Dictionary Article

Common salutation symbolizing love and fellowship. In the Bible, kissing is referred to in a wide variety of contexts. In addition to its ordinary expression among relatives (Gn 29:11; 33:4), its sensual aspect is noted (Prv 7:6-13; Sg 1:2). It is well attested as an act of homage (1 Sm 10:1; Jb 31:27), although such expressions may be heinous in God’s sight (1 Kgs 19:18; Hos 13:2). Hypocrisy, even betrayal, may accompany a kiss (Mt 26:48-49).

Show passage in OET: GEN 29:11

OET-RV GEN 29:11

11 Then he gave Rahel a kiss and happily cried out loud.

OET-LV GEN 29:11

11 And_ Yaˊₐqoⱱ _he _kissed (to)_Rāḩēl and_he _lifted _up DOM voice _of_his and_he _wept.

Show passage in OET: GEN 33:4

OET-RV GEN 33:4

4 But Esav ran forward to meet him and embraced him and threw his arms around his neck and kissed him, and they both cried together.

OET-LV GEN 33:4

4 And_ ˊĒsāv _he _ran to_meet_him and_he_embraced _him and_he _fell on neck _of_his and_he_kissed _him and_they _wept.

Show passage in OET: PRO 7:6–13

OET-RV PRO 7:6

6 Once from the window of my house,
⇔ I looked down through the lattice slits,

OET-RV PRO 7:7

7 and I saw a simple lad—
⇔ a youth lacking much judgement.

OET-RV PRO 7:8

8 He was passing through her street near the corner,
⇔ then he strode along the path to her house.

OET-RV PRO 7:9

9 In the twilight as evening began—
⇔ halfway towards night and darkness.

OET-RV PRO 7:10

10 Then look, a woman greets him,
⇔ dressed like a prostitute and skilled at seduction.

OET-RV PRO 7:11

11 She’s boisterous and defiant,
⇔ and her feet don’t know how to stay home.

OET-RV PRO 7:12

12 She’s often on the street or in the plazas,
⇔ and she lies in wait at every corner.

OET-RV PRO 7:13

13 Then she grabbed him and kissed him.
⇔ She looks serious and tells him,

OET-LV PRO 7:6

6 If/because at_the _window _of my _house _of_my through window-lattice _of_my I _looked _down.

OET-LV PRO 7:7

7 And_I _saw among_people I _observed among_sons a _youth lacking _of heart.

OET-LV PRO 7:8

8 He_was_passing _by in_street beside corner _of_her and_the _direction _of her _house _of_her he _strode.

OET-LV PRO 7:9

9 At_twilight in_the_evening the_day in_the_middle _of the_night and_darkness.

OET-LV PRO 7:10

10 And_BEHOLD/LO/SEE a _woman to_meet_him the_garment _of a _prostitute and_guarded _of heart.

OET-LV PRO 7:11

11 She is_boisterous and_rebellious in_house _of_her not feet _of_her they _stay.

OET-LV PRO 7:12

12 A _time in_street a _time in_places and_beside every _of corner she _lies _in _wait.

OET-LV PRO 7:13

13 And_she _takes _hold in/on/over_him/it and_she _kisses for_him/it she _has _made _firm face _of_her and_she/it _said to_him/it.

Show passage in OET: SNG 1:2

OET-RV SNG 1:2

2 Let him kiss me on the lips,
⇔ because your caresses are better than wine.

OET-LV SNG 1:2

2 Let_him _kiss _me from_the _kisses _of his _mouth _of_his if/because are_good love(s)_of_your more_than _wine.

Show passage in OET: SA1 10:1

OET-RV SA1 10:1

10 Then Shmuel took a flask of oil, and poured it on Sha’ul’s head and kissed him, and told him, “It’s Yahweh who has anointed you to be ruler over his chosen people.

OET-LV SA1 10:1

10 And_ Shəmū^ʼēl _he/it _took DOM the _flask _of (the)_oil and_he _poured_it on his/its_head and_he_kissed _him and_he/it _said am_not that/for/because/then/when he_has _anointed _you YHWH over inheritance _of_his to_ruler.

Show passage in OET: JOB 31:27

OET-RV JOB 31:27

27 and my heart was secretly enticed,
⇔ and my hand threw kisses from my mouth,

OET-LV JOB 31:27

27 And_it _was _gullible in_secrecy heart _of_my and_ hand _of_my _it _kissed (to)_mouth _of_my.

Show passage in OET: KI1 19:18

OET-RV KI1 19:18

18 But I’ve still got seven thousand people in Yisrael who’ve never bowed to Ba’al or kissed his image.”

OET-LV KI1 19:18

18 And_I _will _leave among_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) seven _of thousand(s) all _of the_knees which not they _have _bowed _down to_Baˊal and_all (the)_mouth which not it _has _kissed to_him/it.

Show passage in OET: HOS 13:2

OET-RV HOS 13:2

2 Now they disobey God more and more,
⇔ and they make cast metal images for themselves—
⇔ idols skillfully made from their silver—
⇔ ≈ all of them the work of craftsmen.
⇔ They say about them, ‘Those who sacrifice people, kiss calves.’

OET-LV HOS 13:2

2 And_now they _increase to_sin and_they _have _made to/for_them a _molten _image from_silver _of_their according_to _of_their _skill idols is_the_work _of craftsmen of _it _of_all to/for_them they are_saying those _who_offer _sacrifice _of humankind calves they_kiss.

Show passage in OET: MAT 26:48–49

OET-RV MAT 26:48

48 The one who was turning him in had prearranged a sign that he would kiss the one that they should arrest.

OET-RV MAT 26:49

49 He walked straight up to Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) and said, “Greetings, my honoured teacher,” and he kissed him.

OET-LV MAT 26:48

48 And the one giving _over him, gave to _them a_sign saying:
Whomever wishfully I _may _kiss, it _is he, apprehend him.

OET-LV MAT 26:49

49 And immediately having _approached to_ the _Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) he _said:
Greetings, my _great_one, and he _kissed him.

Jump to OET GEN 29:11 section.

Jump to OET GEN 33:4 section.

Jump to OET PRO 7:6–13 section.

Jump to OET SNG 1:2 section.

Jump to OET SA1 10:1 section.

Jump to OET JOB 31:27 section.

Jump to OET KI1 19:18 section.

Jump to OET HOS 13:2 section.

Jump to OET MAT 26:48–49 section.

Five NT texts refer to a “holy kiss,” called later in church liturgy a “kiss of peace” (Rom 16:16; 1 Cor 16:20; 2 Cor 13:12; 1 Thes 5:26; 1 Pt 5:14). Peter speaks of a “kiss of love” and mentions peace in conjunction with it. Although the practice is neither described nor limited by Scripture, the kiss was evidently exchanged between Christians as a pledge of brotherly friendship and fidelity (1 Thes 5:25-27).

Show passage in OET: ROM 16:16

OET-RV ROM 16:16

16 Greet each other with a traditional kiss. All the messiah’s assemblies here send their greetings to you, brothers and sisters.

OET-LV ROM 16:16

16 Greet one _another with a_kiss holy.
Are _greeting you _all the assemblies all of _the chosen _one /messiah.

Show passage in OET: CO1 16:20

OET-RV CO1 16:20

20 All the brothers and sisters here send their greetings.
¶ Greet each other with an innocent kiss.

OET-LV CO1 16:20

20 Are _greeting you _all the brothers all.
Greet one _another with a_kiss holy.

Show passage in OET: CO2 13:12

Combined passage: English CO2 13:12–13 (native CO2 13:12; verse text cannot be split).

OET-RV CO2 13:12

12 / 12 Greet each other with an innocent kiss.
¶ The believers here send their greetings to all of you.

Combined passage: English CO2 13:12–13 (native CO2 13:12; verse text cannot be split).

OET-LV CO2 13:12

12 / 12 Greet one _another with a_holy kiss.
Are _greeting you _all the holy ones all.

Show passage in OET: TH1 5:26

OET-RV TH1 5:26

26 Greet the brothers with a holy kiss for me.

OET-LV TH1 5:26

26 Greet the brothers all with a_kiss holy.

Show passage in OET: PE1 5:14

OET-RV PE1 5:14

14 Greet one another with a kiss of love.
¶ May all of you who are united with the messiah experience God’s peace.

OET-LV PE1 5:14

14 Greet one _another with a_kiss of _love.
Peace be to _you _all all, who are in chosen _one /messiah.

Show passage in OET: TH1 5:25–27

OET-RV TH1 5:25

25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us also.

OET-RV TH1 5:26

26 Greet the brothers with a holy kiss for me.

OET-RV TH1 5:27

27 I request you by the master to read my letter to all the believers there.

OET-LV TH1 5:25

25 Brothers, be _praying also for us.

OET-LV TH1 5:26

26 Greet the brothers all with a_kiss holy.

OET-LV TH1 5:27

27 I _am _adjuring you _all by _the master, to _be _read my letter to _all the brothers.

Jump to OET ROM 16:16 section.

Jump to OET CO1 16:20 section.

Jump to OET CO2 13:12 section.

Jump to OET TH1 5:26 section.

Jump to OET PE1 5:14 section.

Jump to OET TH1 5:25–27 section.

In the generations following the apostolic era, the kiss of peace came to occupy an established place in liturgical worship. In the latter part of the second century, Justin Martyr spoke of the exchange of kisses throughout the congregation following the conclusion of prayer. Eventually, the church placed the ceremony immediately prior to Holy Communion. Later on, the actual kiss was largely replaced by a simple bow. Other variant forms of the practice are still observed in various churches.

Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary