Meaning
Salutation sal-u-ta'-shun (aspasmos): A greeting which might be given in person, orally (Luk 1:29, Luk 1:41, Luk 1:44), or in writing, usually at the close of a letter (1Co 16:21, Col 4:18, 2Th 3:17; compare use of chairein, "greeting," "joy" in Jas 1:1). The Pharisaic Jews loved salutations in public places (Mat 23:7, Mar 12:38, the King James Version "greeting," the Revised Version (British and American) "salutation"; Luk 11:43, Luk 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 (Lu 10:4), though He ordinarily encouraged proper civilities of this sort (Mat 5:47, Mat 10:12).
Edward Bagby Pollard
