Legal Definitions - kissing the Book

Kissing the Book refers to a historical legal practice, primarily observed in England, where an individual would touch their lips to a copy of the Bible (often the New Testament) immediately after taking an oath in a court of law. This act was intended to solemnize the oath, signifying the person's profound commitment to the truth or to fulfilling their sworn duty, invoking religious authority as a guarantee of their sincerity.

This tradition has since been replaced in many jurisdictions by the practice of placing one's hand on the Bible or simply affirming an oath without physical contact with a religious text.

• Imagine a courtroom scene in 17th-century London. A witness, called to testify in a theft case, raises their right hand and repeats the oath to tell "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." After speaking the final words, the court clerk presents a worn leather-bound Bible, and the witness solemnly leans forward to kiss the Book. This action would have been understood by everyone present as a powerful declaration that the witness fully intended to speak honestly, under the spiritual weight of their religious belief.

• During an 18th-century civil dispute over property boundaries, the twelve prospective jurors are being sworn in. Each juror, in turn, steps forward, places their hand on the Bible, and then, as was customary at the time, performs the act of kissing the Book. By doing so, they were publicly affirming their solemn promise to listen impartially to the evidence and deliver a just verdict, binding themselves to this duty through a deeply symbolic religious gesture.

• In a historical novel set in Victorian England, a character is depicted as a defendant making a sworn statement to the court. After reciting their oath to uphold the truth of their testimony, the character is handed a Bible by the bailiff. The narrative describes the character's brief pause before they respectfully kiss the Book, conveying to the reader the gravity of the moment and the character's understanding that their words are now legally and morally binding.