular part of Christian worship, though it persists in some liturgical traditions.
Related Verses32 mentions
References
- 1.James Orr (ed.), "Kiss," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. III (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 2.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Kiss," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Kiss," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).
- 4.John McClintock and James Strong, "Kiss," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. V (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 5.James Hastings (ed.), "Kiss," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).