χεῖλος
cheîlos
G5491 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Lip; the fleshy, movable part forming the edge of the mouth. By extension, an edge or border, especially of land or water (such as a shore or bank), and metaphorically, the mouth as an organ of speech or what is uttered. In specific contexts, also used figuratively for the rim or margin of objects.
Semantic Range
lip (anatomical), edge or margin (of objects), rim (of a cup, vessel, or garment), shore or bank (of water, land), mouth (by metonymy), speech or utterance (figurative or Semitic usage)
Root / Etymology
From the Greek root χεῖλ- (cheil-), related to the notion of an edge or border. Cognate with classical Greek χεῖλος, with the same range of ‘lip’ and ‘edge’.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, χεῖλος is primarily the anatomical ‘lip’, but is readily extended to refer to the edge or border of objects, such as a vessel, garment, or geographical feature (e.g., a riverbank or seashore). In the Septuagint, χεῖλος translates Hebrew שָׂפָה (śāp̄āh), meaning ‘lip’, ‘edge’, or ‘language’, so it can occasionally refer to speech, utterance, or even language itself by further metonymy (e.g., Gen 11:1, ‘one lip’, i.e., one language). In New Testament usage, it retains its primary meaning of ‘lip’ but may also appear in figurative or transferred senses (as in ‘shore’). English translations often use ‘lip’ literally, and ‘shore’ or ‘edge’ where context requires. Usage overlaps with στόμα (mouth), especially where utterance or speech is in view, but while στόμα typically denotes the mouth as a whole or an oral opening, χεῖλος emphasizes the outer edge or the act of speech originating from the lips. The metaphorical extension to signify the border of land or water is especially marked in Koine and biblical usage. ‘Lip’ as ‘utterance’ or ‘speech’ is more pronounced in Semitic-influenced Greek.
Translation Consistency
The primary and most natural English equivalent for χεῖλος is "lip." It covers the anatomical sense (lip/lips) and readily extends to edge, rim, shore, and figurative uses (mouth/utterance) in natural English; using the singular base "lip" lets all forms be inflected consistently (lip, lips, the lip of, etc.).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from a form of the same as χάσμα; a lip (as a pouring place); figuratively, a margin (of water):--lip, shore.
Root Family
χεῖλος (cheilos) — lip, edge, border
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5491-03 |
χείλεσίν | cheilesin | N DAT N PL |
lips | with the lips | lips | 3 |
G5491-01 |
χείλη | cheile | N ACC N PL |
lips | lips | lips | 2 |
G5491-02 |
χειλέων | cheileon | N GEN N PL |
of lips | of lips | of lips | 1 |
G5491-04 |
χεῖλος | cheilos | N ACC N SG |
shore | lip | lip | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
7 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5491-03 |
Matthew 15:8 | χείλεσίν | cheilesin | N DAT N PL |
lips | with the lips | lips |
G5491-03 |
Mark 7:6 | χείλεσίν | cheilesin | N DAT N PL |
lips | with the lips | lips |
G5491-01 |
Romans 3:13 | χείλη | cheile | N ACC N PL |
lips | lips | lips |
G5491-03 |
1 Corinthians 14:21 | χείλεσιν | cheilesin | N DAT N PL |
lips | with the lips | lips |
G5491-04 |
Hebrews 11:12 | χεῖλος | cheilos | N ACC N SG |
shore | lip | lip |
G5491-02 |
Hebrews 13:15 | χειλέων | cheileon | N GEN N PL |
of lips | of lips | of lips |
G5491-01 |
1 Peter 3:10 | χείλη | cheile | N ACC N PL |
lips | lips | lips |