Mouth

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

 Numbers 16:30 (a) By this figure is described the opening up of the crust of the earth which permitted Korah, Dothan and Abiram and their properties and families to go down into the heart of the earth or hell. (See also  Numbers 26:10;  Psalm 69:15  Deuteronomy 11:6).

 2 Samuel 22:9 (a) This is a poetic expression used by David in the rejoicing of his heart. He is describing the greatness of GOD, the power of his Lord, and the judgments decreed by the great Judge when He pours out His wrath upon His enemies. (See  Psalm 18:8).

 2 Kings 4:34 (c) We should learn by this figure that we are to talk to others in the language and in a manner which they can understand. This older prophet talked to the young man (in figure) n a way that a boy could understand the meaning. We should learn to do this also in our teaching and ministry.

 Job 5:16 (a) The reference here is to the fact that the evil thoughts and desires of the heart find expression through the words that are spoken. The Lord by His grace and power prevents wicked people from saying evil things.

 Job 31:27 (a) In this peculiar figure, Job describes the fact that he did not say one thing, and do something entirely different. There was no disagreement between his statements and his doings whereby he could deceive others. He was no hypocrite.

 Job 41:19 (a) GOD is describing in poetic language the tremendous strength and fierce power of this animal which may have been one of the prehistoric monsters whose skeletons have been discovered.

 Psalm 22:21 (b) This is a type of the cruel power, the blasphemous statements and the cutting words spoken by the enemies of Christ as they surrounded the Cross on which He hung.

 Isaiah 5:14 (a) Hell is ever ready to receive all who are sent there by CHRIST, the Judge. The gates are never closed; the entrance is never barred. There is no limit to the number that she may take into her pit of torture.

 Isaiah 6:7 (c) Here we find that which may be used as a description of the cleansing power of GOD on the speech, the language and the conversation of men who trust in Him.

 Isaiah 9:12 (b) This type represents the power of the enemies of Israel to come with damage and cruel hatred to invade the land and destroy the inhabitants.

 Isaiah 11:4 (b) The reference no doubt is to the word that shall issue from the mouth of the Lord Jesus when He comes to judge the earth in righteousness and to punish His enemies. The rod is also mentioned as a sword proceeding from the mouth of the Lord Jesus Christ His word is sufficient to judge and condemn. (See also  Isaiah 49:2;  Revelation 2:16;  Revelation 19:15).

 Daniel 7:5 (b) The prophet is describing in an interesting way the King of the Media-Persian empire, Darius. That nation, with the Medians in supremacy, destroyed the kingdom of his three predecessors in Babylon. He is represented as devouring that which had been built up by the three great kings of Babylon.

 Daniel 7:8 (b) The proud and boastful language of the Roman emperors is thus described by this figure. It refers to the great leaders of the mighty Roman empire, which is represented by this fourth beast. (See also  Daniel 7:20).

 Amos 3:12 (a) In this case the lion represents the invading hosts of the enemies of Israel who almost completely destroy the people of GOD. Very few of the Jews are left, and they are in hiding in any place they can find, such as under the bed, or hiding in a couch under the blankets. Only a very insignificant part of Israel is left after the enemies finish their attack. Not much is left with which Israel can walk and work, and not much is left of their power to hear the call or the will of GOD.

 Nahum 3:12 (b) By this we understand that Nineveh would become an easy prey to an invading army, who would destroy her inhabitants and carry away her possessions. The eater is the enemy that shall come to conquer Nineveh.

 Zechariah 5:8 (b) The ephah was a measuring vessel. It was open at the top. The women probably represent commerce and business. They have wings to show that they may traverse the entire world if they wish. The woman in the midst may represent the fact that commerce and business have invaded society, and in a large measure controls the morals and actions of people everywhere. The lead weight placed on the opening at the top of this vessel probably indicates that GOD Himself seals men to the decision which they make, so that they are unable to extricate themselves from the chaos, the deceit, the wickedness in which they find themselves.

 1 Corinthians 9:9 (a) The ox represents the Christian worker who is entitled to proper remuneration for the labor which he gives to GOD's people, and to the church. He brings spiritual blessings to the saints, and they should give temporal blessings to him. (See also1Co  9:11).

 2 Timothy 4:17 (a) Paul describes his enemies as lions who would by their words and by their power hinder his testimony and destroy his person.

 Revelation 1:16 (a) This figure is often used about the words that come from the lips of our Lord. What he says is piercing, cutting and forceful. (See also  Hebrews 4:12;  Revelation 19:15).

 Revelation 12:15 (a) By this figure is represented the power of Satan by which he endeavors to destroy the nation of Israel, and to blot out all trace of the Lord Jesus Christ Probably he does most of this by his words, false teachings, false doctrines, and false religions which are in fact destroying millions of souls, and keeping them from Christ Jesus

 Revelation 13:2 (a) This beast is the antichrist from whom there comes announcements that create great hopes and words that create great fears. He is described as a monstrous wild and fierce animal who by his messages destroys millions. (See also  Revelation 9:19).

Vine's Expository Dictionary of OT Words

Peh ( פֶּה , Strong'S #6310), “mouth; edge; opening; entrance; collar; utterance; order; command; evidence.” This word has cognates in Ugaritic, Akkadian, Arabic, Aramaic, and Amorite. It appears about 500 times and in every period of biblical Hebrew.

First, the word means “mouth.” It is often used of a human “mouth”: “And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth …” (Exod. 4:16). In passages such as Num. 22:28 this word represents an animal’s “mouth”: “And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam.…” When used of a bird’s “mouth” it refers to its beak: “And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf plucked off …” (Gen. 8:11). This word may be used figuratively of “the mouth of the ground,” referring to the fact that liquid went into the ground—the ground drank it: “And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand” (Gen. 4:11—the first biblical occurrence). A similar use appears in Ps. 141:7: “Our bones are scattered at the grave’s mouth.…” In this case Sheol is perhaps conceived as a pit and then personified with its “mouth” consuming men once they die.

Second, this word can be used in an impersonal, nonpersonified sense of an “opening”: “And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well’s mouth” (Gen. 29:2). In Isa. 19:7 this word represents the “edge” of a river: “The paper reeds by the brooks, by the mouth of the brooks, and every thing sown by the brooks, shall wither, be driven away.…” Gen. 42:27 uses peh to refer to an orifice, or the area within the edges of a sack’s opening: “… He espied his money; for, behold, it was in his sack’s mouth.” A similar use appears in Josh. 10:18, where the word is used of a cave “entrance” or “opening.” Peh can mean not only an opening which is closed in on all sides but a city gate, an opening opened at the top: “… at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors” (Prov. 8:3). Exod. 28:32 uses this word to mean an “opening” in a tunic around which a collar would be woven: “And there shall be a hole in the top of it, in the midst thereof: it shall have a binding of woven work round about the hole of it, as it were the hole of a habergeon, that it be not rent.” Job 30:18 uses the word of the “collar” itself: “By the great force of my disease is my garment changed: it bindeth me about as the collar of my coat” (cf. Ps. 133:2).

In several passages peh represents the edge of a sword, perhaps in the sense of the part that consumes and/or bites: “And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword …” (Gen. 34:26).

Several noteworthy idioms employ peh . In Josh. 9:2 “with one mouth” means “with one accord”: “… That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.” In Num. 12:8 God described His unique communication as “mouth to mouth” or person to person. A similar construction appears in Jer. 32:4 (cf. 34:3, which has the same force): “And Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, hut shall surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him mouth to mouth, and his eyes shall behold his eyes.” The phrase “from mouth to mouth” or “mouth to mouth” can mean “from end to end”: “And they came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was full from one end to another” (2 Kings 10:21). “With open mouth” is a phrase which emphasizes greedy consumption: “The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth” (Isa. 9:12). Placing one’s hands on one’s mouth is a gesture of silence (Job 29:9). “To ask someone’s mouth” is to ask him personally: “We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth [NASB, “consult her wishes”]” (Gen. 24:57).

This word can also stand for “utterance” or “order”: “Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled …” (Gen. 41:40). “The mouth of two witnesses” means their testimony: “Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses …” (Num. 35:30). In Jer. 36:4 “from the mouth of Jeremiah” means “by dictation”: “… And Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all words of the Lord … upon a [scroll].”

Peh used with various prepositions has special meanings. (1) Used with peh , it means “according to.” In Lev. 25:52 this construction has the special nuance “in proportion to”: “And if there remain but few years unto the year of jubilee, then he shall count with him, and according unto [in proportion to] his years shall he give him again the price of his redemption.” The meaning “according to” appears in passages such as Num. 7:5: “Take it of them, that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, to every man according to his service.” The phrase means “as much as” in Exod. 16:21. A different nuance appears in Job 33:6: “Behold, I am according to thy wish in God’s stead.…” (2) When the word is preceded by el , its meanings are quite similar to those just discussed. In Lev. 25:51 it means “in proportion to.” Jer. 29:10 uses the word in the sense “according to”: “After seventy years be accomplished at Babylon,” which can be read literally, “according to the fullness of the seventy years of Babylon.” (3) With ‘al the word also means “according to” or “in proportion to” (cf. Lev. 27:18).

The phrase pi shenayim —(literally, “two mouths”) has two different meanings. In Deut. 21:17 it means “double portion” (two parts): “But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the first-born, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath.…” This same phrase, however, also means “two thirds”: “And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein” (Zech. 13:8).

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

A — 1: Στόμα (Strong'S #4750 — Noun Neuter — stoma — stom'-a )

akin to stomachos (which originally meant "a throat, gullet"), is used (a) of "the mouth" of man, e.g.,  Matthew 15:11; of animals, e.g.,  Matthew 17:27;  2—Timothy 4:17 (figurative);   Hebrews 11:33;  James 3:3;  Revelation 13:2 (2nd occurrence); (b) figuratively of "inanimate things," of the "edge" of a sword,   Luke 21:24;  Hebrews 11:34; of the earth,  Revelation 12:16; (c) figuratively, of the "mouth," as the organ of speech, (1) of Christ's words, e.g.,  Matthew 13:35;  Luke 11:54;  Acts 8:32;  22:14;  1—Peter 2:22; (2) of human, e.g.,  Matthew 18:16;  21:16;  Luke 1:64;  Revelation 14:5; as emanating from the heart,  Matthew 12:34;  Romans 10:8,9; of prophetic ministry through the Holy Spirit,  Luke 1:70;  Acts 1:16;  3:18;  4:25; of the destructive policy of two world potentates at the end of this age,  Revelation 13:2,5,6;  16:13 (twice); of shameful speaking,   Ephesians 4:29;  Colossians 3:8; (3) of the Devil speaking as a dragon or serpent,  Revelation 12:15,16;  16:13; (d) figuratively, in the phrase "face to face" (lit., "mouth to mouth"),  2—John 1:12;  3—John 1:14; (e) metaphorically, of "the utterances of the Lord, in judgment,"  2—Thessalonians 2:8;  Revelation 1:16;  2:16;  19:15,21; of His judgment upon a local church for its lukewarmness,  Revelation 3:16; (f) by metonymy, for "speech,"  Matthew 18:16;  Luke 19:22;  21:15;  2—Corinthians 13:1 .

 Acts 15:27

B — 1: Ἐπιστομίζω (Strong'S #1993 — Verb — epistomizo — ep-ee-stom-id'-zo )

"to bridle" (epi, "upon," and A), is used metaphorically of "stopping the mouth, putting to silence,"  Titus 1:11 . Cp. phrasso, "to stop, close," said of stopping the "mouths" of men, in  Romans 3:19 . See Stop.

King James Dictionary

Mouth n.

1. The aperture in the head of an animal, between the lips, by which he utters his voice and receives food. In a more general sense, the mouth consists of the lips, the gums, the insides of the cheeks, the palate, the salival glands, the uvula and tonsils. 2. The opening of a vessel by which it is filled or emptied as the mouth of a jar or pitcher. 3. The part or channel of a river by which its waters are discharged into the ocean or into a lake. The Mississippi and the Nile discharge their waters by several mouths. 4. The opening of a piece of ordnance at the end, by which the charge issues. 5. The aperture of a vessel in animal bodies, by which fluids or other matter is received or discharged as the mouth of the lacteals. 6. The opening or entrance of a cave, pit, well or den.  Daniel 8 7. The instrument of speaking as, the story is in every body's mouth. 8. A principal speaker one that utters the common opinion.

Every coffee house has some statesman belonging to it, who is the mouth of the street where he lives.

9. Cry voice.

The fearful dogs divide,

All spend their mouth aloft, but none abide.

10. In Scripture, words uttered.  Job 19;  Isaiah 49;  Psalms 73 11. Desires necessities.  Psalms 103 12. Freedom and boldness of speech force of argument.

 Luke 21 .

13. Boasting vaunting.  Judges 9 . 14. Testimony.  Deuteronomy 17 15. Reproaches calumnies.  Job 5

To make a mouth, to distort the mouth

To make mouths, to make a wry face hence, to deride or treat with scorn.

1. To pout to treat disdainfully.

Down in the mouth, dejected mortified.

To have God's law in the mouth, to converse much on it and delight in it.  Exodus 13

To draw near to God with the mouth, to make an external appearance of devotion and worship, while there is no regard to him in the heart.  Isaiah 29

A froward mouth, contradictions and disobedience.  Proverbs 9

A smooth mouth, soft and flattering language.  Proverbs 5

To stop the mouth, to silence or to be silent to put to shame to confound.  Romans 3 lay the hand on the mouth, to be struck silent with shame.  Micah 7

To set the mouth against the heavens, to speak arrogantly and blasphemously.  Psalms 73

MOUTH, To utter with a voice affectedly big or swelling as, to mouth words or language.

Twitch'd by the sleeve, he mouths it more and more.

1. To take into the mouth to seize with the mouth. 2. To chew to grind, as food to eat to devour. 3. To form by the mouth, as a bear her cub. Not used. 4. To reproach to insult.

MOUTH, To speak with a full, round, or loud, affected voice to vociferate to rant as a mouthing actor.

I'll bellow out for Rome and for my country,

And mouth at Caesar, till I shake the senate.

Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology

In the Old Testament, "mouth" (Heb. peh [   Joshua 10:18,22 ), a well ( Genesis 29:2,8 ,  10;  2 Samuel 17:19 ), a sack ( Genesis 42:27 ), or a lion's den ( Daniel 6:17 ). "Mouth" also refers to the biological organ, whether human ( Exodus 4:11-12 ) or animal ( Numbers 22:28 ). It is used for the necessities of human life, eating and drinking ( Psalm 78:30;  Daniel 10:3 ), or for intimate contact, kissing ( Job 31:27;  1 Kings 19:18 ). The idiomatic phrase "mouth to mouth" means to speak personally and in a straightforward fashion with another ( Jeremiah 32:4 ). Unity is expressed by the phrase "one mouth" ( 1 Kings 22:13; cf.  Romans 15:6 ).

The anthropomorphic phrase "mouth of God" refers to God's revelation and sustenance for humankind ( Deuteronomy 8:3;  Jeremiah 9:12 ). Jesus quotes  Deuteronomy 8:3 when Satan tempts him and reveals that life is more than what one puts in his or her mouth. Rather, true existence originates from "every word that comes from the mouth of God" (  Matthew 4:4 ). Whether one acknowledges it or not, God's immanence is necessary for existence.

The mouth is the means for expressing what is in one's heart. The association of the Law and the mouth is often made because it is with the mouth that one expresses the essence of his or her religious belief.

In the New Testament, "mouth" (Gk. stoma [   Romans 3:14 ).

The concept that the mouth reveals the true nature of the heart is consistent with what Jesus taught: "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" ( Matthew 12:34; NRSV ). Jesus points out that it is not the food that goes into the mouth that defiles, but the words that come out of the mouth because they come "from the heart" ( Matthew 15:17-18 ).

In  Colossians 3:8 Paul tells the Colossians to get rid of filthy speech from their mouths. He also says that the confession of the mouth, "Jesus is Lord" (  Romans 10:7-10 ), reveals the belief in one's heart. It is not the confession that redeems a person, but the belief of the heart, where the confession originates.

Revelation sometimes uses "mouth" in a literal sense (NRSV e.g., 14:5) but most references are used in an apocalyptic, symbolic way. In this apocalyptic framework, fire (9:17-18; 11:5) and a two-edged sword (1:16) come out of the mouth. Additionally, other apocalyptic imagery is found (13:2,5, 6; 16:13; 19:21).

Eric W. Adams

See also Anthropomorphism; Confession Confess; Personhood Person

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( n.) The opening or entrance of any cavity, as a cave, pit, well, or den.

(2): ( n.) Cry; voice.

(3): ( n.) Speech; language; testimony.

(4): ( n.) A wry face; a grimace; a mow.

(5): ( v. t.) To form or cleanse with the mouth; to lick, as a bear her cub.

(6): ( n.) An opening affording entrance or exit; orifice; aperture;

(7): ( v. t.) To take into the mouth; to seize or grind with the mouth or teeth; to chew; to devour.

(8): ( n.) The opening of a piece of ordnance, through which it is discharged.

(9): ( n.) The opening through which the waters of a river or any stream are discharged.

(10): ( n.) A principal speaker; one who utters the common opinion; a mouthpiece.

(11): ( v. t.) To utter with a voice affectedly big or swelling; to speak in a strained or unnaturally sonorous manner.

(12): ( n.) The opening through which an animal receives food; the aperture between the jaws or between the lips; also, the cavity, containing the tongue and teeth, between the lips and the pharynx; the buccal cavity.

(13): ( v. i.) To make grimaces, esp. in ridicule or contempt.

(14): ( n.) The opening of a vessel by which it is filled or emptied, charged or discharged; as, the mouth of a jar or pitcher; the mouth of the lacteal vessels, etc.

(15): ( n.) The entrance into a harbor.

(16): ( n.) The crosspiece of a bridle bit, which enters the mouth of an animal.

(17): ( v. t.) To make mouths at.

(18): ( v. i.) To speak with a full, round, or loud, affected voice; to vociferate; to rant.

(19): ( v. i.) To put mouth to mouth; to kiss.

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

MOUTH (  Matthew 4:4;  Matthew 12:34;  Matthew 15:11;  Matthew 18:16;  Matthew 21:16, and  Luke 1:70).—In conformity with Oriental usage, ‘mouth,’ considered as the organ of speech, is used in the NT, as in the OT, in the sense of ‘language,’ ‘utterance,’ etc.—a notable instance of the primitive employment of the concrete for the abstract. Indeed, among the ancient Hebrews ‘mouth ‘was even personified, e.g. in such expressions as ‘The mouth of the Lord has spoken it,’ etc.—a usage that helped not a little to prepare the Jewish mind at last to apprehend the meaning of the Word made flesh . Most passages of the Gospels where ‘mouth’ is found are quotations from the OT (LXX Septuagint), e.g. ‘Every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God’ (διὰ στόματος θεοῦ,  Deuteronomy 8:3); ‘in the mouth of two or three witnesses’ (ἐπὶ στόματος,  Deuteronomy 17:6;  Deuteronomy 19:15); ‘out of the mouth of babes and sucklings’ (ἐκ στόμ.,  Psalms 8:2 etc.); cf. Zacharias’ words,  Luke 1:70 ‘as he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets’ (διὰ στόματος); and Jesus’ words to His disciples, ‘I will give you a mouth (στόμα) and wisdom’ ( Luke 21:15).

Geo. B. Eager.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

MOUTH . Several Heb. words are so tr. [Note: translate or translation.] 1. gârôn (  Psalms 149:6 ) lit. ‘throat.’ 2. chçk (  Job 12:11 etc.) is the inward part of the mouth, the palate, or ‘roof of the mouth’ (  Job 29:10 etc.). 3. ‘âdî , twice in AV [Note: Authorized Version.] (  Psalms 32:8 RV [Note: Revised Version.] ‘trappings,’   Psalms 103:5 RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] ‘years’ or ‘prime’), signifies properly ‘ornament’. 4. peh , the most usual word for ‘mouth,’ meaning also ‘edge,’ e.g . of the sword (  Genesis 34:26 etc.), or ‘border,’ e.g . of a garment (  Psalms 133:2 ). 5. pûm , Aram. [Note: Aramaic.] = Heb. peh (  Daniel 7:5 etc.). 6. pânîm (  Proverbs 15:14 ) lit. ‘face.’ 7. tÄ•ra‘ , Aram. [Note: Aramaic.] lit. ‘door’ (  Daniel 3:26 ). In the NT the Gr. word stoma . Frequently in Scripture ‘mouth’ is used fig. for ‘speech,’ of which it is the organ.

W. Ewing.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 1 Kings 19:18 2 Kings 4:34 Job 31:27 Proverbs 30:20 Song of Solomon 1:2 2 Judges 7:6 1 Samuel 14:26-27 Job 20:12 Psalm 119:10 Genesis 4:11 Numbers 16:30 16:32 Isaiah 5:14 3 Genesis 45:12 Deuteronomy 32:1 Job 8:21 Psalm 126:2 Isaiah 1:20 Isaiah 40:5 Jeremiah 9:12 Deuteronomy 8:3 Matthew 4:4 2 Samuel 22:9 Revelation 1:16

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Is sometimes used in Scripture for speaker,  Exodus 4:16   Jeremiah 15:19 . God spoke with Moses "mouth to mouth,"  Numbers 12.8 , that is, condescendingly and clearly. The law was to be "in the mouth" of the Hebrews,  Exodus 13:9 , often rehearsed and talked of. "The rod of his mouth,"  Isaiah 11:4 , and the sharp sword,  Revelation 1:16 , denote the power of Christ's word to convict, control, and judge; compare  Isaiah 49:2   Hebrews 4:12 . The Hebrew word for mouth is often translated "command,"  Genesis 45:21   Job 39:27   Ecclesiastes 8:2; and the unclean spirits out of the mouth of the dragon,  Revelation 16:14 , are the ready executors of his commands.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

mowth ( פּה , peh , חך , ḥēkh , גּרון , גּרן , gārōn   Psalm 149:6; Aramaic פּם , pum , תּרע , tera‛  Daniel 3:26; στόμα , stóma , 71 times, once λόγος , lógos , i.e. "word of mouth," "speech"  Acts 15:27; once we find the verb ἐπιστομίζω , epistomı́zō , "to silence," "to stop the mouth"  Titus 1:11 ):

1. Literal Sense

In addition to frequent references to man and animals, "Their food was yet in their mouths"  Psalm 78:30; "And Yahweh opened the mouth of the ass"  Numbers 22:28; "Save me from the lion's mouth"  Psalm 22:21 , etc., the term is often used in connection with inanimate things: mouth of a sack  Genesis 42:27; of the earth  Genesis 4:11;  Numbers 26:10; of a well  Numbers 29:2-3 ,  Numbers 29:8 ,  Numbers 29:10; of a cave  Joshua 10:18 ,  Joshua 10:22 ,  Joshua 10:27; of Sheol  Psalm 141:7; of the abyss  Jeremiah 48:28; of furnace (Aramaic tera‛ ,  Daniel 3:26 ); of idols  Psalm 115:5;  Psalm 135:16-17 .

2. Figurative Sense

(1) The "mouth" denotes language, speech, declaration (compare "lips," "tongue," which see): "By the mouth of" is "by means of," "on the declaration of"  Luke 1:70;  Acts 1:16; "Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be slain at the mouth of witnesses" ( Numbers 35:30; compare  Deuteronomy 17:6;  Matthew 18:16;  Hebrews 10:28 ); "I will give you mouth and wisdom"  Luke 21:15; "fool's mouth"  Proverbs 18:7 . (2) "Mouth" also denotes "spokesman": "He shall be to thee a mouth"  Exodus 4:16 .

Numerous are the idiomatic phrases which have, in part, been introduced into English by means of the language of the Bible. "To put into the mouth," if said of God, denotes Divine inspiration  Deuteronomy 18:18;  Micah 3:5 . "To have words put into the mouth" means to have instructions given  Deuteronomy 31:19;  2 Samuel 14:3;  Jeremiah 19:1-15;  Exodus 4:11-16 . "The fruit of the mouth"  Proverbs 18:20 is synonymical with wisdom, the mature utterance of the wise. "To put one's mouth into the dust" is equivalent with humbling one's self (  Lamentations 3:29; compare "to lay one's horn in the dust,"  Job 16:15 ). Silent submission is expressed by "laying the hand upon the mouth"  Judges 18:19;  Job 29:9;  Job 40:4;  Micah 7:16; compare "to refrain the lips"; see Lip . "To open the mouth wide" against a person is to accuse him wildly and often wrongfully  Psalm 35:21;  Isaiah 57:4 , otherwise "to open one's mouth wide," "to have an enlarged mouth" means to have great confidence and joy in speaking or accepting good things  1 Samuel 2:1;  Ezekiel 33:22;  2 Corinthians 6:11;  Ephesians 6:19 . "To gape upon one with the mouth" means to threaten a person  Job 16:10 . Divine rebuke is expressed by the "rod of God's mouth"  Isaiah 11:4 , and the Messiah declares "He hath made my mouth like asharp sword" ( Isaiah 49:2; compare  Revelation 2:16;  Revelation 19:15 ,  Revelation 19:21 ). Great anguish, such as dying with thirst, is expressed by "the tongue cleaving to the roof of the mouth" (Hebrew ḥēkh ,  Job 29:10;  Psalm 137:6; compare  Psalm 22:15 ).

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(prop. פֶּה , Peh; Gr. Στόμα ), besides its ordinary applications, was used in the following idiomatic phrases by the Hebrews (see Gesenius, Heb. Lex. s.v,): "Heavy-mouthed," that is, slow of speech, and so translated in  Exodus 4:10; " smooth mouth" ( Psalms 55:21), that is, a flattering mouth; so also "a mouth of deceit" ( Psalms 109:2). The following are also remarkable phrases: "To speak with one mouth to mouth," that is, in person, without the intervention of an interpreter ( Numbers 12:8; comp.  1 Kings 8:15;  Jeremiah 32:4); "With one mouth," that is, with one voice or consent ( Joshua 9:2;  1 Kings 22:13;  2 Chronicles 18:12); "With the whole mouth," that is, with the utmost strength of voice ( Job 19:16;  Psalms 66:17); "To put words into one's mouth," that is, to suggest what one shall say ( Exodus 4:15;  Numbers 22:38;  Numbers 23:5;  Numbers 23:12;  2 Samuel 14:19, etc.); "To be in one's mouth" is to be often spoken of, as a law, etc. ( Exodus 13:9; comp.  Psalms 5:10;  Psalms 38:15). The Hebrew also says, " Upon the mouth," where we say, and indeed our translation says, In or Into the mouth (e.g.  Nahum 3:12); that which is spoken is also said to be " Upon the mouth," where we should say, "upon the lips" (as in  2 Samuel 13:32). "To lay the hand upon the mouth" is to be silent ( Judges 18:19;  Job 21:5;  Job 40:4; comp.  Proverbs 30:32), just as we lay the finger on the mouth to enjoin silence. "To write from the mouth of any one" is to do so from his dictation ( Jeremiah 36:4;  Jeremiah 36:27;  Jeremiah 36:32;  Jeremiah 45:1). The word of God, or, literally, " the word that proceeds out of his mouth," signifies the actions of God's providence, his commands, whereby he rules the world, and brings all things to his purpose (Isaiah 4:11). To "inquire at the mouth of the Lord" is to consult him ( Joshua 19:14). To "set their mouth against the heavens" is to speak arrogantly, insolently, and blasphemously of God ( Psalms 73:9). "He shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked," are expressions which denote the sovereign authority and absolute power of the Messiah ( Isaiah 10:4). (See Wemyss, Clavis Symbolica, s.v.) The mouth, as the organ of speech, also signifies the words that proceed out of it, which in the sacred style are the same as commands and actions, because they imply the effects of the thoughts; words and commands being the means used to communicate decrees to those who are to execute them. Instances of this abound in Scripture, in various shades of application; but few of them are preserved in translation. Thus ( Genesis 45:12), "according to the commandment of Pharaoh," is in the original, "according to the Mouth of Pharaoh" (comp., among numerous other examples,  Numbers 3:16;  Job 39:27;  Ecclesiastes 8:2). Hence, for a person or thing to come out of the mouth of another is to be constituted or commanded to become an agent or minister under a superior power; this is frequent in the Apocalypse ( Revelation 16:13-14;  Revelation 1:16;  Revelation 11:4-5;  Revelation 12:15;  Revelation 9:19). The term mouth is not only applied to a speech or words, but to the speaker ( Exodus 4:16;  Jeremiah 15:19), in which sense it has a near equivalent in our expression "mouthpiece."

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

The ordinary applications of this word, common to all languages, require no explanation; but the following somewhat peculiar uses may be noted: 'Heavy-mouthed,' that is, slow of speech, and so translated in; 'smooth mouth' , that is, a flattering mouth; so also 'a mouth of deceit' . The following are also remarkable phrases: 'To speak with one mouth to mouth, that is, in person, without the intervention of an interpreter (; comp.; ). 'With one mouth,' that is, with one voice or consent (;; ). 'With the whole mouth,' that is, with the utmost strength of voice . 'To put words into one's mouth,' that is, to suggest what one shall say (;;;; , etc.). 'To be in one's mouth,' is to be often spoken of, as a law, etc. (; comp.; ). 'To lay the hand upon the mouth,' is to be silent (;;; comp. ), just as we lay the finger on the mouth to enjoin silence. 'To write from the mouth of anyone' is to do so from his dictation .

The mouth, as the organ of speech, also signifies the words that proceed out of it, which in the sacred style are the same as commands and actions. Hence, for a person or thing to come out of the mouth of another is to be constituted or commanded to become an agent or minister under a superior power: this is frequent in the Revelations (;;;; ). The term mouth is not only applied to a speech or words, but to the speaker , in which sense it has a near equivalent in our expression 'mouthpiece.'