Quick Definition
I kiss affectionately
Strong's Definition
to kiss earnestly
Derivation: from 2596 and 5368;
KJV Usage: kiss
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
καταφιλέω, καταφίλω; imperfect κατεφίλουν; 1 aorist κατεφίλησα; to kiss much, kiss again and again, kiss tenderly (Latindeosculor, etc.): τινα, Mat_26:49; Mar_14:45; Luk_7:38; Luk_7:45; Luk_15:20; Act_20:37. (Tob_7:6; 3Ma_5:49; Xenophon, Cyril 6, 4,10; 7, 5, 32; Polybius 15, 1, 7; Josephus, Antiquities 7, 11, 7; Aelian v. h. 13, 4; Plutarch, Brut. 16; Lucian, dial. deor. 4, 5; 5, 3; φιλεῖν and καταφίλειν are distinguished in Xenophon, mem. 2, 6, 33; Plutarch, Alex c. 67. The Sept. for πΘωΗΡχ, properly, to join mouth to mouth.) Cf: Fritzsche on Matthew, p. 780; Winer's De verb. comp. etc. Part ii., p. 18, note{21} .
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
καταφιλέω kataphileō 6x
to kiss affectionately or with a semblance of affection, to kiss with earnest gesture, Mat_26:49 ; Mar_14:45 ; Luk_7:38 ; Luk_7:45 ; Luk_15:20 ; Act_20:37
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
κατα -φιλέω , -ῶ ,
[in LXX chiefly for H5401 ;]
to kiss fervently, kiss affectionately: Mat_26:49 , Mar_14:45 , Luk_7:38 ; Luk_7:45 ; Luk_15:20 , Act_20:37 .†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
καταφιλέω [page 334]
A new ex. of this compound occurs in the Alexandrian Erotic Fragment P Grenf I. 1 .3 (ii/ B.C.) quoted s.v. καταλείπω ad fin . Both this passage and more particularly Epict. iv. 10. 20 ἀγρυπνῆσαί σε δεῖ , περιδραμεῖν , τὰς χεῖρας καταφιλῆσαι , thou must watch, run about, kiss hands, where, as Sharp ( Epict. p.104) says, stress is laid not on kissing fervently, but on the very fact of kissing at all, make the RV marg. of Mat_26:49 , al. , very doubtful : cf. also Mithrasliturgic (ed. Dieterich) p. 14 .23 καταφιλῶν πάλιν τὰ φυλακτήρια καὶ λέγων κτλ ., with reference to a spell. On the other hand Menandrea p. 11 .56 λαμβάνων μου κατεφίλει | τὰς χεῖρας , he caught and kissed my hands of one in a passion of gratitude. See Anz Subsidia , p. 334.
Liddell-Scott — Intermediate Greek Lexicon
καταφιλέω fut. ήσω "to kiss tenderly, to caress", Xen.
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
κατα-φιλέω, -ῶ
[in LXX chiefly for נָשַׁק ;]
to kiss fervently, kiss affectionately: Mat.26:49, Mrk.14:45, Luk.7:38, 45 15:20, Act.20:37.†
(AS)
📖 In-Depth Word Study
Kiss (2705) kataphileo
Kissed (2705)(kataphileo from kata = intensifies the verb + phileo = to love, kiss, cp philos = loved, dear, friend) means to kiss fervently, eagerly . Liddell Scott says "to kiss tenderly, to caress, Xen."
Paul uses the imperfect tense which vividly pictures the elders as over and over ("repeatedly") demonstrating their fond affection to their beloved teacher and friend. What a contrast with the wicked kiss of Judas to one he hailed as Rabbi (but not as friend)! Compare the similar use of a deceptively "affectionate" treacherous kiss in 2Sa 20:9,10!
Vine comments...
the stronger force of this verb (phileo) has been called in question, but the change from phileo to Kataphileo in Matt. 26:49 and Mark 14:45 can scarcely be without significance, and the act of the traitor was almost certainly more demonstrative than the simple kiss of salutation. So with the kiss of genuine devotion, Luke 7:38, 45; 15:20; Acts 20:37, in each of which this verb is used.
Vincent notes...
The compound verb has the force of an emphatic, ostentatious salute. Meyer says embraced and kissed. The same word is used of the tender caressing of the Lord’s feet by the woman in the Pharisee’s house (Luke 7:38), of the father’s embrace of the returned prodigal (Luke 15:20), and of the farewell of the Ephesian elders to Paul (Acts 20:37).
Kataphileo - 6x in 6v -
Matthew 26:49 Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, "Hail, Rabbi!" and kissed Him.
Mark 14:45 After coming, Judas immediately went to Him, saying, "Rabbi!" and kissed Him.
Luke 7:38 and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume.
Luke 7:45 "You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet.
Luke 15:20 "So he (the prodigal son) got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
Acts 20:37 And they began to weep aloud and embraced Paul, and repeatedly kissed him,
Kataphileo - 14x in the non-apocryphal Septuagint - Gen 31:28, 55; 45:15; Ex 4:27; Ruth 1:9, Ru 1:14-note; 1Sa 20:41; 2Sa 14:33; 15:5; 19:39; 2Sa 20:9; 1Kgs 2:19; 19:20; Ps 85:10;
The psalmist writes...
Ps 85:10-see Spurgeon's lengthy note Lovingkindness and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
The use of Kataphileo in Ruth especially pictures the tender affection expressed in this verb...
Ruth 1:9-note (Naomi to Ruth and Orpah - encouraging them to return to Moab - a heart wrenching moment) “May the LORD grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband.” Then she kissed (kataphileo) them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.
Acts 20:38 grieving especially over the word which he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they were accompanying him to the ship: odunomenoi (PPPMPN) malista epi to logo o eirekei (3SPLUPERFECTAI) oti ouketi mellousin (3PPAI) to prosopon autou theorein. (PAN) proepempon (3PIAI) de auton eis to ploion. : (That they would not see: Ac 20:25) (And they were accompanying him: Ac 15:3 21:5,16 1Co 16:11)