Kissing Joseph’s Mouth

When Joseph is elevated over all of Egypt by Pharaoh after interpreting his dreams, Pharaoh tells Joseph, “You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word…” So saith the NKJV. Only that last part is not quite what the Hebrew says. Literally it says, “You shall be over my house, and my people will kiss your mouth…”

I can see where the translators get the idea of honoring Joseph’s words, but I still think there’s more to it than that. It’s not just obedience that Pharaoh is promising; he appears to be promising affection as well. Joseph will be like a wise husband to the people of Egypt, and they will be the faithful wife, or something along those lines.

The story of Joseph has many parallels to the story of Christ. Joseph is a kind of restored Adam over all the known world who gives life to the nations by storing bread up for the seven years of famine. This is Jesus ministry breaking bread for the multitudes and ultimately giving his own body as bread for the life of the world. And in this, Jesus becomes the good husband to his wife, the Church. Christ rules over all the house of God, and all the people of God kiss the mouth of Christ.