Lexical Summary
nashaq: To kiss, to touch gently
Original Word:נָשַׁק
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:nashaq
Pronunciation:naw-shak'
Phonetic Spelling:(naw-shak')
KJV: armed (men), rule, kiss, that touched
Word Origin:[a primitive root (identical withH5400 (נָשַׂק - To kiss), through the idea of fastening up)]
1. to kiss
2. (literally or figuratively) touch
3. (as a mode of attachment) to equip with weapons
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
armed men, rule, kiss, that touched
A primitive root (identical withnasaq, through the idea of fastening up; comparechazaq,chashaq); to kiss, literally or figuratively (touch); also (as a mode of attachment), to equip with weapons -- armed (men), rule, kiss, that touched.
see HEBREWnasaq
see HEBREWchazaq
see HEBREWchashaq
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I. (Late Hebrew
id., Assyrian
našâku, , , Syriac
,
kiss (originally
smell [
] according to Lag
Nov.Psalt.Spec.24f.): Arabic
is
fasten together, arrange in order, Ethiopic
participle
ordine dispositus, apte sertus Di
641, pos. akin to II. ); —
Perfect3masculine singular1 Kings 19:18;2 Samuel 15:5; 3feminine singularProverbs 7:13; 3pluralPsalm 85:11;ImperfectGenesis 41:40,Genesis 27:27 +; suffixSongs 1:2; 1singular cohortative1 Kings 19:20; 3masculine pluralHosea 13:2, etc.;ImperativeGenesis 27:26;Infinitive construct2 Samuel 20:9; —kiss, usually with person:Genesis 27:26,29;Genesis 50:1;Exodus 4:27 (all J),Genesis 48:10;Exodus 18:7 (both E),2 Samuel 15:5;2 Samuel 14:33;2 Samuel 19:40;2 Samuel 20:9;1 Kings 19:20;Proverbs 7:13;Ruth 1:9,4; so of idol-worship1 Kings 19:18 (compare WeSkizzen iii. 105; Heid. 109), compareJob 31:27and my hand hath kissed my mouth; rarely with accusative of person1 Samuel 20:41 ( ), suffix person1 Samuel 10:1; Canticles (+ ),Songs 8:1; alsoGenesis 33:4 (J; Holz E; word suspicious, Di rejects);Hosea 13:2claves do they kiss;Proverbs 24:26lips he kisses; absolutePsalm 85:11 (figurative, reciprocal) . —Genesis 41:40 is dubious, Di. 'to thy mouth all my people shall yield' (fit, adapt themselves, compare Arabic √), so Kau BuhlLex, but this meaning uncertain, and text perhaps corrupt, see Di Holz).
Imperfect3masculine singularGenesis 32:1;Genesis 45:15,Genesis 29:13;Imperative masculine pluralPsalm 2:12;Infinitive constructGenesis 31:28; —kiss =
: with personGenesis 29:13(J),Genesis 31:28;Genesis 32:1;Genesis 45:15 (all E);Psalm 2:12 is dubious, compare I. a above
ParticipleEzekiel 3:13 of wings of cherubim,gently touching each other (with ).
II. [] exact meaning uncertain; probably either , or (compare perhaps Arabic
etc., below I. ); — only
Participle plural construct : —1 Chronicles 12:2equipped with the bow, so 2 Chronicles 17:17 (+ );Psalm 78:9 is difficult, appositive of according to Hup-Now Bae and others (Ges§ 130e); strike out as explanatory gloss Hup Hi Che Kau; strike out ver. as gloss Hup Kau Bae.
Topical Lexicon
Strong’s Hebrew 5401 – נָשַׁק
Overview
The verb denotes the physical act of kissing and, by extension, any deliberate touch of mouth to person or object. With roughly thirty-five appearances, it ranges from tender family affection to covenantal homage and even idolatrous devotion. The contexts fall naturally into several thematic categories.
Expressions of family affection
• Parent and child – Isaac asks Jacob, “Please come near and kiss me, my son” (Genesis 27:26). Joseph kisses his dying father (Genesis 50:1) and his nephews Manasseh and Ephraim (Genesis 48:10).
• Siblings and close relatives – Jacob greets Rachel with a kiss (Genesis 29:11), and Laban “embraced him and kissed him” (Genesis 29:13).
• Partings and farewells – Laban laments that Jacob left without allowing him “to kiss my sons and daughters” (Genesis 31:28) and later does so at dawn (Genesis 31:55). Naomi’s farewell kisses to Orpah and Ruth (Ruth 1:9, 14) are soaked in both sorrow and covenant love.
Reconciliation and forgiveness
The kiss often seals restored relationship. Esau runs to Jacob, “fell on his neck, and kissed him” (Genesis 33:4). David, reconciled to Absalom, kisses him (2 Samuel 14:33). Such scenes illustrate the biblical priority of tangible reconciliation within God’s covenant family.
Covenantal and political homage
Samuel’s anointing of Saul includes a kiss (1 Samuel 10:1), pledging prophetic endorsement of the monarchy. Absalom subverts this same gesture, kissing petitioners to steal their loyalty (2 Samuel 15:5).Psalm 2:12 elevates the act to highest allegiance: “Kiss the Son, lest He be angry,” calling every earthly ruler to submit to God’s enthroned Messiah.
Friendship and mutual encouragement
Jonathan and David “kissed each other and wept together” before parting (1 Samuel 20:41). The faithful friend may wound with truth, yet “an honest answer is like a kiss on the lips” (Proverbs 24:26).
Romantic love and marital delight
Song of Solomon opens, “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is more delightful than wine” (Song of Solomon 1:2). The same book celebrates public affection that need not fear social scorn (Song of Solomon 8:1). These passages sanctify marital intimacy within covenant bounds.
False affection and betrayal
The seductive woman “seizes him and kisses him” to lure the gullible into sin (Proverbs 7:13). Joab greets Amasa with a kiss while concealing a dagger (2 Samuel 20:9).Proverbs 27:6 contrasts “faithful wounds” with the abundant kisses of an enemy, warning that not every kiss springs from righteous intent.
Idolatry and apostasy
To “kiss” an idol signifies worship. Elijah learns that seven thousand “have not bowed to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him” (1 Kings 19:18). Hosea exposes Israel’s calf worship: “Let the men who sacrifice kiss the calves!” (Hosea 13:2). The prophet thus indicts false devotion by the very gesture meant for the Lord’s anointed.
Distribution summary
• Pentateuch – 17 occurrences (Genesis dominates)
• Historical books (Joshua–Esther) – 12 occurrences
• Poetry and Wisdom – 5 occurrences (Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Solomon)
• Prophets – 2 occurrences (1 Kings, Hosea)
Theological threads
1. Tangible covenant love – God’s people are bodily creatures; affection expressed in righteous ways reinforces covenant bonds.
2. Submission to rightful authority – From Saul’s anointing toPsalm 2, the kiss recognizes God-ordained leadership culminating in the Messiah.
3. Holiness versus idolatry – The same gesture that honors the Lord becomes spiritual adultery when directed toward idols.
4. Authentic versus counterfeit affection – Scripture discriminates between sincere and manipulative kisses, teaching discernment.
Practical ministry implications
• Encourage culturally appropriate, pure demonstrations of affection that strengthen fellowship, echoing the New Testament “holy kiss” (Romans 16:16;1 Peter 5:14).
• UsePsalm 2:12 evangelistically, urging submission to Christ as ultimate King.
• Teach reconciliation; the kiss between estranged brothers or friends models the gospel call to be “reconciled to one another” (compareMatthew 5:24).
• Warn against superficial displays of loyalty; genuine love is measured by faithfulness, not by outward gestures alone.
Conclusion
נָשַׁק embodies a spectrum of human devotion—familial, fraternal, romantic, political, and spiritual. Each occurrence testifies that physical signs matter to the LORD who fashioned both body and soul, and who ultimately commands every mouth to “kiss the Son,” honoring the true King to whom all lesser affections point.
Forms and Transliterations
אֶשְּׁקָה־ אֶשָּׁ֣קְךָ֔ אשקה־ אשקך וְנָ֣שְׁקָה־ וְנָ֥שַׁק וַֽיִּשְּׁק֣וּ ׀ וַׅיִּׅשָּׁׅקֵ֑ׅהׅוּׅ וַיְנַשֵּׁ֥ק וַיְנַשֵּׁ֧ק וַיְנַשֶּׁק־ וַיִּשַּׁ֥ק וַיִּשַּׁ֨ק וַיִּשַּׁק־ וַיִּשָּׁקֵ֑הוּ וַתִּשַּׁ֖ק וַתִּשַּׁ֣ק וַתִּשַּׁ֤ק וּשְׁקָה־ וינשק וינשק־ וישק וישק־ וישקהו וישקו ונשק ונשקה־ ושקה־ ותשק יִשַּׁ֣ק יִשָּׁ֑ק יִשָּׁקֵ֙נִי֙ יִשָּׁקֽוּן׃ ישק ישקון׃ ישקני לְנַשֵּׁ֥ק לִנְשָׁק־ לנשק לנשק־ מַשִּׁיקוֹת֙ משיקות נַשְּׁקוּ־ נָשַׁ֖ק נָשָֽׁקוּ׃ נֹ֣שְׁקֵי נֹֽשְׁקֵי־ נוֹשְׁקֵ֥י נושקי נשק נשקו־ נשקו׃ נשקי נשקי־ ’eš·šā·qə·ḵā ’eš·šə·qāh- ’eššāqəḵā ’eššəqāh- eshShakecha eshshekah lə·naš·šêq lenashShek lənaššêq lin·šāq- linšāq- linshok maš·šî·qō·wṯ mashshikOt maššîqōwṯ nā·šā·qū nā·šaq naš·šə·qū- nāšaq nāšāqū naShak naShaku nashsheku naššəqū- nō·šə·qê nō·šə·qê- nō·wō·šə·qê nōšəqê nōšəqê- Noshekei nōwōšəqê ū·šə·qāh- ūšəqāh- ushekah vaiyishshak vaiyishshaKehu vaiyishsheKu vattishShak vaynashshek veNashak veNashekah wat·tiš·šaq wattiššaq way·naš·šêq way·naš·šeq- way·yiš·šā·qê·hū way·yiš·šaq way·yiš·šaq- way·yiš·šə·qū waynaššêq waynaššeq- wayyiššaq wayyiššaq- wayyiššāqêhū wayyiššəqū wə·nā·šaq wə·nā·šə·qāh- wənāšaq wənāšəqāh- yiš·šā·qê·nî yiš·šā·qūn yiš·šaq yiš·šāq yishShak yishshaKeni yishshaKun yiššaq yiššāq yiššāqênî yiššāqūn
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