Jump to: ISBE • Easton's • Webster's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms Topical Encyclopedia In biblical literature, the term "lip" often carries significant metaphorical and literal meanings, reflecting both physical and spiritual dimensions. The Hebrew word for lip is "saphah," and the Greek equivalent is "cheilos." These terms appear in various contexts throughout the Scriptures, symbolizing speech, communication, and the moral state of an individual.Physical and Metaphorical Usage 1. Speech and Communication: The lips are frequently associated with speech and the power of words. Proverbs 12:19 states, "Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment." This highlights the enduring nature of truthful speech compared to deceitful words. Similarly, Proverbs 10:21 notes, "The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of judgment," emphasizing the nourishing and life-giving power of righteous speech. 2. Moral and Spiritual State: The condition of one's lips often reflects the heart's moral and spiritual state. Isaiah 6:5 records the prophet's lament, "Woe is me, for I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips." Here, unclean lips symbolize sinfulness and the need for divine purification. This theme is echoed in the New Testament, where Jesus teaches in Matthew 15:11 , "It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a man, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man," indicating that speech reveals the heart's true condition. 3. Praise and Worship: Lips are also instruments of praise and worship. Hebrews 13:15 encourages believers, "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name." This underscores the importance of using one's lips to glorify God and express faith. Warnings and Admonitions The Bible provides numerous warnings about the misuse of lips, particularly concerning deceit, flattery, and idle talk. Psalm 12:2 laments, "They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and a double heart." This verse warns against the dangers of insincere speech and the destructive power of deceitful lips. James 3:5-6 offers a vivid illustration of the tongue's potential for harm: "So too the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze. The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body." This passage serves as a cautionary reminder of the need for self-control and the potential consequences of careless words. Redemption and Transformation Despite the potential for misuse, the Bible also speaks of the redemption and transformation of the lips. In Isaiah 57:19 , God promises, "I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to those far and near," indicating that God can transform speech to bring about peace and reconciliation. This transformative power is available to believers who seek to align their words with God's will. In summary, the concept of "lip" in the Bible encompasses a wide range of meanings, from the literal to the deeply spiritual. It serves as a powerful symbol of communication, moral integrity, and the potential for both harm and healing through speech. Easton's Bible Dictionary Besides its literal sense (Isaiah 37:29, etc.), is used in the original (saphah) metaphorically for an edge or border, as of a cup (1 Kings 7:26), a garment (Exodus 28:32), a curtain (26:4), the sea (Genesis 22:17), the Jordan (2 Kings 2:13). To "open the lips" is to begin to speak (Job 11:5); to "refrain the lips" is to keep silence (Psalm 40:9; 1 Peter 3:10). The "fruit of the lips" (Hebrews 13:15) is praise, and the "calves of the lips" thank-offerings (Hosea 14:2). To "shoot out the lip" is to manifest scorn and defiance (Psalm 22:7). Many similar forms of expression are found in Scripture. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (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.2. (n.) An edge of an opening; a thin projecting part of anything; a kind of short open spout; as, the lip of a vessel. 3. (n.) The sharp cutting edge on the end of an auger. 4. (n.) One of the two opposite divisions of a labiate corolla. 5. (n.) The odd and peculiar petal in the Orchis family. See Orchidaceous. 6. (n.) One of the edges of the aperture of a univalve shell. 7. (v. t.) To touch with the lips; to put the lips to; hence, to kiss. 8. (v. t.) To utter; to speak. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia LIP(saphah, sepheth, "lip," "language," "speech," "talk" (also "rim," "border," "shore," "bank," etc.), sapham, "(upper) lip," "moustache," "beard"; cheilos, "lip" (also once, "shore" in the quotation Hebrews 11:12 equals Genesis 22:17)): Greek 5491. cheilos -- a lip, an edge ... a lip, an edge. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: cheilos Phonetic Spelling: (khi'-los) Short Definition: a lip, mouth, shore Definition: a lip ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5491.htm - 6k 5512. chleuazo -- to jest, mock, jeer 3045. liparos -- oily, fatty, fig. rich Strong's Hebrew 8193. saphah -- lip, speech, edge... 8192, 8193. saphah. 8194 . lip, speech, edge. Transliteration: saphah Phonetic Spelling: (saw-faw') Short Definition: lips. Word ... /hebrew/8193.htm - 6k 8222. sapham -- mustache Library Low Beetling Brows, -- a Sensual, Cruel Mouth with a Loosely ... An Earnest Invitation The Hebrew Prophecies. The First Ministry of the Baptist. A Battle with Smallpox Messiah Derided Upon the Cross The Agony, and the Consoler The King's Charge to his Ambassadors The Rejuvenation and Restoration of Israel. April 7. "In Him we Live and Move" (Acts xvii. 28). Thesaurus Lip (20 Occurrences)... The "fruit of the lips" (Hebrews 13:15) is praise, and the "calves of the lips" thank-offerings (Hosea 14:2). To "shoot out the lip" is to manifest scorn and ... /l/lip.htm - 18k Shore (45 Occurrences) Falsehood (107 Occurrences) Flowered (1 Occurrence) Edge (150 Occurrences) Containeth (3 Occurrences) Comely (32 Occurrences) Scorned (18 Occurrences) Upper (99 Occurrences) Excellency (53 Occurrences) Resources What is autotheism? What is an autotheist? | GotQuestions.orgWho is the Artemis mentioned in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org What does it mean to honor my father and mother? | GotQuestions.org Lip: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Lip (20 Occurrences)Leviticus 13:45 2 Samuel 19:24 2 Chronicles 4:5 Job 12:20 Psalms 12:2 Psalms 22:7 Psalms 81:5 Psalms 120:2 Proverbs 12:19 Proverbs 17:7 Isaiah 19:18 Isaiah 28:11 Isaiah 29:13 Isaiah 33:19 Ezekiel 3:5 Ezekiel 3:6 Ezekiel 24:17 Ezekiel 24:22 Micah 3:7 Zephaniah 3:9 Subtopics Related Terms |