Lip

"lip; edge." This Hebrew word is related to cognate languages where a similar word signifies "lip" or "edge" (cf. Akkadian saptu). Sapâ 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 (Psa 12:3), lie (Psa 31:18), speak mischief (Psa 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 (Psa 17:1), God's word (Psa 119:13), truthful (Prov 12:19), wise (Prov 14:7; Prov 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 sapâ is similar to that of lashôn, "tongue," in that both words denote speech and also human language. Sapâ 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"; Isaiah 33:19).

The metaphorical use of sapâ ("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 (1Kings 7:23). The Septuagint translation is cheilos ("lip; shore; bank"); and the kjv has these translations: "lip; bank; brim; edge; language; shore; and speech."

is used (a) of the organ of speech, Mat 15:8, Mar 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; Rom 3:13, 1Co 14:21 (from Isa 1:28-12, speaking of the Assyrian foe as God's message to disobedient Israel); Heb 13:15, 1Pe 3:10; (b) metaphorically, of "the brink or edge of things," as of the sea shore, Heb 11:12, lit., "the shore (of the sea)."