Embrace - Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

Embrace

[ 1,,G782, aspazomai ]
lit. signifies to draw to oneself;" hence, "to greet, salute, welcome," the ordinary meaning, e.g., in Rom. 16, where it is used 21 times. It also signifies "to bid farewell," e.g., Acts 20:1, RV, "took leave of" (AV, "embraced"). A "salutation or farewell" was generally made by embracing and kissing (See Luke 10:4, which indicates the posibility of delay on the journey by frequent salutation). In Hebrews 11:13 it is said of those who greeted the promises from afar, RV, "greeted," for AV, "embraced." Cp. aspasmos, "a salutation." See GREET, LEAVE (take), SALUTE.

Note: In Acts 21:6 the most authentic texts have apaspazomai (apo, and No. 1), "to bid farewell."

[ 2,,G4843, sumperilambano ]
lit., "to take around with," (sun, "with" peri, "around," lambano, "to take"), "to embrace," is used in Acts 20:10, in connection with Paul's recovery of Eutychus. In the Sept., Ezra 5:3, "to enclose."

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words