Strong's Lexicon kephalis: roll, scroll Original Word: κεφαλίς Word Origin: Diminutive form of κεφαλή (kephalē), meaning "head." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Hebrew equivalent often associated with the concept of a scroll or book is מְגִלָּה (megillah), Strong's Hebrew 4039, which also refers to a roll or scroll. Usage: The term "kephalis" refers to a small head or knob, but in the context of ancient manuscripts, it denotes the end of a scroll or the roll itself. It is used metaphorically to describe the entirety of a written document, particularly in reference to sacred texts. Cultural and Historical Background: In the ancient world, scrolls were the primary medium for writing long texts, including legal documents, literature, and sacred scriptures. A scroll was typically made of papyrus or parchment and rolled around a stick. The "kephalis" would be the knob or end of the scroll, which could be used to unroll or roll the document. This term highlights the physical form of ancient texts, emphasizing the tangible nature of written revelation in a time before bound books. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origindim. of kephalé Definition a little head, a roll NASB Translation scroll (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2777: κεφαλίςκεφαλίς, κεφαλίδος, ἡ (diminutive of κεφαλή, formed after the analogy of ἁμαξίς, πινακίς, etc.; cf. Alexander Buttmann (1873) Ausf. Spr. ii., p. 443; Kühner, § 380 Anm. 5, i., p. 708); 1. a little head (Latincapitellum, capitulum). 2. the highest part, extremity or end of anything; as the capital of a column, 1 Kings 7:9, 31 etc.; Geoponica 14, 6, 6; hence, the tips or knobs (theumbilici of the Romans (or rather the cornua; see Gardthausen, Griech. Palaeogr., p. 52f; Rich, Dictionary, under the word umbilicus)) of the wooden rod around which parchments were rolled seem to have been called κεφαλίδες, because they resembled little heads; so that 3. the Alexandrian writers transferred the name κεφαλίς to the roll or volume itself: ἐν κεφαλίδι βίβλου, Hebrews 10:7 (from the Sept. of Psalm 39:8 STRONGS NT 2777b: κημόωκημόω, κημῷ: future κημώσω; (κημός a muzzle); to stop the mouth by a muzzle, to muzzle: βοῦν, 1 Corinthians 9:9 T Tr WH marginal reading (Xenophon, r. eq. 5, 3); see φιμόω. From kephale; properly, a knob, i.e. (by implication) a roll (by extension from the end of a stick on which the manuscript was rolled) -- volume. see GREEK kephale |
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