καταφιλέω
kataphiléō
G2705 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To kiss closely or with devotion; to bestow repeated or affectionate kisses. The primary sense is to express strong affection or honor through the act of repeated or intense kissing. In various contexts, it may indicate a greeting marked by warmth, deep emotion, or reverence, often more intense than a simple kiss.
Semantic Range
to kiss affectionately, to kiss repeatedly, to cover with kisses, to greet with fervent embrace, to show devotion or emotional closeness through kissing, to express reverent respect through kissing
Root / Etymology
From κατά (kata, 'down, against, intensive') and φιλέω (phileō, 'to love, to kiss'). The prefix κατά intensifies the action, thus imparting the sense of 'fervently' or 'fondly'.
Historical & Contextual Notes
καταφιλέω is a compound verb not frequent in classical texts, with its attestation found both in the Septuagint (LXX) and the New Testament. In the LXX, it commonly renders Hebrew verbs for kissing, often signifying loyalty, affection, or mourning (e.g., Gen. 29:13, Ruth 1:9, 14). In the Greek of the Hellenistic and Roman periods, it can denote repeated or especially affectionate kissing, such as the welcoming greeting between close companions or family, or gestures of reverence (cf. Luke 7:38, 45; 15:20 in the NT). Ordinary φιλέω often means 'to kiss' or 'to love' in a broad sense, but καταφιλέω intensifies the action, focusing on warmth or repeated acts. The term is less neutral or formal than ἀσπάζομαι ('to greet, to salute'), emphasizing the emotion conveyed through the gestural act. Standard English translations often render it simply as 'to kiss,' but this may obscure the heightened or repeated nature especially present in ancient contexts, where the term conveys more than a perfunctory greeting kiss.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from 2596 and 5368; to kiss earnestly:--kiss.
Root Family
καταφιλέω (kataphileō) — to love, to kiss, to be fond of, to kiss fervently
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2705-03 |
κατεφίλησεν | katephilesen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
he kissed | he fervently kissed | 3 |
G2705-04 |
κατεφίλουν | katephiloun | V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL |
kissed | they were fervently kissing | 1 |
G2705-01 |
καταφιλοῦσά | kataphilousa | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM F SG |
kissing | fervently kissing | 1 |
G2705-02 |
κατεφίλει | katephilei | V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG |
kissing | was fervently kissing | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2705-03 |
Matthew 26:49 | κατεφίλησεν | katephilesen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
he fervently kissed | |
G2705-03 |
Mark 14:45 | κατεφίλησεν | katephilesen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
he kissed | he fervently kissed |
G2705-02 |
Luke 7:38 | κατεφίλει | katephilei | V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG |
kissing | was fervently kissing |
G2705-01 |
Luke 7:45 | καταφιλοῦσά | kataphilousa | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM F SG |
kissing | fervently kissing |
G2705-03 |
Luke 15:20 | κατεφίλησεν | katephilesen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
kissed | he fervently kissed |
G2705-04 |
Acts 20:37 | κατεφίλουν | katephiloun | V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL |
kissed | they were fervently kissing |