aspasmos denotes a greeting, whether sought publicly, heard in an encounter, or written at a letter’s close.

The most visible use concerns public greetings sought in marketplaces, while other verses describe a greeting exchanged or heard in a personal encounter and a closing greeting written in letters.

1. Public greetings sought for honor · dominant

   The accusative plural form occurs in warnings about religious figures who desire public recognition. In Matthew 23:7 the APB renders the clause “the greetings in the marketplaces,” alongside being called Rabbi; Mark 12:38 and Luke 20:46 likewise place such greetings among desired marks of status, while Luke 11:43 joins them to loved places of honor.

   Matthew 23:7Mark 12:38Luke 20:46Luke 11:43
2. A greeting in a personal encounter · common

   In Luke 1:29, the nominative singular is the greeting whose character Mary considers. In Luke 1:41 the accusative singular is heard by Elizabeth, and Luke 1:44 uses the genitive singular in the clause about the voice of the greeting reaching her ears.

   Luke 1:29Luke 1:41Luke 1:44
3. Written closing greeting · common

   The nominative singular appears in letter endings identified with Paul’s own hand. In 1 Corinthians 16:21 the APB renders “The salutation by my hand—Paul,” and 2 Thessalonians 3:17 calls it a sign in every letter; Colossians 4:18 similarly places it before the final requests and blessing.

   1 Corinthians 16:212 Thessalonians 3:17Colossians 4:18

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB uses “greeting” in the Luke encounter verses and “greetings” or “salutations” in the public-warning verses; it uses “salutation” for the letter endings. These renderings show the verse-level presentation rather than a fixed English equivalent.