Genesis 33:4 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him— They who are more intimately acquainted, or of equal age or dignity, among the Easterns, mutually kiss the hand, the head, or shoulder of each other. Dr. Shaw, in his learned Observations on Scripture, p. 237, has not applied this observation to any passage in the Bible; but it cannot be amiss to remark that such passages as, like the present, speak of falling on the neck and kissing a person, seem to have a reference to the eastern way of kissing the shoulder in an embrace; although in the present case it is evident there was much more than bare ceremony. See ch. Genesis 45:14.Acts 20:37. Luke 15:20.