Lexical Summary aspazomai: To greet, salute, embrace Original Word: ἀσπάζομαι Strong's Exhaustive Concordance embrace, greet, salute, take leave. From a (as a particle of union) and a presumed form of spao; to enfold in the arms, i.e. (by implication) to salute, (figuratively) to welcome -- embrace, greet, salute, take leave. see GREEK a see GREEK spao NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. verb Definition to welcome, greet NASB Translation acclaim (1), give...your greeting (1), greet (41), greeted (3), greeting (1), greets (5), paid their respects to (1), sends...greetings (4), taken...leave (1), welcomed (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 782: ἀσπάζομαιἀσπάζομαι; (imperfect ἠσπαζομην); 1 aorist ἠσπασαμην; (from σπάω with ἆ intensive (which see, but cf. Vanicek, p. 1163; Curtius, Das Verbum, i. 324f); hence, properly, to draw to oneself (Winers Grammar, § 38, 7 at the end); cf. ἀσκαίρω for σκαίρω, ἀσπαίρω for σπαίρω, ἀσπαρίζω for σπαρίζω); (from Homer down); a. with an accusative of the person, to salute one, greet, bid welcome, wish well to (the Israelites, on meeting and at parting, generally used the formula לְך שָׁלום); used of those accosting anyone: Matthew 10:12; Mark 9:15; Mark 15:18; Luke 1:40; Acts 21:19. of those who visit one to see him a little while, departing almost immediately afterward: Acts 18:22; Acts 21:7; like the Latinsalutare, our 'pay one's respects to,' of those who show regard for a distinguished person by visiting him: Acts 25:13 (Josephus, Antiquities 1, 19, 5; 6, 11, 1). of those who greet one whom they meet in the way: Matthew 5:47 (in the East even now Christians and Mohammedans do not salute each other); Luke 10:4 (as a salutation was made not merely by a slight gesture and a few words, but generally by embracing and kissing, a journey was retarded by saluting frequently). of those departing and bidding farewell: Acts 20:1; Acts 21:6 (R G). of the absent, saluting by letter: Romans 16:3, 5-23; 1 Corinthians 16:19; 2 Corinthians 13:12 (13); Philippians 4:21; Colossians 4:10-12, 14; 1 Thessalonians 5:26, etc. ἐν φιλήματι: Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Peter 5:14. b. with an accusative of the thing, to receive joyfully, welcome: τάς ἐπαγγελίας, Hebrews 11:13 (τήν συμφοράν, Euripides, Ion 587; τήν εὔνοιαν, Josephus, Antiquities 6, 5, 3; τούς λόγους, ibid. 7, 8, 4; sosaluto, Vergil Aen. 3, 524). (Compare: ἀπασπάζομαι.) Topical Lexicon Overview Strong’s Greek 782 (ἀσπάζομαι, aspazomai) describes the spoken or physical act of greeting, welcoming, or embracing. Appearing sixty times in the Greek New Testament, it moves far beyond social etiquette; it becomes an intentional ministry of peace, fellowship, and shared life in Christ. Usage in the Gospels Jesus frames greeting as a marker of kingdom citizenship. In Matthew 5:47 He contrasts ordinary social courtesy with the radical love that greets even enemies. In Matthew 10:12 the disciples are commanded, “As you enter the house, greet its occupants,” extending messianic peace to homes that would receive the gospel. Luke 10:4 intensifies urgency by prohibiting roadside greetings during the seventy-two’s mission, highlighting undivided devotion to kingdom work. These passages show greeting as both evangelistic blessing and disciplined focus. Acts of the Apostles Luke uses ἀσπάζομαι to portray early-church warmth and unity across geographical lines. Pauline Epistles No writer employs the verb more than Paul. His letters end with chains of individual names, each preceded by “Greet” (Romans 16:3–16; Colossians 4:15). Through these personal salutations Paul: 1. Affirms the worth of co-laborers. The apostle also reports greetings sent from his companions (Romans 16:21-23; Colossians 4:10-14), reinforcing the network of churches knit together in Christ. Pastoral Epistles Timothy and Titus are urged to pass greetings to specific saints (2 Timothy 4:19; Titus 3:15). These directives show that pastoral oversight includes nurturing personal relationships and honoring faithful service. General Epistles Hebrews 11:13 speaks of the patriarchs who “welcomed them from a distance,” greeting God’s promises as pilgrims. The author of Hebrews later commands, “Greet all your leaders and all the saints” (Hebrews 13:24), merging respect for authority with family love. Peter closes his first letter, “Greet one another with a kiss of love” (1 Peter 5:14), coupling greeting with tangible affection rooted in salvation. Historical and Cultural Setting First-century Mediterranean greetings ranged from verbal blessings (εἰρήνη, “peace”) to embraces or the “holy kiss.” By baptizing these customs, the church transformed conventional politeness into a sacramental sign of reconciliation achieved at the cross. The greeting at the door, the meeting, or the letter’s end testified that former barriers—Jew and Gentile, slave and free—had fallen. Theological Significance 1. Peace-Making: Greeting confers shalom secured by Christ (John 14:27). Practical Ministry Application • Congregational Life: Intentional, heartfelt greetings at gatherings echo apostolic practice, affirming every member’s value. Christological Focus The New Testament greeting is ultimately Christ-centered. Believers greet one another “in the Lord” (Romans 16:22). The risen Christ Himself greets His disciples with “Peace be with you” (John 20:19), establishing the pattern every Christian salutation echoes. Summary Strong’s 782 reveals greeting as gospel action—bestowing peace, confirming fellowship, and embodying the new humanity formed in Jesus Christ. Christian ministry that neglects sincere greeting forfeits a divinely appointed conduit of grace; those who practice it continue the apostolic rhythm of welcome, unity, and blessing until the day we greet the Lord face to face. Forms and Transliterations απησπασαμεθα ἀπησπασάμεθα ασπαζεσθαι ασπάζεσθαι ἀσπάζεσθαι Ασπαζεται ασπάζεται ασπάζεταί Ἀσπάζεται Ἀσπάζεταί ασπαζομαι ασπάζομαι ἀσπάζομαι Ασπαζονται ασπάζονται ασπάζονταί Ἀσπάζονται Ἀσπάζονταί ασπαζου ασπάζου ἀσπάζου ασπάλαξ Ασπασαι ασπάσαι άσπασαι Ἄσπασαι ασπασαμενοι ασπασάμενοι ἀσπασάμενοι ασπασαμενος ασπασάμενος ἀσπασάμενος ασπασασθε ασπάσασθε ἀσπάσασθε ασπασησθε ασπάσησθε ἀσπάσησθε ασπασόμενοι ησπαζοντο ησπάζοντο ἠσπάζοντο ησπάσαντο ησπασατο ησπάσατο ἠσπάσατο apespasametha apespasámetha apēspasametha apēspasámetha Aspasai Áspasai aspasamenoi aspasámenoi aspasamenos aspasámenos aspasasthe aspásasthe aspasesthe aspasēsthe aspásesthe aspásēsthe aspazesthai aspázesthai Aspazetai Aspázetai Aspázetaí aspazomai aspázomai Aspazontai Aspázontai Aspázontaí aspazou aspázou espasato espásato ēspasato ēspásato espazonto espázonto ēspazonto ēspázontoLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 5:47 V-ASM-2PGRK: καὶ ἐὰν ἀσπάσησθε τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς NAS: If you greet only your brothers, KJV: And if ye salute your brethren INT: and if you greet the brothers Matthew 10:12 V-AMM-2P Mark 9:15 V-IIM/P-3P Mark 15:18 V-PNM/P Luke 1:40 V-AIM-3S Luke 10:4 V-ASM-2P Acts 18:22 V-APM-NMS Acts 20:1 V-APM-NMS Acts 21:6 V-AIM-1P Acts 21:7 V-APM-NMP Acts 21:19 V-APM-NMS Acts 25:13 V-APM-NMP Romans 16:3 V-AMM-2P Romans 16:5 V-AMM-2P Romans 16:6 V-AMM-2P Romans 16:7 V-AMM-2P Romans 16:8 V-AMM-2P Romans 16:9 V-AMM-2P Romans 16:10 V-AMM-2P Romans 16:10 V-AMM-2P Romans 16:11 V-AMM-2P Romans 16:11 V-AMM-2P Romans 16:12 V-AMM-2P Romans 16:12 V-AMM-2P Romans 16:13 V-AMM-2P Strong's Greek 782 |