Dictionary of Bible Themes: 5157 head

5157 head

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 5000 Humanity » 5125 Parts of the body and clothing » 5157 head

The position of the head often expresses an attitude or emotion. Figuratively head may mean “chief”, “first” or “top”.

The head as part of the body

Heads of people

Genesis 28:11,18; Genesis 48:14,17; Judges 5:26; Songs 2:6; Jonah 2:5

Heads of animals

Exodus 12:9; Leviticus 1:4; 2 Kings 6:25

“head of cattle” refers to the number of cattle:

Exodus 22:1; 1 Kings 4:23; 2 Chronicles 15:11; 2 C 9

Heads of idols

1 Samuel 5:4; Samuel 19:13,16

The head as the uppermost part of the body

Leviticus 13:12; 2 Samuel 14:25; Job 2:7; Isaiah 1:6; Habakkuk 3:13; John 13:9

A measure of height

1 Samuel 9:2; Samuel 10:23

A crown worn on the head

2 Samuel 1:10; Esther 2:17; Psalm 21:3; Jeremiah 13:18; Lamentations 5:16; Zechariah 6:11

A turban worn on the head

Leviticus 8:9; Ezekiel 23:15; Zechariah 3:5

Death and decapitation

Genesis 40:19; 1 Samuel 17:46,51; 2 Samuel 4:7; Samuel 16:9; Matthew 14:8-11 pp Mark 6:24-28

Head used figuratively in various expressions

“Be it on one's own head”: personal responsibility that is inescapable

Leviticus 20:9,11-13,27; Joshua 2:19; 1 Samuel 25:39; 2 Samuel 1:16; 1 Kings 2:33; Ezekiel 9:10; Ezekiel 33:4-5

“To come back on one's own head”: a wrongdoer suffering the very wrong he or she has committed

1 Kings 8:32 pp 2 Chronicles 6:23; Nehemiah 4:4; Esther 9:25; Psalm 7:16; Psalm 140:9; Joel 3:4,7; Ob 15

“To heap burning coals on his head”: generosity towards an enemy in the hope of causing a change of heart

Proverbs 25:22; Romans 12:20

“Not a hair on one's head will be lost”: absolute safety

1 Samuel 14:45; 1 Kings 1:52; Daniel 3:27; Luke 12:7; Acts 27:34

“To keep one's head”: staying calm

2 Timothy 4:5

“Making it up out of one's head”: imagining something

Nehemiah 6:8

“Blessing resting on your head”

Genesis 49:26; Deuteronomy 33:16; Proverbs 10:6; Isaiah 35:10; Isaiah 51:11

Rituals concerning the head

Cleansing after infectious skin diseases:

Leviticus 14:9,18,29

Provisions connected with the Nazirite vow:

Numbers 6:9; Judges 13:5; Judges 16:17; 1 Samuel 1:11 Deuteronomy 21:12

The anointing of the head

Exodus 29:7; Leviticus 8:12; Matthew 26:7 pp Mark 14:3

Covering or uncovering the head in Christian worship

1 Corinthians 11:4-7,10,13-15

Expressions of grief involving the head

Bowing the head

Psalm 35:14; Lamentations 2:10

Shaving the head

Deuteronomy 14:1; Isaiah 15:2; Jeremiah 47:5; Jeremiah 48:37; Ezekiel 7:18; Ezekiel 27:30-31; Ezekiel 44:20; Amos 8:10; Micah 1:16

Putting dust on the head

Joshua 7:6; 1 Samuel 4:12; 2 Samuel 1:2; Samuel 15:32; Nehemiah 9:1; Job 2:12

Covering the head

2 Samuel 15:30; Esther 6:12; Jeremiah 14:3-4

Various attitudes expressed with the head

Lifting up the head in joy and expectation

Psalm 3:3; Psalm 27:6; Psalm 110:7; Luke 21:28

Bowing the head in humility

Isaiah 58:5; Luke 18:13

Hanging the head in shame and dejection

Judges 8:28; Job 10:15

Shaking the head in scorn

2 Kings 19:21 pp Isaiah 37:22; Job 16:4; Psalm 109:25; Jeremiah 18:16; Jeremiah 48:27; Lamentations 2:15; Matthew 27:39 pp Mark 15:29; Psalm 22:7

Rearing the head in rebellion

Psalm 83:2

Head meaning “chief” or “first”

Jesus Christ as the head

1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 1:10,22; Ephesians 5:23; Colossians 1:18; Colossians 2:10,19

The head of a family, tribe or kingdom

Exodus 6:14,25; Numbers 1:4; Numbers 17:3; Judges 11:8-9; Isaiah 7:8-9; Isaiah 9:14-15

Man as the head

1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 5:23

Head meaning “top”

Head of a street

Proverbs 1:21; Isaiah 51:20; Lamentations 2:19; Lamentations 4:1; Ezekiel 16:25; Nahum 3:10

Head of a valley

Isaiah 28:1,4

Head of a table

1 Samuel 9:22

Head of a stalk of grain

Leviticus 2:14; Hosea 8:7

Head of an axe

Deuteronomy 19:5; 2 Kings 6:5

Head meaning “front”

2 Chronicles 20:21; Joel 2:11