Greetings, Bowing, and Kissing
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(Matt. 10:12; Luke 1:41). Hebrew greetings usually had a religious character, at least in form, and were accompanied by many ceremonies. Sometimes they consisted only of the simple exclamation “The LORD be with you” (Ruth 2:4) or “Peace be unto thee” (1 Sam. 25:5–6), a common form to which the Savior Himself gave striking significance (John 14:27).