Bible Dictionary
FAREWELL
Farewell is a parting expression meaning “be strong,” “rejoice,” or “take one’s leave.” In Scripture it appears in letters and in accounts of people departing from one another.
Definition
Farewell is a parting expression that may convey the wish “be strong,” “rejoice,” or simply “take leave.” It can occur at the close of a letter or when people separate from one another.
Biblical Usage
In letters it expresses a parting wish for strength or rejoicing. In narratives it describes bidding farewell or taking leave of people at home or elsewhere.
Historical Background
The English expression originally conveyed a wish for those faring forth or traveling. The underlying Greek expressions include be strong, rejoice, and separate oneself or take leave.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>far-wel' (chairo), Fare ye, or thou, well: Originally a wish at parting for those faring forth (traveling):</p><p>(1) As a parting wish at the close of a letter it represents the Greek err(h)oso, "Be strong," imperative of rhonnumi, "to make strong" (Ac 15:29; 23:30 the King James Version; see the Revised Version, margin; 2 Macc 11:21); once chairete (imperative of chairo), "Rejoice!" (2Co 13:11, the Revised Version, margin "Rejoice: be perfected").</p><p>(2) As equivalent to our saying "good-bye," it represents the Greek apotassomai, "to separate one's self," "to take leave," "to bid farewell" (Lu 9:61, "to bid farewell to them that are at my house"; Ac 18:21, "bade them farewell," the Revised Version (British and American) "taking his leave of them").</p><p>See FARE; GREETING.</p><p>W. L. Walker</p>