King James Bible Dictionary

"Eastern modes of salutation are not unfrequently so prolonged as to become wearisome and a positive waste of time. The profusely polite Arab asks so many questions after your health, your happiness, your welfare, your house, and other things, that a person ignorant of the habits of the country would imagine there must be some secret ailment or mysterious sorrow oppressing you, which you wished to conceal, so as to spare the feelings of a dear, sympathizing friend, but which he, in the depth of his anxiety, would desire to hear of. I have often listened to these prolonged salutations in the house, the street, and the highway, and not unfrequently I have experienced their tedious monotony, and I have bitterly lamented useless waste of time" (Porter, Through Samaria, etc.). The work on which the disciples were sent forth was one of urgency, which left no time for empty compliments and prolonged greetings (Luke 10:4).

Salutations may be classed under the two heads of conversational and epistolary. The salutation at meeting consisted in early times of various expressions of blessing, such as "God be gracious unto thee," (Genesis 43:29) "The Lord be with you;" "The Lord bless thee." (Ruth 2:4) Hence the term "bless" received the secondary sense of "salute." The salutation at parting consisted originally of a simple blessing, (Genesis 24:60) but in later times the form "Go in peace," or rather "Farewell" (1 Samuel 1:17) was common. In modern times the ordinary mode of address current in the East resembles the Hebrew Es-selam aleykum , "Peace be on you," and the term "salam," peace, has been introduced into our own language to describe the Oriental salutation. In epistolary salutations the writer placed-his own name first, and then that of the person whom he sainted. A form of prayer for spiritual mercies was also used. The concluding salutation consisted generally of the term "I salute," accompanied by a prayer for peace or grace.

SALUTA'TION, noun [Latin salutatio. See Salute.]

The act of saluting; a greeting; the act of paying respect or reverence by the customary words or actions; as in inquiring of persons their welfare, expressing to them kind wishes, bowing, etc. Luke 1:29. Mark 12:38.

In all public meetings and private addresses, use the forms of salutation reverence and decency usual among the most sober people.

By kissing
2 Samuel 20:9; Matthew 26:49

By bowing
Genesis 18:2; Genesis 19:1-2; Genesis 23:7; Genesis 27:29; Genesis 33:3; Genesis 37:10; Genesis 41:43; Genesis 43:26; Genesis 43:28; Genesis 49:8; 1 Samuel 25:23; 2 Samuel 18:28; 1 Kings 1:16; Esther 8:3; Matthew 2:11; Mark 5:22

Addresses in:

My lords
Genesis 19:2

God be gracious unto thee
Genesis 43:29

Peace
1 Samuel 25:6

Art thou in health, my brother?
2 Samuel 20:9

Hail, Master
Matthew 26:49

All hail
Matthew 28:9

Peace to this house
Luke 10:5

Peace unto you
John 20:21

From a master to his servants, The Lord be with you
Ruth 2:4

Servants to their masters, The Lord bless thee
Ruth 2:4

By letter
1 Corinthians 16:21; 2 Corinthians 13:13; Colossians 4:18; Philippians 4:21; 2 Thessalonians 3:17; 2 John 1:13; 3 John 1:14

To rulers
King; Manners