κόμη
kómē
G2864 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
The hair of the head, specifically the long or flowing hair regarded as an adornment or ornamental feature, especially locks or tresses. In contrast to terms referring generically to individual hairs or the mere existence of hair, κόμη focuses on the visible, maintained, and often valued hair—especially long and uncut hair as a mark of style, status, or propriety. The term is associated with the hair's appearance rather than its mere physical presence.
Semantic Range
long hair, flowing hair, tresses, locks, ornamental hair, hair regarded as an adornment, maintained or styled hair
Root / Etymology
From the verbal root κομ- (possibly related to κομίζω, 'to take care of, to bring'), indicating care or attention given to the hair. The connection to κομίζω is debated and primarily based on similarity of form; some scholars suggest the word is of uncertain Indo-European etymology but relates to care or tending.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, κόμη denotes hair that is long, flowing, or carefully arranged, often with connotations of beauty or display, particularly among women but also referenced for men in poetic contexts. In the Hellenistic and New Testament periods, κόμη continues to refer to hair as an ornamental feature, in contrast to θρίξ (G2359), which denotes a single hair or hair in general. In Greek literature and the Septuagint, κόμη commonly refers to distinctive long hair, occasionally signaling youth, gender, or ritual status (e.g., uncut hair for votaries or Nazirites). In the New Testament (notably 1 Corinthians 11:15), κόμη refers to a woman's long hair as her natural adornment, implying cultural values of femininity and propriety. The standard English translation 'hair' can obscure the ornamental or valued sense that the term conveys, and does not differentiate from general or implicit references (θρίξ). Later Greek uses retained the distinction between κόμη and related terms for hair, focusing κόμη on features of length, style, and maintenance rather than mere existence.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
apparently from the same as κομίζω; the hair of the head (locks, as ornamental, and thus differing from θρίξ; which properly denotes merely the scalp):--hair.
Root Family
κόμη (komē) — hair of the head, ornamental hair, tresses, locks
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2864-01 |
κόμη | kome | N NOM F SG |
hair | ornamental hair | hair | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2864-01 |
1 Corinthians 11:15 | κόμη | kome | N NOM F SG |
hair | ornamental hair | hair |