Biblical Formula of Greeting and Bidding Farewell

“Shalom”, the Hebrew word with a wide range of meanings; means peace, peace of mind, wholeness, completeness, unbrokenness, fullness, well-being, and the like. In a nutshell, quoting John L. Mckenzie, it means “a condition in which nothing is lacking”.

In the Old Testament the Jews greet each other with the word “shalom” (Jude 6:23; Ezra 5:7; Dan 4:1) and bid each other farewell with this word (Exo 4:18; 2 Sam 15:9). “Shalom Aleichem” (Peace be unto you is a traditional Jewish formula of greeting in the New Testament. “Peace” is used as a word of greeting (John 20:19, 26; Rom 1:7: !Cor 1:3 2 Cor1:2; Gal 1:3) and farewell (John 20:21, Mk 5:34; Lk 7:50).

When the Old Testament people greet each other and bid each other farewell, they do it with friendly intentions and good wishes for the people addressed. In the New Testament, when the messengers of Jesus utter the greeting words “peace’ they can bring concrete blessing for the people addressed, but if those addressed are unworthy, the blessing return to the messengers (Matt 10:13; Lk 10:5-6).

The Muslims, who are much related to the Jews in tradition, used the formula “Salam Waleykum” (as I remember some muslims utter) as a greeting. The greeted one in return will, the formula in reverse order, utter “Waleykum Salam”. Though the muslim friends I asked the meaning of this formula can’t properly give me its meaning, I opine it wouldn’t be much different from the Jewish formula of “Shalom Aleichem”.

May we always greet each other and bid each other farewell with friendly intentions, with a wish that all good go with those we addressed and with an aim to bring about the highest good of those we addressed!