7:45a

You did not greet Me with a kiss: It was a Jewish custom to greet one another with a kiss, usually on the cheek or forehead. A kiss on the hand showed greater respect than a kiss on the cheek. If you need to specify either a kiss on the hand or on the cheek, you may specify a kiss on the cheek. That implies, “you did not even give me the customary kiss on the cheek.” However, if a kiss on the hand is more customary in your culture, you can specify that.

If men in your culture do not greet one another with a kiss, here are some options to consider:

• Make explicit the reason why Simon should have kissed Jesus:

You did not give me the customary kiss of greeting
-or-
You did not welcome/greet me warmly with a kiss

• Use a more general expression. For example:

You did not greet me with an embrace
-or-
You did not greet me warmly/lovingly
-or-
You did not give me a special/friendly greeting

In some translations it may be good to explain this custom in a footnote. For example:

In Jewish culture, a kiss was a common way for men to greet each other. The kiss was either on the cheek or hand.

7:45b

but: Again Jesus contrasted the woman’s actions with Simon’s actions.

she has not stopped kissing My feet since I arrived: The clause since I arrived implies “from the time I entered the house.” This is a hyperbole. Jesus used it to emphasize the woman’s actions. He did not mean that the woman began to kiss his feet at the moment he came into the house. She did not begin until he was seated to eat. He also did not mean that the woman never stopped kissing his feet for a second. She also dried his feet and anointed them.

If this hyperbole is not natural in your language, you may need to express the emphasis in a different way. For example:

during this time I have been ⌊in your house⌋, this woman has kissed my feet again and again

she has not stopped kissing My feet: Kissing someone’s feet showed more humility and respect than kissing on the hand. The woman showed great respect and gratitude toward Jesus by kissing his feet many times. Another way to say this is:

this woman has continued to kiss my feet

In some cultures the action of kissing is not known or is very unusual. In these cultures kissing a person’s feet may be inappropriate or shocking. If this is true in your culture, here are some options to consider:

• Use a descriptive phrase and indicate the meaning of the action. For example:

she has continued to touch her lips to my feet ⌊to show her respect/gratitude⌋

• Use a more general expression. For example:

she has greeted/thanked me repeatedly ⌊from her heart⌋

See how you translated this action in 7:38c, and translate in a way that refers back to that action. The way you translate it should also contrast with the way you expressed Simon’s neglect of this type of greeting.

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