Kiss

Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

Form of salutation

(Gen. 29:13¹³And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things. (Genesis 29:13)); token of allegiance (1 Sam. 10:1¹Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the Lord hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance? (1 Samuel 10:1)); pledge of Christian brotherhood (Rom. 16:16¹⁶Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you. (Romans 16:16); 1 Peter 5:14¹⁴Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen. (1 Peter 5:14)).

Concise Bible Dictionary:

This common mode of salutation among relatives is sanctified by its adoption in the church. Five of the Epistles close with the exhortation to greet one another with a holy kiss, or kiss of love (Rom. 16:16¹⁶Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you. (Romans 16:16); 1 Cor. 16:20²⁰All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss. (1 Corinthians 16:20); 2 Cor. 13:12¹²Greet one another with an holy kiss. (2 Corinthians 13:12); 1 Thess. 5:26²⁶Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss. (1 Thessalonians 5:26); 1 Peter 5:14¹⁴Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen. (1 Peter 5:14)). When Paul said farewell to the elders of Ephesus, they wept sore, and fell on his neck and kissed him. Permission to kiss the hand of a superior is a mark of honor. The heathen kissed their gods (1 Kings 19:18¹⁸Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him. (1 Kings 19:18); Hos. 13:2²And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves. (Hosea 13:2)). In the case of distant objects of worship, like the sun and moon, they kissed the hand (Job 31:26-27²⁶If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness; ²⁷And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand: (Job 31:26‑27)), hence the most usual word for worship in the New Testament is προσκυνέω, from κυνέω, to kiss. Kings and judges of the earth are exhorted to kiss the Son when He comes to reign, lest He be angry, and they perish (Psalm 2:12¹²Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. (Psalm 2:12)).

“427. Kissing an Act of Homage” From Manners and Customs of the Bible:

Psalm 2:12¹²Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. (Psalm 2:12). Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little.

When Samuel anointed Saul he kissed the newly made king. This act of homage was a recognition of his royalty (1 Sam. 10:1¹Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the Lord hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance? (1 Samuel 10:1)). It is a custom still observed in India and Arabia. In this way the Psalmist desires all men to recognize the royalty of the Son. Kissing was an act of worship among idolaters. See 1 Kings 19:18¹⁸Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him. (1 Kings 19:18); Job 31:27²⁷And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand: (Job 31:27); Hosea 13:2²And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves. (Hosea 13:2). Instead of worshiping idols, God would have us worship his son Jesus Christ.

An interesting incident is given in Irby and Mangle’s Travels showing how kissing was used as a token of reconciliation. The circumstance recorded occurred near Petra.

“While we were deliberating on this subject, we saw a great cavalcade entering our camp from the southward. There were many mounted Arabs with lances, and we observed that there were some amongst the horsemen who wore richer turbans, and of more gaudy colors, than is usual amongst Bedouins or peasants. As the procession advanced, several of About Raschid’s Arabs went out and led the horses of the chiefs by the bridles into the camp. The whole procession alighted at the tent of our chief, and kissed his turban; this was the signal of pacification. Peace was immediately proclaimed throughout the camp, and notice was given that men bearing arms, who had come from a distance, many of whom had joined us that very morning, were to return to their respective homes” (Travels in Egypt, p. 122).

“765. Kissing the Feet” From Manners and Customs of the Bible:

Luke 7:38³⁸And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. (Luke 7:38). Stood at his feet behind him...and kissed his feet.

This was no unusual practice among the Jews, and was also customary among the Greeks and Romans. It was a mark of affection and of reverence. It was also the practice of supplicants, and of those who had an important request to present. Kissing the feet of princes was a token of subjection and obedience. See also verse 45.

“862. The Kiss” From Manners and Customs of the Bible:

Romans 16:16¹⁶Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you. (Romans 16:16). Salute one another with a holy kiss.

The kiss was not only used among men as a token of friendship (see note on Genesis 29:13¹³And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things. (Genesis 29:13), #53) and of homage to a superior (see note on Psa. 2:12¹²Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. (Psalm 2:12), #427) but as one of the ceremonies connected with divine worship, and intended to express mutual love and equality. As such it is supposed to have been used in the synagogues, and thence transmitted to the Christian Church. There is nothing said in the New Testament in reference to the part of the service where the kiss was introduced, but early Christian writers state that in the apostolic age it was given after prayers and before the communion service. The minister first said, “Peace be unto you,” and the people responded. Then “a deacon goes on to proclaim solemnly that they should salute one another with a holy kiss; and so the clergy salute the bishop, and laymen their fellow-laymen, and women one another” (Bingham, Antiquities, book 15, chap. 3, § 3).