"a lip, and pl. τὰ χείλη, the lips, Mt. 15:8; Mk. 7:6; Rom. 3:13; Heb. 13:15; 1 Pet. 3:10; trop. χεῖλος τῆς θαλάσσης, the seashore, Heb. 11:12; meton. language, dialect, 1 Cor. 14:21*"
Definition and meaning
a lip, and pl. τὰ χείλη, the lips, Mt. 15:8; Mk. 7:6; Rom. 3:13; Heb. 13:15; 1 Pet. 3:10; trop. χεῖλος τῆς θαλάσσης, the seashore, Heb. 11:12; meton. language, dialect, 1 Cor. 14:21*
In the original Greek the word is written: χεῖλος
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of cheilos (G5491) across the King James Bible.
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
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Common questions
Strong's G5491 (cheilos) is a Greek word that means: a lip, and pl. τὰ χείλη, the lips, Mt. 15:8; Mk. 7:6; Rom. 3:13; Heb. 13:15; 1 Pet. 3:10; trop. χεῖλος τῆς θαλάσσης, the seashore, Heb. 11:12; meton. language, dialect, 1 Cor. 14:21* It appears 7 times in the King James Bible.
The word cheilos (G5491) appears 7 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G5491 is cheilos, a Greek word defined as: a lip, and pl. τὰ χείλη, the lips, Mt. 15:8; Mk. 7:6; Rom. 3:13; Heb. 13:15; 1 Pet. 3:10; trop. χεῖλος τῆς θαλάσσης, the seashore, Heb. 11:12; meton. . James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
cheilos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.