Salutation

Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

(good health, greeting). Personal salutation very formal in East. The “peace be with thee,” or similar expression, was accompanied by a profound bow, kiss, embrace, or other courtesy (Gen. 19:1; 1 Sam. 25:23; Matt. 10:12; Luke 1:41). Epistolary salutation took the form found in the opening and closing of the epistles (Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:3).

Concise Bible Dictionary:

The brotherly greetings expressed at the close of nearly all the epistles. They were sent from the saints located where the epistles were written to the saints addressed, together with, at times, the injunction to greet one another with “a holy kiss,” that being the ordinary form of salutation in the East among the men as well as among the women (Rom. 16:5-23; 1 Thess. 5:26; Titus 3:15).
When evil doctrine had spread in the professing church, the question of salutation became serious. The “lady” to whom the apostle John wrote was strictly enjoined not to receive into her house anyone who brought not good doctrine, nor was she even to salute such a one; for to do so, would be to become morally a partaker of his evil deeds (2 John 1:10-11; compare Rom. 16:17).
Salutations in the East being often very lengthy and of mere ceremony, may well account for those sent in haste being told to salute no one by the way (2 Kings 4:29; Luke 10:4).

“84. Form of Salutation” From Manners and Customs of the Bible:

Genesis 43:29. Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son.
This is not a benediction, but one of the numerous forms of Oriental salutation used in meeting or in taking leave of all acquaintance.

“240. Mutual Salutations” From Manners and Customs of the Bible:

Ruth 2:4. Behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The Lord be with you. And they answered him, The Lord bless thee.
These salutations are heard at this day in the East. The Psalmist prays that the haters of Zion may be like grass upon the house tops, and not like the grain which is reaped in the harvest field amid these mutual benedictions of employer and laborer (Psa. 129:6-8).

“336. Formal Salutation” From Manners and Customs of the Bible:

2 Kings 4:26. Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? Is it well with thy husband? Is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well.
These are merely the customary formal salutations which are so profusely used by Orientals. Dr. Thomson says, “If you ask after a person whom you know to be sick, the reply at first will invariably be well, thank God, even when the next sentence is to inform you that he is dying” (The Land and the Book, vol. 2, p. 177). The expression is also used without any reference to the state of one’s health; as in verse 23, when the husband expressed his surprise at his wife’s going to see the prophet at that time, her only answer was, “Well.” The salutation is the same in form as that of “Peace,” so often spoken of in the Bible. See note on John 20:19 (#823).

“767. Formal Salutations” From Manners and Customs of the Bible:

Luke 10:4. Salute no man by the way.
This was not designed to forbid them from exercising the usual courtesies of life, in giving a mere salaam to those they might meet, as is evident from the very next verse, and also from Matthew 10:12-13. They were, doubtless, allowed to give the usual salutation of “Peace!” See note on John 20:19. But the text is designed to remind them of the importance of their mission, and of the necessity of diligence in its execution. Hence, they were riot to observe the tedious and oft-repeated salutations with which the Orientals love to greet each other. These ceremonies of salutation are numerous and slowly performed. When two friends meet each inquires of the other, again and again, concerning his health and the health of his family; and repeats over and over again the best wishes for his prosperity and peace, thanking God that he is permitted once more to behold his face. These formalities are accompanied by numerous bowings and posturing¨ of the body, and are sometimes repeated as often as ten times, consuming much time and making great delay. Those whom our Lord sent forth were forbidden to do this.
A similar injunction was given by Elisha when he sent his servant Gehazi to the Shunamite’s house: “If thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again” (2 Kings 4:29).

“823. Salutation” From Manners and Customs of the Bible:

John 20:19. Came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
This was the most common form of salutation among the Hebrews, and is often referred to in the Scriptures. In the history of Joseph it is said that “when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.” Genesis 37:4. That is, they refused to give him the ordinary salutation of the day, “Peace be unto you.” See also Judges 19:20; 1 Samuel 25:6; Matthew 10:12-13. These salutations of peace were often merely ceremonial, having in them no real hearty meaning; but Jesus informed his disciples that when he uttered the word “Peace.” it was something more than a mere conformity to a worldly custom: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you” (John 14:27).

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