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(× ×©×ק, naÌ„shakÌ£; φιλεÌω, phileÌoÌ„, καταφιλεÌω, kataphileÌoÌ„, φιÌλημα, phıÌleÌ„ma): 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, EB, under the word “Salutationsâ€). In the Bible there is no sure instance of the kiss in ordinary salutation. We have in the Old Testament naÌ„shakÌ£, “to kiss,†used (1) of relatives (which seems the origin of the practice of kissing; compare , “Oh that thou wert as my brother ... I would kiss thee; yea, and none would despise meâ€); , (Isaac and Jacob); (Jacob and Rachel); (Esau and Jacob); (Joseph and his brethren); (Jacob and Joseph's sons); (Joseph and his father); (Aaron and Moses); (Moses and Jethro, united with obeisance); , (Naomi and her daughters-in-law - a farewell); (David and Absalom); (Elisha and his parents - a farewell); see also ; , ; Tobit 7:6; 10:12. (2) Of friendship and affection; compare (David and Jonathan); (Absalom and those who came to him); (David and Barzillai - a farewell); (Joab and Amasa); (“the kisses (neshı̄kÌ£aÌ„h) of an enemyâ€); 1 Esdras 4:47 (“the king stood up, and kissed himâ€). (3) Of love; compare , “Let him kiss me with the kisses (neshı̄kÌ£aÌ„h) of his mouthâ€; (of the feigned love of “the strange womanâ€). (4) Of homage, perhaps; compare (Samuel after anointing David king); , “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†(naÌ„shakÌ£); , “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 ; (compare , ; ); , probably, “kissing the hand to the sun or moon†(compare , ). See ADORATION. (6) A figurative use may be seen in ; ; , where “touched†is naÌ„shakÌ£ (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 phileō, “to kiss,†“to be friendly,†and kataphileō, “to kiss thoroughly,†“to be very friendly†- the first in ; ; , 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 kataphileō of ; ; the same word is used of the woman who kissed the feet of Christ (, ); of the father's greeting of the returning prodigal (); and of the farewell to Paul of the Ephesian Christians (); philēma, “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 (); of the kiss of Judas (); 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 (; ; ; ; ). 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.