In the cultural and historical context of the Bible, the act of greeting a guest held significant importance, reflecting the values of hospitality, respect, and community. The Bible provides numerous examples and teachings regarding salutations to guests, emphasizing the importance of welcoming others with warmth and kindness.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, hospitality was a deeply ingrained practice among the Israelites. The patriarch Abraham is a prime example of this virtue. In Genesis 18:1-8, Abraham warmly greets three visitors, who are later revealed to be divine messengers. He runs to meet them, bows to the ground, and offers them water, rest, and a meal. This passage highlights the importance of greeting guests with humility and generosity.

The Law of Moses also underscores the significance of hospitality. Leviticus 19:34 instructs the Israelites to treat the stranger as one of their own, stating, "The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt." This commandment reflects the broader biblical principle of loving one's neighbor and extending kindness to all, including guests.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the practice of greeting guests continues to be emphasized. Jesus Himself often spoke about the importance of hospitality. In Matthew 25:35, He says, "For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in." This teaching illustrates the spiritual significance of welcoming and serving others, equating such acts with serving Christ Himself.

The early Christian community also placed a high value on hospitality. In Romans 12:13, Paul exhorts believers to "Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality." Similarly, in Hebrews 13:2, Christians are reminded, "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it." These passages highlight the ongoing expectation for Christians to greet and care for guests.

Cultural Practices

In biblical times, salutations to guests often involved specific cultural practices. A common greeting might include a kiss, as seen in Luke 7:45, where Jesus notes the lack of a kiss from His host, contrasting it with the woman's act of devotion. Additionally, offering water for washing feet was a customary gesture of hospitality, as demonstrated in John 13:5, where Jesus washes the disciples' feet.

Spiritual Implications

The act of greeting guests in the Bible is not merely a social custom but carries deep spiritual implications. It reflects the character of God, who welcomes all into His presence. Believers are called to emulate this divine hospitality, recognizing that in serving others, they serve the Lord. The practice of greeting guests with love and respect is a tangible expression of the Christian faith, embodying the command to love one's neighbor as oneself.

In summary, the Bible presents salutations to guests as an essential aspect of godly living, rooted in the principles of love, humility, and service. Through both Old and New Testament teachings, believers are encouraged to extend hospitality to all, reflecting the welcoming nature of God Himself.Genesis 18:2
And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, see, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,
Nave's Topical Index

Concerning Salutations and Recreations, &C.
... to a man, the bowings and cringings of the body, and such other salutations of that ...
gaming as an engine to put away from them that troublesome guest; and thus ...
/.../proposition xv concerning salutations and.htm

Li. Dining with a Pharisee, Jesus Denounces that Sect.
... some it seems strange that Jesus spoke thus in a house where he was an invited guest. ...
for ye love the chief seats in the synagogues, and the salutations in the ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/li dining with a pharisee.htm

How Herod Twice Sailed to Agrippa; and How Upon the Complaint in ...
... what he might justly expect from one that had been his guest, and was ... unexpectedly,
but appeared to their great joy; and many friendly salutations there were ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 2 how herod twice.htm

Letter cxcvii. To Ambrose, Bishop of Milan.
... of affection towards me; strive to build upon it by the frequency of your salutations. ...
Christians who had welcomed him as a guest and then with their own hands ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter cxcvii to ambrose bishop.htm

The Lord's Supper
... The primitive Christians, as Justin Martyr notes, had their holy salutations at
the blessed ... art thou a fit guest for the Lord's table?' Are there not some sins ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/the ten commandments/4 5 the lords supper.htm

The First Stages. Ch. 9:51 to 13:21
... her sisters he humiliated her by rebuking her in the presence of their Guest, and
by ... for ye love the chief seats in the synagogues, and the salutations in the ...
/.../erdman/the gospel of luke an exposition/a the first stages ch.htm

The Nile and Egypt
... of thy children rejoice in thee, and they have filled thee with salutations of praise ...
When her husband visited her, he was a guest whom she received on an equal ...
/.../chapter i the nile and egypt.htm

The General Conference of 1828
... Baltimore Conference: John Davis, Christopher Frye, Joseph Frye, Job Guest, James
M. Hanson, Andrew Hemphill, Marmaduke Pierce, Nelson Reed, Stephen G. Roszel ...
/.../chapter 9 the general conference.htm

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