Bible Encyclopedias
Farewell

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

fâr -wel ´ (χαίρω , chaı́rō ), Fare ye , or thou , well: Originally a wish at parting for those faring forth (traveling):

(1) As a parting wish at the close of a letter it represents the Greek ἐῤῥωσο , érr ‛h 'ōso , "Be strong," imperative of ῥώννυμι , rhō̇nnumi , "to make strong" (Acts 15:29; Acts 23:30 the King James Version; see the Revised Version, margin; 2 Macc 11:21); once χαίρετε , chaı́rete (imperative of χαίρω , chairo ), "Rejoice!" (2 Corinthians 13:11 , the Revised Version, margin "Rejoice: be perfected").

(2) As equivalent to our saying "good-bye," it represents the Greek ἀποτάσσομαι , apotássomai , "to separate one's self," "to take leave," "to bid farewell" (Luke 9:61 , "to bid farewell to them that are at my house"; Acts 18:21 , "bade them farewell," the Revised Version (British and American) "taking his leave of them"). See FARE; GREETING .