lit. signifies "to draw to oneself;" hence, "to greet, salute, welcome," the ordinary meaning, e.g., in Romans 16 , where it is used 21 times. It also signifies "to bid farewell," e.g., Acts 20:1 , RV, "took leave of" (AV, "embraced"). A "salutation or farewell" was generally made by embracing and kissing (see Luke 10:4 , which indicates the posibility of delay on the journey by frequent salutation). In Hebrews 11:13 it is said of those who greeted the promises from afar, RV, "greeted," for AV, "embraced." Cp. aspasmos, "a salutation." See GREET , LEAVE (take), SALUTE.
Note: In Acts 21:6 the most authentic texts have apaspazomai (apo, and No. 1), "to bid farewell."lit., "to take around with," (sun, "with" peri, "around," lambano, "to take"), "to embrace," is used in Acts 20:10 , in connection with Paul's recovery of Eutychus. In the Sept., Ezra 5:3 , "to enclose."