Bible Encyclopedias
Salutation

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

sal - ū́ - tā´shun ( ἀσπασμός , aspasmós ): A greeting which might be given in person, orally ( Luke 1:29 , Luke 1:41 , Luke 1:44 ), or in writing, usually at the close of a letter (1 Corinthians 16:21; Colossians 4:18; 2 Thessalonians 3:17; compare use of χαίρειν , chaı́rein , "greeting," "joy" in James 1:1 ). The Pharisaic Jews loved salutations in public places (Matthew 23:7; Mark 12:38 , the King James Version "greeting," the Revised Version (British and American) "salutation"; Luke 11:43; Luke 20:46 ). Often these salutations were very elaborate, involving much time in prostrations, embracings, etc. When Jesus therefore sent out the Seventy, He forbade salutation by the way (Luke 10:4 ), though He ordinarily encouraged proper civilities of this sort (Matthew 5:47; Matthew 10:12 ).