Dictionary entry

Hail (2)

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hal: Interjection, found only in the Gospels as the translation of chaire, chairete, imp. of chairo, "to rejoice," is used as a greeting or salutation. The word "Hail" is Old English and was formerly an adjective, used with the verb to be, meaning "well," "sound," "hale," e.g. "Hale be thou." Wycliff has "heil" without the verb, followed by other English VSS, except that the Geneva has "God save thee," inMt 26:49;28:9. The word occurs inMt 26:49;27:29;28:9, "all hail";Mr 15:18;Lu 1:28;Joh 19:3.

SeeGODSPEED;GREETING.