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+:…