What the Bible Means by a Holy Kiss

Song of Solomon 1:2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.

This would refer to Christ, who is peace. It says, “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth.” The word “kiss” is used often in the Bible, but it is used in a way that is hard to understand, especially in the New Testament. We read in Romans 16:16:

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

Does anyone know how to give a “holy kiss?” Would you really clean your lips? No – that would not be it. We really do not know what a “holy kiss” is by reading this verse. He says something like this in:

1 Thessalonians 5:26 Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.

Again, I do not know how to give a “holy kiss” and I have never met anyone that gave a holy kiss.

Let us turn to 1 Peter 5:14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity…

Charity is “love,” so that helps us a little bit more. Again, it says in

1 Peter 5:14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

There is a “kiss,” along with the idea of peace. It speaks of Solomon doing the kissing. I am still unclear, so let us keep looking. Let us turn to Psalm 2:12:

Psalm 2:12 Kiss 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.

We know the Son is the Lord Jesus Christ and we are told to “kiss” Him, lest he be angry. If He is angry, we will perish from the way, the narrow path that leads to the kingdom of heaven. If we are not in that way, we are going to be destroyed because the broad road leads to destruction. So, here, we are somehow to “kiss” the Son.

Now let us go 1 Kings 19 where there is a verse that helped me to better understand what God has in view. It says in 1 Kings 19:18:

1 Kings 19:18 Yet 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.

There were seven thousand that had not bowed the knee to Baal, and we know they were elect children of God. They were saved. They were faithful to God and, therefore, did not serve Baal, an idol or false god. Today we would say that these are the people that follow the true and faithful doctrines and the Gospel of the Bible, but do not follow false doctrines and false gospels. Let me read this again

1 Kings 19:18 Yet 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.

In other words, those that bow the knee to Baal or serve other gods are kissing Baal. Instead, we are to kiss the Son, lest He be angry, which would mean that we bow the knee to the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible says that every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that He is Lord. When we bow the knee to Christ, it means He has broken us and humbled us in salvation, and we are in submission to Him. We are truly His servants and not just paying lip service to Him. When we want to do the will of God, that is a “kiss” between the Son and the one He has saved. He is no longer angry. There is no wrath of God upon us and we remain in the way to the kingdom of heaven.

That would be the idea of a “holy kiss” or a kiss of charity, as we share the truth of the Word of God with others. Again, it says, “Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity.” We share the truths of the Scriptures as we desire the best for everyone. We desire that all the brethren would be in submission and humble before the Word of God.

We will look at one more place where we see the word “kiss,” in Genesis 41, which goes along with what we read in 1Kings 19. The occasion was when Joseph was lifted up in authority in Egypt after he was taken out of the dungeon.

Genesis 41:37-40 And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants. And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.

You may think I read the wrong passage because you do not see the word “kiss” anywhere, but the word is translated here as “rule.” It is the same word translated as “kiss” in all the Old Testament verses. It is Strong’s #5401. I will read it again, in Genesis 41:40:

Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.

Joseph, a type of Christ, is being spoken to, and Pharaoh said, “…and according unto thy word shall all my people be kissed.” So, we see that all those that have not bowed the knee or kissed Baal, but then there are those that bow the knee and submit to Joseph or the Lord Jesus Christ. That would be to kiss Him, in a spiritual sense, and be broken and humbled before Him.