Unusual Greetings

The Zulu tribe greet each other by saying Sawubona, which means “I see you.” That word acknowledges the other person’s existence. In Tamil (my culture) and Chinese, people greet each other with the question, “Have you eaten?” In the land of poverty, having food to eat was a sign of prosperity or blessings from God or gods. In the Philippines, younger people gently take the right hand of older people and place it on their heads as a sign of respect. This is called “mano,” coming from the Spanish word for hand, “mano.” Japanese bow to each other, and Omani men press their noses together to greet each other (this is like the Māori greeting in New Zealand, called “hongi”). Some greetings are words like “Sawubona” and “Have you eaten?” while others are actions.

The Hebrews had an unusual greeting: “May the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you be blessed.” Jacob, the forefather of the Hebrews, blessed Joseph with this blessing.

“May Joseph be like a fruitful vine near a spring whose branches spread over a wall. May his bow stand steady even when enemy archers attack him bitterly and shoot him in hostility. All because the hand of the Mighty One is with you as your Shepherd and the Rock of Israel. The God of your fathers will help you. The Almighty will bless you with blessings from the skies above, deep springs below, and the blessings from the womb and breasts.” (Gen 49:22–25)

Childbirth and breastfeeding were blessings to the Hebrews, and barrenness and non-breastfeeding were loathed. Their enemies knew that. During one of the wars, two women who had circumcised their infants (in obedience to their custom) were paraded before the people while they breastfed their infants and tossed over the city walls, headlong into their deaths with their infants (2 Macc 6:10).

As Jesus traveled and taught, a woman from the crowd shouted, saying,

“Blessed is the womb that bore you, and blessed are the breasts that nursed you.” (Luke 11:27)

She acknowledged the Almighty God whose hand was with Mary as he shepherded her, and she gave birth to and nursed Jesus. This was what Father Jacob had promised Joseph and his descendants, which had become a greeting for children of other tribes as well. Jesus would have agreed that the Almighty was gracious to his mother, Mary.

He then responded in another greeting that the Hebrews said to one another.

“Blessed are those who heard the Word of God and guard them.” (Luke 11:28)

God, through Moses, promised this blessing: If you hear my voice and guard them, I will bless you (Exod 19:5). Moses and Joshua repeated it several times. The Lord said the same to the woman in reply and to the listening crowd.

A far better blessing than one’s birth is his or her life commitment to hear and obey God’s words. May we be people with double blessings – just as God’s hand was with our birth, and may it continue throughout our living!