NESHIQAH - KISS

Petra Hadžidaova
21 hours ago
2 min read

"Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful"

Proverbs 27: 6 (NKJV)

(1)

INTRODUCTION

There are different types of kisses, from the innocent kisses given to a young child, passionate kisses between lovers, to the brotherly kisses between family and friends. Kisses are a sign of love. In biblical times, kisses were not only considered a sign of love but also respect. The Hebrew word for kiss, neshiqah, is closely related to the Hebrew word for weapon - nesheq.

KISSES - LOVE OR BETRAYAL?

Kisses - the universal sign of brotherly, romantic, or familial love. While we may not all feel comfortable receiving them, we are still happy to be on the receiving end. But those are not the only kisses people can receive. Kisses can also be given by our betrayers.

There is no greater pain than experiencing betrayal from someone who ate at the same table as you. A betrayal from someone you trusted cuts much deeper and leaves scars that may take time to heal. It was with a kiss that Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus.

THE HEBREW WORD NESHIKA

The Hebrew word for a kiss is called neshiqah. Jesus’s question to Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane points to the hidden meaning of this word. The word neshiqah derives from the same root as the word nesheq, meaning weapon, does. As a weapon, Judas used a kiss. Through it, he identified the Son of Man to the guards who arrested Him. (2, 3)

THE ROOT נ - שׁ - ק

The root from which both neshiqah and nesheq derive is נ - שׁ - ק. This verb (nashaq) means to touch, to be closely together. From here, eventually, two separate meanings were born:

weapon: holding something closely together
kiss: intimately touching (4)

The former was developed later on in history, while the latter was well in use even in earlier times.

CONCLUSION

With a kiss, Judas betrayed Jesus. A symbol of love was used as a weapon. Funnily enough, the Hebrew word for kiss, neshiqah, derives from the same root נ - שׁ - ק, as the Hebrew word for weapon, nesheq, does. As a weapon, Judas used a kiss. Through it, he identified the Son of Man to the guards who arrested Him.