Quick Definition
καταφιλέω v. I kiss affectionately
Strong's Definition
from 2596 and 5368; to kiss earnestly
KJV Usage: kiss
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | φιλέω
34.62 · Association · Kiss, Embrace
to kiss to kiss, either as an expression of greeting or as a sign of special affection and appreciation Since in so many societies kissing is not a form of greeting, it may be necessary to add some kind of classifier to contexts such as MAT 26:48 and MAT 26:49 in order to indicate clearly the intention involved; otherwise, the use of a term meaning merely ‘to kiss’ might suggest a kind of erotic display. The clause in MAT 26:49 may be translated as ‘the man I greet by kissing is the one you want.’
MAT 26:49 · MRK 14:45 · LUK 7:38 · LUK 7:45 · LUK 15:20 · ACT 20:37
1 Though the act of kissing may have different functions, the nature of the event is essentially the same. In some languages, however, a distinction is made between kissing on the cheek and kissing on the lips. Additional distinctions may be made as to whether one is kissing a person of the same sex or of a different sex.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
κατα-φιλέω, -@; impf. κατεφίλουν; 1 aor. κατεφίλησα; to kiss much, kiss again and again, kiss tenderly, (Lat. d eosculor, etc.) : τινά, Mt. xxvi. 49; Mk. xiv. 45; Lk. vii. 38,45; xv. 20; Actsxx.37. (Tob. vii.6; 3 Macc. v.49; Xen. Cyr. 6,4,10; 7,5, 32; Polyb. 15,1,7; Joseph. antt. [Comp.: ovy7,11,7; Ael. ν. ἃ. 13,4; Plut. Brut. 16; Lceian. dial. deor. 4,5; 5,3; φιλεῖν ἃπα καταφιλεῖν are distinguished in Xen. mem. 2, 6,33; Plut. Alex.c. 67. Sept. for pw, prop. to join mouth to mouth.) ΟἿ. Fritzsche on Mt. p. 780; Win. De verb. comp. ete. Pt. ii. p. 18, note 24.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
καταφιλέω kataphileō 6x
to kiss affectionately or with a semblance of affection, to kiss with earnest gesture, Mt. 26:49; Mk. 14:45; Lk. 7:38, 45; 15:20; Acts 20:37*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
κατα-φιλέω, -ῶ,
[in LXX chiefly for נשׁק;]
to kiss fervently, kiss affectionately: Mt 26:49, Mk 14:45, Lk 7:38, 45 15:20, Ac 20:37.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
καταφιλέω. A new ex. of this compound occurs in the Alexandrian Erotic Fragment P Grenf I. 1% (ii/B.c.) quoted s.v. καταλείπω ad fin. Both this passage and more particularly Epict. iv. 10. 20 ἀγρυπφῆσαί σε δεῖ, περιδραμεῖν, Tas χεῖρας κατα|} φιλῆσαι, ‘thou must watch, run about, kiss hands,’’ where, as Sharp (Zfzct. p. 104) says, stress is laid ‘‘not on kissing fervently, but on the very fact of kissing at all,” make the RV marg. of Mt 264%, αἱ, very doubtful: cf. also Miethrasliturgie (ed. Dieterich) p. 1453 καταφιλῶν πάλιν τὰ φυλακτήρια καὶ λέγων KTA., with reference to a spell. On the other hand JZenandrea Ὁ. 11°5 λαμβάνων pov κατεφίλει | τὰς χεῖρας, “πε caught and kissed my hands ’’—of one in a passion of gratitude. See Anz Szdsidia, Pp. 334. HOTAPOOVED. P Gen I. 613 (a.p. 146) t[d]v Ilextow καταφρονεῖν pov τῆς ἡλικίας, is much like 1 Tim 415, even to the position of the pronoun. So 24. 312° (A.D. 145-6) καταφρονῶν pov τῆς χηρείας, and similarly P Magd 25 (B.c. 221) καταφρονῶν ὅτι ὁ ἀνήρ μου τετελεύτηκεν, and P Petr II. 4(6)}7 (B.c. 255-4), where an official who has been disturbed in the discharge of his duty adds—8uvdy (Δ δεινὸν) yap ἐστιν ἐν ὄχλωι ἀτιμάζεσθαι, ἐὰν yap εἰδῶσιν ὅττι οὗτοι καταπεφρονήκασιν, οὐθὲν τῶν ἔργων συντελεσθήσεται, “for it is a dreadful thing to be insulted before a crowd, and if the rest see that these have despised me, none of the work will be completed” (Ed.). The formula is accordingly associated with petitions from defenceless people wronged by those who presumed on their defencelessness ; the word does not denote a mere feeling of contempt—it is ac/tve. We may infer that Timothy is told not to let men push Aim aside as a stripling ; and in all the NT passages the action encouraged by contempt seems implied, rather than the mental state. Add BGU 1. 34071 (a.D. 148-9) καταφρονοῦν[ τ]ες τῆς [wept ἐμὲ ἀπωγμοσύνηϊς (/. ἀπραγ --Ἰ, 74. 291° (time of Severus) kataφρονή[σἼ]ας pov ὡς γυναικὸς ἀβοηθήτου, P Oxy XII. 14701% | (A.D. 336) τῆς δὲ ἡμετέρας ὀρφανίας καταφρονῶν, and from
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
καταφιλέω (kataphileō) — to kiss. καταφῐλ-έω, kiss, caress, δίφρον [Refs 5th c.BC+]; χεῖρας καὶ πόδας τινός[Refs 4th c.BC+]; τοὺς μὲν καλοὺς φιλήσοντος, τοὺς δ᾽ ἀγαθοὺς καταφ. [NT+5th c.BC+]; distinct from φιλεῖν, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; especially of an amorous kiss. [Refs 2nd c.AD+]