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LIP
(
!*
, 8193), “lip; edge.” This Hebrew word is related to cognate languages
where a similar word signifies “lip” or “edge” (cf. Akkadian
$
).
-
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
is similar to that of |lashon“tongue,” in that both words denote speech
and also human language.
-
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
(“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
(“lip; shore; bank”); and the
KJV
has these
translations: “lip; bank; brim; edge; language; shore; and speech.”
TO LIVE
A. Verb.
(
, 2421), “to live.” This verb, which has cognates in most other Semitic
languages (except Akkadian), occurs 284 times in biblical Hebrew and in all periods. In
the ground stem this verb connotes “having life”: “And Adam lived a hundred and thirty
years …” (Gen. 5:3). A similar meaning appears in Num. 14:38 and Josh. 9:21.
The intensive form of
means “to preserve alive”: “… Two of every sort shalt
thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee …” (Gen. 6:19). This word may also
mean “to bring to life” or “to cause to live”: “… I dwell … with him also that is of a
contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the
contrite ones” (Isa. 57:15).
“To live” is more than physical existence. According to Deut. 8:3, “man doth not live
by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man
live.” Moses said to Israel: “… Love the Lord thy God … that thou mayest live and
multiply” (Deut. 30:16).
B. Noun.