κεφᾰλή G2776
Head — the anatomical body part; figuratively, authority, preeminence, or source of origin.
Kephale carries both a concrete anatomical meaning and a rich figurative extension that became theologically pivotal. Literally, it refers to the physical head of a person or animal — the head on which one cannot make a single hair white or black (Matt 5:36), the head anointed with oil (Matt 6:17), the head of John the Baptist on a platter (Matt 14:8). Figuratively, Paul develops kephale into a key term for authority and relational ordering: Christ as 'head' of the church (Eph 1:22; 5:23), and the husband as 'head' of the wife (1 Cor 11:3). Spanish cabeza, French tete, and German Haupt all preserve this dual literal-figurative range.
Senses
1. [split] head (literal and figurative) — The head, both the literal anatomical body part (Matt 5:36; 6:17; 14:8 — the severed head of the Baptist) and the metaphorical sense of authority or preeminence (1 Cor 11:3; Eph 1:22; Col 1:18 — Christ as head of the church). Spanish cabeza, French tete, and German Haupt all carry both physical and figurative senses, mirroring the Greek. 0×
AR["رَأسَ","رَأسَكَ","رَأسَهُ","رَأسِ","رَأسِكُم","رَأْسَ","رَأْسَهُ","رَأْسُهُ","رَأْسِكَ","رَأْسِهِ"]·ben["মাথা","মাথায়","মাথায়,","মাথার","শিরস","শীর্ষ"]·DE["Haupt"]·EN["head","the-head"]·FR["tête"]·heb["רֹאשׁ","רֹאשׁ-ו","רֹאשׁוֹ"]·HI["काटा","बपतिस्मा-देने-वाले","सिर","सिर-की","सिर-के","सिर-पर","सिरा","सिरे-का"]·ID["itu","kepala"]·IT["capo"]·jav["mustaka","sirah","sirahipun"]·KO["머리","머리-를","머리-의","머리가","머리를","머리에","머리의","머릿"]·PT["cabeça"]·RU["главу","голова","голове","головой","голову","головы"]·ES["cabeza"]·SW["Kichwa","jiwe-kuu","kichwa","kutoka-kwa"]·TR["baş","başı","başımı","başın","başına","başını","başının","başınızın"]·urd["سر","سر-پر","میرے","چومتی-تھی"]
Matt 5:36, Matt 6:17, Matt 8:20, Matt 10:30, Matt 14:8, Matt 14:11, Matt 21:42, Matt 26:7, Matt 27:29, Matt 27:30, Matt 27:37, Mark 6:24 (+38 more)
1. head (anatomical body part) — Split from sense 70663. Criteria: Physical head of a person or creature: hair on the head (Matt 5:36), laying one's head (Matt 8:20), severed head of John the Baptist (Matt 14:8), crown of thorns on the head (Matt 27:29; John 19:2) 60×
AR["رَأسَ","رَأسَكَ","رَأسَهُ","رَأسِ","رَأسِكُم","رَأْسَ","رَأْسَهُ","رَأْسُهُ","رَأْسِ","رَأْسِكَ","رَأْسِهِ"]·ben["মাথা","মাথায়","মাথায়,","মাথার"]·DE["Haupt"]·EN["head"]·FR["tête"]·heb["רֹאשׁ","רֹאשׁ-ו","רֹאשׁוֹ"]·HI["काटा","बपतिस्मा-देने-वाले","सिर","सिर-की","सिर-के","सिर-पर"]·ID["itu","kepala"]·IT["capo"]·jav["mustaka","sirah","sirahipun"]·KO["머리","머리-를","머리-의","머리가","머리를","머리에","머리의"]·PT["cabeça"]·RU["голова","голове","головой","голову","головы"]·ES["cabeza"]·SW["Kichwa","kichwa"]·TR["başı","başımı","başın","başına","başını","başının","başınızın"]·urd["سر","سر-پر","میرے","چومتی-تھی"]
Matt 5:36, Matt 6:17, Matt 8:20, Matt 10:30, Matt 14:8, Matt 14:11, Matt 26:7, Matt 27:29, Matt 27:30, Matt 27:37, Matt 27:39, Mark 6:24 (+38 more)
2. head (authority, preeminence, source) — Split from sense 70663. Criteria: Metaphorical uses for authority and preeminence: Christ as head of the church (Eph 1:22; 4:15; 5:23; Col 1:18), husband as head of wife (1 Cor 11:3; Eph 5:23), cornerstone as head of the corner (Matt 21:42; 1 Pet 2:7) 15×
AR["الرَّأسُ","الرَّأسِ","رأسِ","رَأسًا","رَأسَ","رَأسُ","رَأسُهُ","رَأسِ","رَأْسِ"]·ben["মস্তক","মস্তক,","মস্তককে","মাথা","শিরস","শীর্ষ"]·DE["Haupt"]·EN["Head","head","the-head"]·FR["tête"]·heb["רֹאשׁ"]·HI["सिर","सिरा","सिरे","सिरे-का"]·ID["Kepala","kepala","kepala,"]·IT["capo","testa"]·jav["Sirah","dados-sirah","mustaka","sirah","sirah,"]·KO["머리","머리,","머리-이다","머리가","머리는","머리로","머리를","머릿","머릿돌-로"]·PT["Cabeça","cabeça","cabeça,"]·RU["Главы","глава","глава,","главою","главу"]·ES["Cabeza","cabeza"]·SW["Kichwa","jiwe-kuu","kichwa","kichwa,","kutoka-kwa","ni-kichwa"]·TR["Basi","bas","basi","baş","başı","o-"]·urd["سر","سر-کو","سرے","کونے-کا"]
Matt 21:42, Mark 12:10, Luke 20:17, Acts 4:11, 1 Cor 11:3, 1 Cor 11:3, 1 Cor 11:3, Eph 1:22, Eph 4:15, Eph 5:23, Eph 5:23, Col 1:18 (+3 more)
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
κεφᾰλή, ἡ, head of man or beast, Refs 8th c.BC+; κεφαλῇ.. μείζονες taller in stature, Refs 8th c.BC+; so μείων.. κεφαλήνRefs 3rd c.BC+ __a κατὰ κεφαλῆς, Epic dialect κὰκ κεφαλῆς, down over the head, κόνιν.. χεύατο κὰκ κεφαλῆς Refs 8th c.BC+ __b κατὰ κεφαλήν, Epic dialect κὰκ κεφαλήν on the head, Ἐρύλαον.. βάλε πέτρῳ μέσσην κὰκ κεφαλήν Refs 8th c.BC+: in Prose, from above, Refs 5th c.BC+:…