κεφαλή
kephalḗ
G2776 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
The uppermost or foremost part of the body in an animal or person, containing the brain, sensory organs, and mouth ("head"). By extension, used of the top, summit, or principal part of something. Figuratively, denotes one who holds a principal or leading position (e.g., leader, chief, source, or prominent member). In idiomatic and metaphorical expressions, can denote authority, pre-eminence, or source, but specific meaning is context-dependent.
Semantic Range
head (body part), the top or summit of something, source or beginning, leader or chief person, principal member, origin, prominent position, capital (in numbers or architecture)
Root / Etymology
From root κεφαλ-; possibly related to the older Indo-European *ghebhal- ('head, skull'), but exact Greek development is uncertain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Classical Greek, κεφαλή primarily denotes the physical head of a human or animal, but is also metaphorically extended to mean 'top' or 'extremity'—such as the head of a river, the top of a column, or the crest of a hill. In Hellenistic and Koine Greek (including the Septuagint and New Testament), figurative usage expands: κεφαλή can denote a leader, a person of chief importance, or the prominent member of a group. In some metaphorical contexts (especially in Pauline letters), scholarly debate continues over whether κεφαλή primarily suggests 'authority/leader,' 'source/origin,' or both. English translation tradition often equates figurative κεφαλή with 'head' as 'leader' or 'authority,' but there are contexts (e.g., Colossians 1:18; 2:19; Ephesians 5:23) where the nuance of 'source' or 'origin' is also plausible. The term is distinct from ἀρχή ('beginning,' 'first principle,' 'ruler') and is not inherently a technical term for rule or authority in Greek outside certain contexts. Standard translations such as 'head' in English cover the literal sense but may narrow the figurative sense compared to Greek usage.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the primary (in the sense of seizing); the head (as the part most readily taken hold of), literally or figuratively:--head.
Root Family
κεφαλή (kephalē) — head, top, chief
Word Forms
6 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2776-04 |
κεφαλὴν | kephalen | N ACC F SG |
head | head | 28 |
G2776-05 |
κεφαλῆς | kephales | N GEN F SG |
head | of a head | 15 |
G2776-03 |
κεφαλῇ | kephale | N DAT F SG |
head | to the head | 15 |
G2776-02 |
κεφαλὰς | kephalas | N ACC F PL |
heads | heads | 13 |
G2776-01 |
κεφαλαὶ | kephalai | N NOM F PL |
heads | heads | 3 |
G2776-06 |
κεφαλῶν | kephalon | N GEN F PL |
heads | of heads | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
75 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2776-03 |
Matthew 5:36 | κεφαλῇ | kephale | N DAT F SG |
to the head | |
G2776-04 |
Matthew 6:17 | κεφαλὴν | kephalen | N ACC F SG |
head | |
G2776-04 |
Matthew 8:20 | κεφαλὴν | kephalen | N ACC F SG |
head | |
G2776-05 |
Matthew 10:30 | κεφαλῆς | kephales | N GEN F SG |
of a head | |
G2776-04 |
Matthew 14:8 | κεφαλὴν | kephalen | N ACC F SG |
head | |
G2776-03 |
Matthew 14:11 | κεφαλὴ | kephale | N NOM F SG |
to the head | |
G2776-04 |
Matthew 21:42 | κεφαλὴν | kephalen | N ACC F SG |
head | |
G2776-05 |
Matthew 26:7 | κεφαλῆς | kephales | N GEN F SG |
of a head | |
G2776-05 |
Matthew 27:29 | κεφαλῆς | kephales | N GEN F SG |
of a head | |
G2776-04 |
Matthew 27:30 | κεφαλὴν | kephalen | N ACC F SG |
head |