κεφαλή

the head

Definition

The Greek word κεφαλή primarily means 'the head' as the physical part of the body (Matthew 6:17, 1 Corinthians 11:4-5). It is also used metaphorically to signify 'source' or 'origin,' as in Christ being the κεφαλή from whom the body, the church, grows (Ephesians 4:15-16, Colossians 2:19). A third key meaning is 'authority' or 'ruler,' describing Christ's lordship over the church (Ephesians 5:23) and God's authority over Christ (1 Corinthians 11:3). In the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament), it can refer to a 'cornerstone' (Psalm 118:22, cited in Matthew 21:42), uniting two walls.

Biblical Usage

κεφαλή appears 68 times across the New Testament, used in Gospels, Pauline epistles, and Revelation. In the Gospels, it often refers literally to a physical head (Matthew 14:8, 11). Paul uses it extensively in metaphorical senses: for Christ as the 'head' of the church, emphasizing both source and authority (Ephesians 1:22, Colossians 1:18), and in discussions of order within marriage and worship (1 Corinthians 11:3, Ephesians 5:23). The 'cornerstone' usage appears in quotations of the Old Testament (Matthew 21:42, Acts 4:11, 1 Peter 2:7).

Etymology

Derived from the ancient Greek noun κεφαλή, meaning 'head.' It is a primary, common term with no clear earlier Indo-European root. It is the source of English medical terms like 'cephalic.' In the Septuagint, it was the standard translation for the Hebrew רֹאשׁ (ro'sh), which also carries the dual meanings of 'head' and 'chief/leader,' influencing its semantic range in the New Testament.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant for understanding Christology and ecclesiology. As 'head,' Christ is both the sovereign authority over the church (Ephesians 1:22) and the source of its life and growth (Colossians 2:19). The metaphor of the body and head (1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4) underscores the intimate union and dependence of believers on Christ. In 1 Corinthians 11:3, its use in the chain of 'headship' (God-Christ-man-woman) has been central to debates on gender roles and theological order, requiring careful exegesis of its meaning as 'source' or 'authority' in context.

In the first-century Greco-Roman world, the 'head' was commonly seen as the source of life and the governing part of the body, a concept used in medical and philosophical writings. This cultural understanding informs Paul's metaphorical use. The Hebrew background via the Septuagint also imbues it with connotations of leadership, preeminence, and the 'top' or 'first' of something (as in 'head of a river'). The 'cornerstone' metaphor would resonate in a building-centric culture, signifying the crucial, unifying stone in a foundation.

ἀρχή (archē, G746) — emphasizes 'beginning' or 'first principle,' more about temporal or causal origin. ἄρχων (archōn, G758) — a ruler or political leader, focusing on governing authority rather than organic connection. κορυφή (koryphē, G2899) — the crown or very top of something, like a mountain peak, lacking the body/source metaphor.

Word Details

Scripture References