Topical Bible: Manners: Obeisance to Strangers

◄ Manners: Obeisance to Strangers ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the cultural and historical context of the Bible, obeisance to strangers was a significant aspect of social interaction, reflecting both hospitality and respect. This practice is deeply rooted in the customs of the ancient Near East, where showing honor and deference to others, including strangers, was a vital part of community life and religious duty.

Biblical Instances and Context

1. Abraham and the Three Visitors: One of the most notable examples of obeisance to strangers is found in Genesis 18, where Abraham encounters three visitors near the great trees of Mamre. Upon seeing them, Abraham runs from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bows low to the ground. This act of bowing is a gesture of respect and hospitality. Abraham addresses them with humility, saying, "My lord, if I have found favor in your sight, please do not pass your servant by" (Genesis 18:3). This encounter underscores the importance of welcoming strangers with honor and reverence.

2. Lot and the Angels: Similarly, in Genesis 19, Lot demonstrates obeisance to the two angels who visit Sodom. Lot rises to meet them and bows with his face to the ground, inviting them to stay at his house. This act of obeisance is not merely a cultural formality but a sincere expression of respect and a desire to protect and serve his guests, even at great personal risk.

3. Joseph's Brothers in Egypt: In Genesis 42, when Joseph's brothers come to Egypt to buy grain, they unknowingly fulfill Joseph's earlier dreams by bowing down to him. "Now Joseph was the ruler of the land; he was the one who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground" (Genesis 42:6). This act of obeisance, while not to a stranger in the familial sense, illustrates the broader cultural practice of showing deference to those in authority or of higher status.

Cultural and Theological Significance

The practice of obeisance to strangers in biblical times was more than a mere social custom; it was a reflection of a deeper theological principle. The act of bowing or showing deference was often associated with recognizing the image of God in others and acknowledging His sovereignty over all human interactions. In a society where hospitality was a sacred duty, obeisance to strangers was a tangible expression of love, humility, and the recognition of God's presence in every person.

New Testament Reflections

While the New Testament does not emphasize physical acts of obeisance in the same way as the Old Testament, the principles of respect and hospitality remain central. Hebrews 13:2 advises, "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it." This echoes the Old Testament narratives and reinforces the idea that welcoming strangers is a divine mandate.

In the teachings of Jesus, the call to love one's neighbor and to show kindness to the "least of these" (Matthew 25:40) extends the concept of obeisance beyond physical gestures to encompass a lifestyle of humility, service, and respect for all people, regardless of their status or familiarity.

Nave's Topical Index

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,
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Genesis 19:1
And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;
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Library

The Journey of the Three Holy Kings to Bethlehem
... he approaches gently and with ingratiating manners: (3) He ... I thought to myself: these
strangers are more ... All bared their heads in obeisance, and the three kings ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/xiii the journey of the.htm

The Holy War,
... then be much more by far, Than theirs that to such doings strangers are? ... I learned
much of their mother-tongue, together with the customs and manners of them ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the holy war.htm

The Pilgrim's Progress
... So the dog left off to bark, and He opened unto them.[45] Then Christiana made low
obeisance, and said, Let not our Lord be offended with his handmaidens, for ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the pilgrims progress.htm