lips
sa.phah denotes lips in speech and bodily action, and the edge or rim of a river, sea, vessel, or opening.
The term most often occurs with speaking, words, praise, deception, instruction, or other expression connected with the mouth. It also denotes bodily lips in actions such as moving, being touched, tingling, or receiving a bridle, and it marks an edge, bank, rim, or hem in descriptions of waters, vessels, and garments.
Senses in use
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Lips associated with speech and expression · dominant
Dual construct forms occur in clauses about what is spoken or expressed: in Isaiah 59:3 the APB renders that the lips "have spoken deception," while in Malachi 2:7 it renders that the priest's lips "guard knowledge." In Isaiah 29:13, lips honor while the heart is distant, and in Job 27:4 lips are set against speaking injustice.
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Bodily lips in movement or contact · occasional
The dual forms identify bodily lips in concrete actions and conditions. In 1 Samuel 1:13 the APB renders that Hannah's lips were moving though her voice was not heard; in Daniel 10:16 they are touched before the speaker opens his mouth. Isaiah 37:29 places a bridle in the lips, and Habakkuk 3:16 describes lips tingling at a voice.
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Edge, bank, rim, or hem · common
Singular construct and absolute forms mark the boundary of a physical feature. In 1 Kings 7:23 the APB renders the cast sea as measured "from lip to lip," and 1 Kings 7:26 describes its rim; Deuteronomy 2:36 places Aroer upon the lip of the Arnon torrent. Exodus 28:32 uses the singular absolute form for a lip around a garment opening.
In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB presents the term in speech-related clauses with "lips," including lips that speak, honor, or guard knowledge. In boundary descriptions it uses wording such as "lip," "rim," "shore," "bank," and "hem".