Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, the act of hugging, while not explicitly mentioned as a common practice, can be inferred through various expressions of affection, greeting, and comfort found throughout the Scriptures. The Bible often emphasizes the importance of love, compassion, and fellowship among believers, which can be expressed through physical gestures such as hugging.
Expressions of Affection and GreetingIn the ancient Near Eastern culture, physical expressions of affection were common, and while the Bible does not frequently mention hugging specifically, it does describe other forms of affectionate greetings. For example, the "holy kiss" is mentioned several times in the New Testament as a sign of love and fellowship among believers. In
Romans 16:16, Paul instructs, "Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send you greetings." This practice, while not identical to a hug, shares a similar purpose of expressing warmth and unity.
Comfort and CompassionThe Bible frequently highlights the importance of comforting one another, which can be associated with the act of hugging. In times of sorrow or distress, physical touch can be a powerful means of providing solace. In the account of Job, his friends initially come to comfort him in his suffering. Although their words later fail him, their initial presence and intention to console reflect the biblical principle of offering comfort to those in need (
Job 2:11-13).
Family and BrotherhoodThe Bible places a strong emphasis on familial love and brotherhood, which can naturally include physical expressions of affection such as hugging. The relationship between Jacob and Esau provides an example of reconciliation and familial affection. After years of estrangement, when Jacob and Esau finally meet, the Bible describes their emotional reunion: "But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they both wept" (
Genesis 33:4). This embrace signifies forgiveness and the restoration of their brotherly bond.
Parental AffectionParental love is another context in which hugging can be inferred. The Bible often speaks of the deep love and care parents have for their children. In the parable of the prodigal son, Jesus illustrates the father's love and forgiveness through a vivid image of physical affection: "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him" (
Luke 15:20). This embrace symbolizes the father's unconditional love and acceptance.
ConclusionWhile the Bible does not explicitly mention hugging as a common practice, the principles of love, compassion, and fellowship are deeply embedded in its teachings. These principles often manifest in physical expressions of affection, such as hugging, which serve to strengthen bonds, offer comfort, and demonstrate the love of Christ among believers.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. i.) To cower; to crouch; to curl up.
2. (v. i.) To crowd together; to cuddle.
3. (v. t.) To press closely within the arms; to clasp to the bosom; to embrace.
4. (v. t.) To hold fast; to cling to; to cherish.
5. (v. t.) To keep close to; as, to hug the land; to hug the wind.
6. (n.) A close embrace or clasping with the arms, as in affection or in wrestling.
Greek
1723. enagkalizomai -- to take into one's arms, to embrace... embrace,
hug. From en and a derivative of agkale; to take in one's arms, ie
Embrace -- take up in arms. see GREEK en. see GREEK agkale.
...Strong's Hebrew
2263. chabaq -- to clasp, embrace... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to clasp, embrace NASB Word Usage embrace (7),
embraced (3), embracing (1), folds (1),
hug (1). embrace, fold.
...Library
Righteous Hatred
... a little fox, take heed of it, for it will spoil the grapes; if it come to thee
as a warring lion, seeking whom it may devour; or if it come with thehug of a...
External Form of the New Testament.
... The reader may see a collection of examples inHug's Introduction to the New Testament,
Sec.43, where are also some curious examples of the wrong division of...
The Good Shepherd: a Farewell Sermon
... You never throw off your cloak in a storm, but youhug it the closer; so the law
makes a manhug close his corruptions, (Romans 7:7, 8, 9) but when the gospel...
Matthew.
... [911] Matt. 5:17; 15:24; comp. 10:6. [912]Hug, Bleek, Olshausen... [925] So Wetstein,
Hug, De Wette, Bleek, Ewald, Ritschl, Holtzmann, Keim, Delitzsch, Keil....
Early Training.
... By this time both were thoroughly frightened; for while visiting one of the parks
in Chicago once, they had seen a bearhug his keeper until he could not stand...
After this Diamond Recovered So Fast, that in a Few Days He was...
... cried. The cab-master had never been so fond of a horse himself as to
hug him like that, but he saw in a moment how it was. And...
Thomas and Jesus
... man can do, went away to brood in a corner by himself, and so to exaggerate all
his idiosyncrasies, to distort the proportion of truth, tohug his despair, by...
Salvation: Grace: Faith
... And from these, as the shepherd drags the kid from the claws of the lion or the
bear'shug, the salvation of the Gospel wrenches and rescues men....
Literature.
... II. The historico-critical Introductions, or literary Histories of the New Testament
byHug, De Wette, Credner, Guericke, Horne, Davidson, Tregelles, Grau...
Sojourners with God
... Do we congratulate ourselves on our own cleverness, tact, and skill, saying, 'mine
hand hath done it,' or do wehug ourselves on our own good fortune, and burn...
Thesaurus
Embrace (11 Occurrences)... 2. (n.) To clasp in the arms with affection; to take in the arms; to
hug.
... (n.) Intimate
or close encircling with the arms; pressure to the bosom; clasp;
hug.
...Hug (1 Occurrence)
... 4. (vt) To hold fast; to cling to; to cherish. 5. (vt) To keep close to; as, to
hug the land; tohug the wind.... Multi-Version ConcordanceHug (1 Occurrence)....
Press (57 Occurrences)
... 7. (v.) To embrace closely; tohug. 8. (v.) To oppress; to bear hard upon. 9. (v.)
To straiten; to distress; as, to be pressed with want or hunger. 10....
Syriac (2 Occurrences)
... been strenuously denied, but since Dr. Hort in his Introduction to Westcott and
Hort's New Testament in the Original Greek, following Griesbach andHug at the...
Huge (19 Occurrences)
Valley (187 Occurrences)
... As a consequence the roads leading up the valley find it necessary tohug the base
of the mountains on either side to avoid the abrupt descent into the...
Huddled (1 Occurrence)
Jordan (188 Occurrences)
... As a consequence the roads leading up the valley find it necessary tohug the base
of the mountains on either side to avoid the abrupt descent into the...
Versions
... been strenuously denied, but since Dr. Hort in his Introduction to Westcott and
Hort's New Testament in the Original Greek, following Griesbach andHug at the...
Resources
What does it mean to have a double tongue? | GotQuestions.orgHow should a Christian view the #metoo movement? | GotQuestions.orgIs it wrong for a Christian to have a roommate of the opposite sex? | GotQuestions.orgHug: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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