2776. kephalé
Lexical Summary
kephalé: Head

Original Word: κεφαλή
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: kephalé
Pronunciation: kef-al-ay'
Phonetic Spelling: (kef-al-ay')
KJV: head
NASB: head, heads, chief, hair, very
Word Origin: [from the primary kapto "in the sense of seizing"]

1. the head (as the part most readily taken hold of)
{literally or figuratively}

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
head.

From the primary kapto (in the sense of seizing); the head (as the part most readily taken hold of), literally or figuratively -- head.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
a prim. word
Definition
the head
NASB Translation
chief (4), hair (1), head (50), heads (19), very (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 2776: κεφαλή

κεφαλή, κεφαλῆς, , the Sept. for רֹאשׁ; the head, both of men: Matthew 5:36; Mark 6:24; Luke 7:38, 44 (Rec.),46; John 13:9; Acts 18:18; 1 Corinthians 11:4; Revelation 1:14; Revelation 4:4, and often; and of animals: Revelation 9:7, 17, 19, etc.; on the phrases κλίνειν τήν κεφαλήν, ἐπαίρειν τήν κεφαλήν, see κλίνω, 1 and ἐπαίρω; on the saying in Romans 12:20, see under ἄνθραξ. Since the loss of the head destroys the life, κεφαλή is used in phrases relating to capital and extreme punishments: so in τό αἷμα ὑμῶν ἐπί τήν κεφαλήν ὑμῶν (see αἷμα, 2 a., p. 15{b}), Acts 18:6, and similar phrases in classical Greek; see Passow, under the word, p. 1717{a}; Pape under the word, 3; (Liddell and Scott, under the word, I. 3 and 4). Metaphorically, anything supreme, chief, prominent; of persons, master, lord: τίνος, of a husband in relation to his wife, 1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 5:23; of Christ, the lord of the husband, 1 Corinthians 11:3 (cf. Buttmann, 124f (109)); of the church, Ephesians 4:15; Ephesians 5:23; Colossians 2:19 (cf. Buttmann, § 143, 4 c.); τοῦ σώματος τῆς ἐκκλησίας, Colossians 1:18; πάσης ἀρχῆς καί ἐξουσίας, Colossians 2:10; so Judges 11:11; 2 Samuel 22:44, and in Byzantine writings of things: κεφαλῆς γωνίας, the corner-stone, see γωνία, a. ((From Homer down.))

Topical Lexicon
Physical Head and Created Dignity

From Matthew 10:30 to Luke 21:18 the word describes the literal head as the seat of life and identity. The Creator’s intimate care is underscored: “even the hairs of your head are all numbered” (Matthew 10:30). The guarantee that “not a hair of your head will perish” (Luke 21:18) assures believers of bodily resurrection and divine sovereignty over every detail.

Gestures of Honor or Contempt

The head is kissed, anointed, or crowned in reverence (Luke 7:46; John 19:2; Revelation 4:4), yet also shaken or wounded in scorn (Matthew 27:39; Mark 15:29; Revelation 13:3). These contrasting gestures trace the gospel story: Jesus is mocked with a crown of thorns, then exalted with “many crowns” (Revelation 19:12).

Headship and Authority

Paul employs κεφαλή to set forth God-ordained order. “Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:3). The term establishes both source and governance, never diminishing worth but clarifying roles. In marriage, “the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church” (Ephesians 5:23), calling men to sacrificial leadership that images the Savior.

Christ the Head of the Church

Ecclesiology reaches its summit in Colossians. Jesus is “the head of the body, the church” (Colossians 1:18); in Him believers are “made complete” (Colossians 2:10). Growth happens only when the body “grows with a growth that is from God” as it holds fast “to the Head” (Colossians 2:19). Every ministry gift flows from this living union (Ephesians 4:15–16).

Cornerstone and Capstone

Acts 4:11 cites Psalm 118 to declare Christ the rejected stone that became “the cornerstone” (κεφαλήν γωνίας). Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10, Luke 20:17, and 1 Peter 2:7 repeat the image. The same term for head underscores his position as both origin and finishing touch of God’s redemptive house.

Prophetic and Apocalyptic Imagery

Revelation teems with symbolic heads: the dragon’s seven heads (Revelation 12:3), the beast’s mortal-healed head (Revelation 13:3), and scarlet beast with blasphemous heads (Revelation 17:3, 7). These portray composite world powers arrogating authority that belongs to Christ alone. The Lamb’s final triumph crowns the true Head “with many crowns” (Revelation 19:12).

Suffering, Martyrdom, and Resurrection Hope

John the Baptist’s head on a platter (Matthew 14:8–11; Mark 6:24–28) anticipates the world’s hatred of prophetic truth. At Calvary Jesus “bowed His head and yielded up His spirit” (John 19:30), an act not of defeat but of completed atonement, soon vindicated when “the cloth that had been around Jesus’ head” lay folded in the empty tomb (John 20:7).

Nazarite and Vow Motifs

Acts 18:18 and Acts 21:24 reference head-shaving linked to vows, hearkening back to Numbers 6. The practice distinguishes consecration and completion of a pledge, forecasting the believer’s set-apart life under the Lordship of Christ.

Anointing and Worship

Fragrant oil poured on Jesus’ head at Bethany (Matthew 26:7; Mark 14:3) models lavish honor. The repentant woman wetting His feet with tears had earlier “not anointed My head with oil” (Luke 7:46), contrasting religious lukewarmness with heartfelt devotion.

Mercy Toward Enemies

Romans 12:20 cites Proverbs 25:22: acts of kindness “heap burning coals on his head.” Far from vindictive, the idiom envisions shame leading to repentance, mirroring God’s kindness that leads sinners to salvation.

Pilgrimage and Pilgrim Savior

Foxes have dens, “but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head” (Matthew 8:20; Luke 9:58). The incarnate Head of creation embraced homelessness to secure eternal dwelling for His people.

Pastoral Assurance and Perseverance

Luke 21:28 exhorts, “Lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Believers respond in hope, heads high, eyes fixed on their returning Head, knowing that history culminates in His unveiled glory.

Forms and Transliterations
κεφαλαι κεφαλαί κεφαλαὶ κεφαλαίς κεφαλας κεφαλάς κεφαλὰς κεφαλη κεφαλή κεφαλὴ κεφαλῇ κεφαλην κεφαλήν κεφαλὴν κεφαλης κεφαλής κεφαλῆς κεφαλων κεφαλών κεφαλῶν kephalai kephalaì kephalas kephalás kephalàs kephale kephalē kephalḗ kephalḕ kephalêi kephalē̂i kephalen kephalēn kephalḗn kephalḕn kephales kephalês kephalēs kephalē̂s kephalon kephalôn kephalōn kephalō̂n
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 5:36 N-DFS
GRK: ἐν τῇ κεφαλῇ σου ὀμόσῃς
NAS: shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot
KJV: by thy head, because thou canst
INT: by the head of you shall you swear

Matthew 6:17 N-AFS
GRK: σου τὴν κεφαλὴν καὶ τὸ
NAS: anoint your head and wash
KJV: anoint thine head, and wash
INT: your head and the

Matthew 8:20 N-AFS
GRK: ποῦ τὴν κεφαλὴν κλίνῃ
NAS: nowhere to lay His head.
KJV: where to lay [his] head.
INT: [place] where the head he might lay

Matthew 10:30 N-GFS
GRK: τρίχες τῆς κεφαλῆς πᾶσαι ἠριθμημέναι
NAS: hairs of your head are all
KJV: hairs of your head are all
INT: hairs of the head all numbered

Matthew 14:8 N-AFS
GRK: πίνακι τὴν κεφαλὴν Ἰωάννου τοῦ
NAS: on a platter the head of John
KJV: John Baptist's head in a charger.
INT: a dish the head of John the

Matthew 14:11 N-NFS
GRK: ἠνέχθη ἡ κεφαλὴ αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ
NAS: And his head was brought on a platter
KJV: And his head was brought in
INT: was brought the head of him on

Matthew 21:42 N-AFS
GRK: ἐγενήθη εἰς κεφαλὴν γωνίας παρὰ
NAS: BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER
KJV: is become the head of the corner:
INT: is become the chief corner from

Matthew 26:7 N-GFS
GRK: ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ ἀνακειμένου
NAS: and she poured it on His head as He reclined
KJV: on his head, as he sat [at meat].
INT: on the head of him as he reclined [at table]

Matthew 27:29 N-GFS
GRK: ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ καὶ
NAS: they put it on His head, and a reed
KJV: [it] upon his head, and a reed
INT: on the head of him and

Matthew 27:30 N-AFS
GRK: εἰς τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ
NAS: and [began] to beat Him on the head.
KJV: him on the head.
INT: on the head of him

Matthew 27:37 N-GFS
GRK: ἐπάνω τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ τὴν
NAS: And above His head they put
KJV: over his head his accusation
INT: over the head of him the

Matthew 27:39 N-AFP
GRK: κινοῦντες τὰς κεφαλὰς αὐτῶν
NAS: at Him, wagging their heads
KJV: wagging their heads,
INT: shaking the heads of them

Mark 6:24 N-AFS
GRK: εἶπεν Τὴν κεφαλὴν Ἰωάννου τοῦ
NAS: for? And she said, The head of John
KJV: she said, The head of John
INT: she said The head of John the

Mark 6:25 N-AFS
GRK: πίνακι τὴν κεφαλὴν Ἰωάννου τοῦ
NAS: me at once the head of John
KJV: a charger the head of John
INT: a dish the head of John the

Mark 6:27 N-AFS
GRK: ἐνέγκαι τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ
NAS: [him] to bring [back] his head. And he went
KJV: his head to be brought:
INT: to be brought the head of him And

Mark 6:28 N-AFS
GRK: ἤνεγκεν τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ
NAS: and brought his head on a platter,
KJV: brought his head in a charger,
INT: brought the head it upon

Mark 12:10 N-AFS
GRK: ἐγενήθη εἰς κεφαλὴν γωνίας
NAS: THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER [stone];
KJV: is become the head of the corner:
INT: is become the chief corner

Mark 14:3 N-GFS
GRK: αὐτοῦ τῆς κεφαλῆς
NAS: the vial and poured it over His head.
KJV: [it] on his head.
INT: his the head

Mark 15:19 N-AFS
GRK: αὐτοῦ τὴν κεφαλὴν καλάμῳ καὶ
NAS: They kept beating His head with a reed,
KJV: him on the head with a reed,
INT: his head with a reed and

Mark 15:29 N-AFP
GRK: κινοῦντες τὰς κεφαλὰς αὐτῶν καὶ
NAS: at Him, wagging their heads, and saying,
KJV: wagging their heads, and saying,
INT: shaking the heads of them and

Luke 7:38 N-GFS
GRK: θριξὶν τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτῆς ἐξέμασσεν
NAS: them with the hair of her head, and kissing
KJV: of her head, and
INT: hairs of the head of her she was wiping [them]

Luke 7:46 N-AFS
GRK: ἐλαίῳ τὴν κεφαλήν μου οὐκ
NAS: You did not anoint My head with oil,
KJV: My head with oil thou didst
INT: With oil the head of me not

Luke 9:58 N-AFS
GRK: ποῦ τὴν κεφαλὴν κλίνῃ
NAS: nowhere to lay His head.
KJV: where to lay [his] head.
INT: where the head he might lay

Luke 12:7 N-GFS
GRK: τρίχες τῆς κεφαλῆς ὑμῶν πᾶσαι
NAS: hairs of your head are all
KJV: hairs of your head are all
INT: hairs of the head of you all

Luke 20:17 N-AFS
GRK: ἐγενήθη εἰς κεφαλὴν γωνίας
NAS: THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER [stone]'?
KJV: is become the head of
INT: is become into [the] head of [the] corner

Strong's Greek 2776
75 Occurrences


κεφαλαὶ — 3 Occ.
κεφαλὰς — 13 Occ.
κεφαλῇ — 15 Occ.
κεφαλὴν — 28 Occ.
κεφαλῆς — 15 Occ.
κεφαλῶν — 1 Occ.

2775
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