Word Study for G2705 (καταφιλέω)

kataphiléō /kat-af-ee-leh'-o/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom 2596 and 5368

Meaningto kiss earnestly

KJV usagekiss.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of kataphiléō — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word kataphiléō, represented by G2705, means to kiss earnestly. This term, formed from words meaning "down" or "intensely" and "to love," describes a fervent or repeated kiss. It appears 6 times across 6 unique verses, always highlighting a moment of profound emotion.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, G2705 is used in several emotionally charged contexts. It captures the essence of forgiveness and reconciliation when the father kisses his prodigal son upon his return Luke 15:20. It conveys deep adoration and repentance when the weeping woman kisses Jesus's feet Luke 7:38, an act Jesus contrasts with the host's failure to provide even a simple kiss Luke 7:45. The word also expresses heartfelt sorrow, as when the Ephesian elders kissed Paul goodbye Acts 20:37. Most infamously, it is used for the act of betrayal, when Judas kissed Jesus to identify him for arrest (Matthew 26:49, Mark 14:45).

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help frame the contexts where this earnest kiss appears:

G1968 epipíptō (to embrace): This verb, meaning to fall upon, is often paired with the earnest kiss to show a complete, physical expression of emotion, as when the father "fell on his neck" Luke 15:20 or the elders "fell on Paul's neck" Acts 20:37.
G4697 splanchnízomai (feel sympathy, to pity): This word describes the deep, internal feeling of compassion that precedes the outward action. The father had compassion before he ran to and kissed his son Luke 15:20.
G2799 klaíō (to sob, i.e. wail aloud): This term for audible weeping often accompanies acts of deep emotion. The woman was weeping as she began to wash and kiss Jesus' feet Luke 7:38.
G5370 phílēma (a kiss): This is the standard noun for a kiss. Jesus uses it to highlight the significance of the woman's actions by noting that while his host gave him no kiss, she had not ceased to kiss his feet Luke 7:45.

Theological Significance

The significance of G2705 is found in the intensity it adds to a scene:

Reconciliation and Unconditional Love: In the parable of the prodigal son, the father's earnest kiss is the definitive sign that the son is fully forgiven and restored to his position in the family, demonstrating a love that goes far beyond mere duty Luke 15:20.
Profound Adoration: The woman's persistent kissing of Jesus' feet is an act of humble worship and gratitude, which Jesus explicitly points out as a sign of her great love Luke 7:45.
The Depravity of Betrayal: The use of such an affectionate term for Judas's action makes his betrayal all the more chilling. He weaponized a sign of deep friendship and respect to commit his treacherous act Matthew 26:49.

Summary

In summary, G2705 is not a word for a casual greeting. It is reserved for moments of overwhelming feeling, whether it be the joy of forgiveness, the sorrow of parting, the depth of worship, or the horror of betrayal. The use of kataphiléō signals to the reader that a critical, emotionally potent event is taking place, transforming a simple action into a profound statement.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 6 occurrences, inflected in 4 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Aorist Active Indicative 3rd Singular 3×
Imperfect Active Indicative 3rd Plural 1×
Imperfect Active Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Present Active Participle Nominative Singular Feminine 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Feminine: Feminine grammatical gender.
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Imperfect: Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 6 verses across 4 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Luke (3 verses); never once in the other 23.

Matthew

Mark

Luke

Acts

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.