Lip

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

LIP (Heb. sâphâh, sâphâm  ; Gr. cheitos ). 1 . sâphâh , the usual OT word, and of very frequent occurrence. Only rarely are the lips referred to from the point of view of description of physical beauty and charm (  Song of Solomon 4:3;   Song of Solomon 4:11;   Song of Solomon 5:13 ). Once they are associated with kissing (  Proverbs 24:26 ), once with drinking (  Song of Solomon 7:9 , with which cf.   Psalms 45:2 ), once (anthropomorphically of J″ [Note: Jahweh.] ) as the source from which the breath issues (  Isaiah 11:4 ); once the protrusion of the lips occurs as a gesture of mocking contempt (  Psalms 22:7 ). Twice (  2 Kings 19:28 ,   Isaiah 37:29 ) we have an allusion to the cruel Assyrian custom of passing a ring through the lips of captives and leading them about with a rope or thong. But in the great majority of cases the lips are referred to as organs of speech (  Job 27:4 ,   Psalms 119:171 ,   Proverbs 15:7;   Proverbs 24:2 ). Hence, according to the kind of words they utter and the quality of the heart from which the words come, they are described figuratively as uncircumcised (  Exodus 6:12;   Exodus 6:30 ), flattering (  Psalms 12:2;   Psalms 12:8 ), feigned (  Psalms 17:1 ), lying (  Psalms 31:18 ), joyful (  Psalms 63:5 ), perverse (  Proverbs 4:24 ), righteous (  Proverbs 16:13 ), false (  Proverbs 17:4 ), burning (  Proverbs 26:23 ), unclean (  Isaiah 6:5 ). By an intensification or extension of this figurative use, swords are said to be in the lips (  Psalms 59:7 ), adders’ poison to be under them (  Psalms 140:3 ), or in them a burning fire (  Proverbs 16:27 ). In   Isaiah 57:18 ‘the fruit of the lips’ = praise. For   Hosea 14:2 see Calves of the Lips. 2 . sâphâm (  Ezekiel 24:17;   Ezekiel 24:22 ,   Micah 3:7 , only in the phrase ‘cover the lips’), whose equivalent is ‘moustache,’ it being the Eastern custom to cover this as a sign of stricken sorrow. 3 . cheitos occurs 6 times in NT, always in quotations from LXX [Note: Septuagint.] :   Matthew 15:8 and   Mark 7:6 =   Isaiah 29:18;   Romans 3:13 =   Psalms 140:3 [  Psalms 139:4 ];   1 Corinthians 14:21 =   Isaiah 28:11;   Hebrews 13:15 =   Hosea 14:2;   1 Peter 3:10 =   Psalms 34:18 [  Psalms 33:14 ].

J. C. Lambert.

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

LIP. —This word, in the plural, is found in the Gospels only in  Matthew 15:8 ||  Mark 7:6, where it stands for χείλεσιν in a free quotation from the LXX Septuagint. It is rendered by Authorized Version, ‘This people honoureth me with their lips , but their heart is far from me’ (cf.  Isaiah 29:13). St. Matthew, who quotes oftenest from the LXX Septuagint, does so here ( Matthew 15:8 f.), even though it departs considerably from the Hebrew. But he modifies its phraseology so as to improve it, and to bring out the prophet’s thought more clearly than would be done by a literal translation of the Hebrew. (See Toy, NT Quotations from the OT ). The expression ‘honoureth me with their lips’ is explained by some as an allusion to the Jewish custom of putting the tassel of the tallith to the lips during worship, as a sign that the Law was accepted, not as of duty only, but as the enthusiastic preference of the heart (cf.  Job 31:27, where putting the hand to the lips is an act of astral worship; and the Oriental salutations in which putting the hand to the lips is supposed to have been originally a sign and assurance of sincerity; see Jewish Eneye . art. ‘Lip’). Others explain this clause, in relation to the entire passage, as intended to put in sharp contrast a worship of God, or a form of religion, that is taught of men (cf. ‘teaching teachings which are precepts of men,’  Matthew 15:9), and a worship that is really according to the teachings of God’s word, i.e. which springs from a devout and trusting heart (cf. ‘But their heart is far from me ,  Matthew 15:8, with the suggestion of emptiness in  Matthew 15:9 ‘ In vain do they worship me,’ etc.).

It would seem from the OT that the lips had come to be regarded as a sort of originating centre of life and morals. We read of ‘lying lips’ ( Psalms 31:18), of ‘the lip of truth’ ( Proverbs 12:19), of ‘unclean lips’ ( Isaiah 6:5), and of ‘the poison of asps’ as ‘under the lips’ (quoted in  Romans 3:13); and in the NT also, of ‘the fruit of the lips’ ( Hebrews 13:15), and of ‘lips that speak no guile’ ( 1 Peter 3:10), etc.

But whatever be the implied allusion or exact meaning of the words here, this much is certain, that our Lord in speaking to His own contemporaries said, ‘This prophecy of Isaiah was concerning you ’—language that would seem to require us to interpret the passage so as to make it include and describe the unbelieving Jews of His day, and, probably, all people of all times who were, or are, or will yet be, guilty of offering to God a worship in which they do not draw near to Him in heart.

Geo. B. Eager.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of OT Words

Śâphâh ( שֶׂפֶת , Strong'S #8193), “lip; edge.” This Hebrew word is related to cognate languages where a similar word signifies “lip” or “edge” (cf. Akkadian captu ). Śâphâh has undergone little change in the history of the Hebrew language. It occurs about 175 times in the Old Testament, mainly in the poetic literature. The word is most frequent in the prophetical books, except for Isaiah (13 times) and Ezekiel (7 times).

“Lip” is first a part of the body. Isaiah’s “lips” were ritually cleansed by the burning coal (Isa. 6:7). The compression of the “lips” was an indication of evil thoughts or motivation: “He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass” (Prov. 16:30).

The use of “lip” as an organ of speech is more frequent. With the lips, or human speech, one may flatter (Ps. 12:3), lie (Ps. 31:18), speak mischief (Ps. 140:9), and speak perversity (Prov. 4:24). On the other hand, the “lip” (speech) of the people of God is described as not sinful (Job 2:10), rejoicing (Job 8:21), prayerful (Ps. 17:1), God’s word (Ps. 119:13), truthful (Prov. 12:19), wise (Prov. 14:7; 15:7), righteous (Prov. 16:13), and excellent (Prov. 17:7). In all these examples “the lip” signifies a manner of speech; cf. “Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince” (Prov. 17:7). The use of śâphâh is similar to that of |lashon“tongue,” in that both words denote speech and also human language. Śâphâh with the meaning of human language occurs in the phrase “the language of Canaan” (Isa. 19:18). Isaiah described foreign language as “deeper speech than thou canst perceive” (literally, “depths of lip”; 33:19).

The metaphorical use of śâphâh (“edge”) appears mainly in the narrative literature. The word denotes the shore of a sea (Gen. 22:17) or of a river (Gen. 41:3), or the edge of material (Exod. 26:4), or the brim of a vessel (1 Kings 7:23).

The Septuagint translation is cheilos —(“lip; shore; bank”); and the KJV has these translations: “lip; bank; brim; edge; language; shore; and speech.”

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

1: Χεῖλος (Strong'S #5491 — Noun Neuter — cheilos — khi'-los )

is used (a) of the organ of speech,  Matthew 15:8;  Mark 7:6 , where "honoring with the lips," besides meaning empty words, may have reference to a Jewish custom of putting to the mouth the tassel of the tallith (the woollen scarf wound round the head and neck during prayer), as a sign of acceptance of the Law from the heart;  Romans 3:13;  1—Corinthians 14:21 (from   Isaiah 28:11,12 , speaking of the Assyrian foe as God's message to disobedient Israel);  Hebrews 13:15;  1—Peter 3:10; (b) metaphorically, of "the brink or edge of things," as of the sea shore,  Hebrews 11:12 , lit., "the shore (of the sea)."

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( n.) An edge of an opening; a thin projecting part of anything; a kind of short open spout; as, the lip of a vessel.

(2): ( v. t.) To utter; to speak.

(3): ( v. t.) To clip; to trim.

(4): ( n.) The sharp cutting edge on the end of an auger.

(5): ( n.) One of the edges of the aperture of a univalve shell.

(6): ( n.) The odd and peculiar petal in the Orchis family. See Orchidaceous.

(7): ( n.) One of the two opposite divisions of a labiate corolla.

(8): ( n.) One of the two fleshy folds which surround the orifice of the mouth in man and many other animals. In man the lips are organs of speech essential to certain articulations. Hence, by a figure they denote the mouth, or all the organs of speech, and sometimes speech itself.

(9): ( v. t.) To touch with the lips; to put the lips to; hence, to kiss.

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

Lip, Lips

The fruit of the lips is sometimes spoken of in Scripture, for the whole of the life and conversation. Thus Jehovah takes to himself the sovereignty of this work, when he saith, ( Isaiah 57:19) "I create the fruit of the lips" Hence the church is represented as speaking the effusions of the heart, when she saith; "So will we render thee the claves of our lips" ( Hosea 14:2) And hence, when commending the beauties of Jesus, she saith; "his lips are like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh:" ( Song of Song of Solomon 5:13) meaning, that so sweet and fragrant are Christ's words, his gospel of salvation, and his tokens of grace, so refreshing to the soul of a poor sinner conscious of the want of it; that as lilies, they charm and afford a sweet smelling savour, by which all the spiritual senses are ravished and made glad.

King James Dictionary

LIP, n. L. labium, labrum.

1. The edge or border of the mouth. The lips are two fleshy or muscular parts, composing the exterior of the mouth in man and many other animals. In man, the lips, which may be opened or closed at pleasure, form the covering of the teeth, and are organs of speech essential to certain articulations. Hence the lips, by a figure, denote the mouth, or all the organs of speech, and sometimes speech itself.  Job 2 . 2. The edge of any thing as the lip of a vessel. 3. In botany, one of the two opposite divisions of a labiate corol. The upper is called the helmet, and the lower the beard. Also, an appendage to the flowers of the orchises, considered by Linne as a nectary.

To make a lip, to drop the under lip in sullenness or contempt.

LIP, To kiss.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Isaiah 37:29 1 Kings 7:26 Exodus 28:32 Genesis 22:17 2 Kings 2:13 Job 11:5 Psalm 40:9 1 Peter 3:10 Hebrews 13:15 Hosea 14:2 Psalm 22:7

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

( שָׂפָה , Saphah', usually in the dual; Gr. Χεῖλος ), besides its literal sense (e.g.  Isaiah 37:29;  Song of Solomon 4:3;  Song of Solomon 4:11;  Song of Solomon 5:13;  Proverbs 24:28), and (in the original) metaphorically for an edge or border, as of a cup ( 1 Kings 7:26), of a garment (Exodus 27:32), of a curtain ( Exodus 26:4;  Exodus 36:11), of the sea ( Genesis 22:17;  Exodus 2:3;  Hebrews 11:12), of the Jordan ( 2 Kings 2:13;  Judges 7:22), is often put as an organ of speech, e.g. to "open the lips," 1. to begin to speak ( Job 11:5;  Job 32:20), also to "open the lips" of another, i.e. ecause him to speak ( Psalms 51:17), and to "refrain the lips," i.e. to keep silence ( Psalms 40:10;  Proverbs 10:19). So speech or discourse is said to be "upon the lips" ( Proverbs 16:10;  Psalms 16:4), once "under the lips" ( Psalms 140:4;  Romans 3:13; comp.  Ezekiel 36:3), and likewise "sinning with lips" ( Job 2:10;  Job 12:20;  Psalms 45:3), and "uncircumcised of lips," i.e., not of ready speech ( Exodus 6:12), also "fruit of the lips," i.e., praise ( Hebrews 13:15;  1 Peter 3:5), and, by a bolder figure, "the calves of the lips," i.e., thank-offering ( Hosea 14:2); finally, the motion of the lips in speaking ( Matthew 15:8;  Mark 7:6; from  Isaiah 29:13). By metonomy, "lip" stands in Scripture for a manner of speech, e.g. in nations, a dialect ( Genesis 11:1;  Genesis 11:6-7;  Genesis 11:9;  Isaiah 19:18;  Ezekiel 3:5-6;  1 Corinthians 14:21, alluding to  Isaiah 28:11), or, in individuals, the moral quality of language, as "lying lips," etc., i.e., Falsehood ( Proverbs 10:18; comp. 17:4, 7) or wickedness ( Psalms 120:2), Truth ( Proverbs 12:19); "burning lips," i.e., ardent professions ( Proverbs 26:23); "sweetness of lips," i.e., pleasant discourse ( Proverbs 16:22; so  Zephaniah 3:9;  Isaiah 6:5;  Psalms 12:3-4). To "shoot out the lip" at any one, i.q. to Make Mouths, has always been an expression of the utmost scorn and defiance ( Psalms 22:8). In like manner, "unclean lips" are put as a represelntation of unfitness to impart or receive the divine communications ( Isaiah 6:5;  Isaiah 6:7). Also the "word of one's lips," i.e. communication, e.g. Jehovah's precepts ( Psalms 17:4; comp.  Proverbs 23:16 : spoken of as something before unknown,  Psalms 81:6); elsewhere in a bad sense, i.q. lip-talk, i.e., vain and empty words ( Isaiah 36:5;  Proverbs 14:23), and so of the person uttering them, e.g. a man of talk, i.e., an idle talker ( Job 11:2), a prating fool ( Proverbs 10:8; comp.  Leviticus 5:4;  Psalms 106:33). (See Tongue).

The "upper lip" ( שָׂפָם , Saphats', a derivative of the above), which the leper was required to cover ( Leviticus 13:45), refers to the lip-beard or Mustachios, as the Venet. Greek ( Μύσταξ ) there and the Sept. in  2 Samuel 19:24, render it, being the beard (in the latter passage), which Mephibosheth neglected to trim during David's absence in token of grief. The same practice of "covering the lip" with a corner of one's garment, as if polluted( (comp. "unclean lips"), as a sign of mourning, is allluded to in  Ezekiel 24:17;  Ezekiel 24:22;  Micah 3:7, where the Sept. has Στόμα , Χείλη . (See Mouth)

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

( שפה , sāphāh , שׂפת , sepheth , "lip," "language," "speech," "talk" (also "rim," "border," "shore," "bank," etc.), שפם , sāphām , "(upper) lip," "moustache," "beard"; χεῖλος , cheı́los , "lip" (also once, "shore" in the quotation   Hebrews 11:12 =   Genesis 22:17 )): (1) Lips stand in oriental idiom for speech or language, like "mouth," "tongue"; therefore they stand in parallelism. "The lip of truth shall be established for ever; but a lying tongue is but for a moment" ( Proverbs 12:19 ). "To shoot out the lip" ( Psalm 22:7 ) means to make a mocking, contemptuous, scornful face. As the lips are the chief instrument of speech, we find numerous idiomatic phrases for "speaking," such as: "the utterance of the lips" ( Numbers 30:6 ,  Numbers 30:8 ), "to proceed out of the lips" ( Numbers 30:12 ), "to open the lips" ( Job 32:20 ), "to go out of the lips" ( Psalm 17:1 ). These expressions do not convey, as a rule, the idea that the utterance proceeds merely out of the lips, and that it lacks sincerity and the consent of the heart, but occasionally this is intended, e.g. "This people draw nigh unto me, and with their mouth and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me" ( Isaiah 29:13; compare  Matthew 15:8 ). The "fruit of the lips" ( Isaiah 57:19 =   Hebrews 13:15 ) and "calves of the lips" ( Hosea 14:2 the King James Version) designate the praise and thanksgiving due to God. "Fervent (the King James Version "burning") lips" (  Proverbs 26:23 ) are synonymous with eloquence. "To refrain the lips" ( Psalm 40:9;  Proverbs 10:19 ) means to keep silence, where the godless or unwise would wish to assert his rights.

Numerous other expressions need no further explanation, such as "perverse lips" ( Proverbs 4:24 ), "uncircumcised lips" ( Exodus 6:12 ,  Exodus 6:30 ), "feigned lips" ( Psalm 17:1 ), "lying lips" ( Psalm 31:18;  Proverbs 10:18;  Proverbs 12:22 ), "wicked (or false) lips" ( Proverbs 17:4 ), "unclean lips" ( Isaiah 6:5 ), "strange (the King James Version "stammering") lips" ( Isaiah 28:11 ), "flattering lips" ( Psalm 12:2 ,  Psalm 12:3;  Proverbs 7:21 ), "righteous lips" ( Proverbs 16:13 ).

(2) The Hebrew word sāphām is found only in the phrase "to cover the lip or lips," which is an expression of mourning, submission and shame. The Oriental covers his lips with his hand or a portion of his garment, when he has been sunk into deep grief and sorrow. He expresses, thereby, that he cannot open his mouth at the visitation of God. Differently, however, from common mourners, Ezekiel was forbidden of God "to cover his lips" (  Ezekiel 24:17; see also  Ezekiel 24:22 ), i.e. to mourn in the usual way over Israel's downfall, as Israel had brought these judgments upon himself. The leper, victim of an incurable disease, walks about with rent clothes and hair disheveled, covering his lips, crying: "Unclean, unclean!" ( Leviticus 13:45 ). The thought here is that even the breath of such a one may defile. The prophet calls upon all seers and diviners, to whom God has refused the knowledge of the future, to cover their lips in shame and confusion ( Micah 3:7 ).