κεφαλίς

a roll, volume

Definition

The Greek word κεφαλίς literally means 'little head' and originally referred to the knob at the end of the wooden core of a papyrus scroll. By extension, it came to mean the scroll or volume itself. In its single New Testament occurrence in Hebrews 10:7, it is used metaphorically to refer to a specific 'scroll' or 'volume' of Scripture, specifically the body of writings that contained the prophecy about the Messiah. The author of Hebrews quotes Psalm 40:7 (LXX 39:7), using κεφαλίς to indicate the divinely authored document that foretold Christ's mission.

Biblical Usage

Κεφαλίς is used only once in the New Testament, in Hebrews 10:7. Here, it appears in a quotation of the Greek Septuagint version of Psalm 40:7, where Christ is portrayed as saying, 'Behold, I have come—in the scroll (κεφαλίς) of the book it is written of me—to do your will, O God.' Its usage is entirely within this Christological citation, emphasizing the prophetic scriptural record that testifies to the Messiah's purpose.

Etymology

Κεφαλίς is a diminutive noun derived from κεφαλή (kephalē, G2776), meaning 'head.' The diminutive form originally meant 'little head' and was applied to the knob or handle on the end of a scroll rod. Over time, the meaning expanded by metonymy to refer to the scroll or book volume itself, as the knob was a distinctive part of the physical object.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant because it anchors the mission of Jesus Christ directly within the written prophetic Scripture. In Hebrews 10:7, the 'scroll of the book' represents the authoritative body of Old Testament writings that bore witness to the coming Messiah. Understanding κεφαλίς highlights the concept of biblical fulfillment and the divine authorship of Scripture, showing that Christ's incarnation and sacrifice were the central subject of God's revealed word.

In the ancient Greco-Roman and Jewish world, books were typically scrolls made of papyrus or parchment wound around wooden rods. The κεφαλίς was the ornamental knob or handle at the end of these rods, which aided in rolling and unrolling the scroll. Referring to a 'scroll' by this term reflects the physical reality of ancient literature, which was very different from modern bound books. The term evokes the tangible object that contained sacred texts.

βιβλίον (biblion, G975) — a more general term for a book, scroll, or document. βίβλος (biblos, G976) — often refers to a book, especially a sacred book or a specific scroll. τόμος (tomos, G5117) — a cut or section, also used for a volume or roll of a book.

Word Details

Scripture References