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Bible Encyclopedias
Lip
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or (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)
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Lip'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/l/lip.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
