English Explanatory Dictionary

betray with a kiss

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. Of Judas, to kiss Jesus so as to discreetly signal to Roman soldiers that Jesus was the Christ, and as such was the one to be arrested.
  2. To betray someone in a seemingly inconspicuous or innocuous manner.

Word forms

betray with a kiss betrays with a kiss betraying with a kiss betrayed with a kiss

Etymology

The term comes from the Gospel of Luke chapter 22, verse 48 of the New Testament: ⁴⁷ While He was still speaking, a crowd arrived, led by the man called Judas, one of the Twelve. He approached Jesus to kiss Him. ⁴⁸ But Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” The Gospel of Luke, Berean Standard Bible.

Related words

Judas kiss
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