The head (as the part most readily taken hold of), literally or figuratively
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κεφαλή is the ordinary Greek word for head, but its figurative uses require careful contextual judgment. It can refer to the physical head, to a representative or governing relation, and in Paul it is especially important for Christ's relation to the church.
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Full entry for κεφαλή (G2776) · Open the biblical lexicon
κεφαλή is the ordinary Greek word for head, but its figurative uses require careful contextual judgment. It can refer to the physical head, to a representative or governing relation, and in Paul it is especially important for Christ's relation to the church.
The BSB source-word alignment has 75 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include head (43), heads (18), [the] head (3), vvv (3), [the] cornerstone (2).
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 5:36. Its strongest book concentrations include Revelation (19), Matthew (12), 1 Corinthians (10), Mark (8).
This entry includes 1 verse guide that explain exact original-language forms in context.
κεφαλή is the ordinary Greek word for head, but its figurative uses require careful contextual judgment. It can refer to the physical head, to a representative or governing relation, and in Paul it is especially important for Christ's relation to the church. In Colossians, the word is not a loose metaphor for influence. Christ is the head of the body, the church, and the One from whom the whole body grows as it holds fast to Him. The word serves Paul's call to remain joined to Christ rather than being disqualified by visions, false humility, angelic preoccupation, or self-made religion.
Pastorally, κεφαλή should be taught with both confidence and restraint. In Colossians, headship first means Christ's living, governing, nourishing relationship to His body. The church is not self-sustaining. It grows from Christ. The word should not be used as a blunt instrument for every leadership question, nor should it be drained of authority and organic dependence. Christ's headship means His people receive life, order, protection, and growth from Him. To lose hold of the Head is not a minor devotional weakness. It is to disconnect from the One by whom the body lives.
κεφαλή can be literal or figurative. In Colossians and Ephesians it names Christ's relation to the church as head of the body, emphasizing authority, organic union, nourishment, and growth from Him.
Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”
The literal use keeps the word grounded: κεφαλή first names the physical head. Figurative theology must not erase the ordinary sense from which the metaphor works.
But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
Paul uses κεφαλή in a relational ordering context. This passage requires careful handling because it addresses a different local issue than Colossians.
And God put everything under His feet and made Him head over everything for the church,
Christ is given as head over all things for the church. The word here carries cosmic authority and church-centered benefit together.
And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence.
In the hymn, Christ is head of the body, the church. His headship belongs to His supremacy as Creator, reconciler, and firstborn from the dead.
He has lost connection to the head, from whom the whole body, supported and knit together by its joints and ligaments, grows as God causes it to grow.
The danger is losing connection to the Head. Paul describes growth as something the whole body receives from Christ as it is held together.
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItA compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
Verse-level guides showing how this original-language form works in its specific context, including grammar, verse function, and guarded interpretation.
Greek word. Metaphorically denotes authority and preeminence, especially Christ's headship over the church.
Metaphorically denotes authority and preeminence, especially Christ's headship over the church.
the head: Mat.5:35, Mrk.6:24, Rev.1:14 9:7, al. mult.; figuratively, ἄνθρακες ἐπὶ τὴν κ., Rom.12:20 (LXX); αἷμι, Act.18:6; metaphorically, of a husband, with genitive, 1Co.1:13, Eph.5:23; of Christ, 1Co.11:3, Eph.4:15 5:23, Col.1:18 2:10, 19; of things, κ. γωνίας, Mat.21:42 (LXX)
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
16 of 76 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
the head
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Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
This word appears as a noun across 7 case and number patterns. The form changes show how the word functions in a sentence; they do not change the basic lexical meaning by themselves.
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Showing 1 selected witness from 75 lexical occurrence verses.
Jesus’ exaltation as cornerstone affirms His central, indispensable role in salvation. Acts 4:1-12
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
This word gives a preacher a way to confront both autonomy and anxiety in the church. Autonomy says the body can grow by its own programs, severity, insight, or discipline apart from Christ. Anxiety says the body will fall apart unless we control it. Colossians answers both by pointing to the Head. Christ is not a symbolic figurehead. He is the One from whom the whole body grows with a growth from God.
Preach κεφαλή by showing that Christ's authority is not cold domination and His nourishment is not vague sentiment. He rules as the living Head who supplies, orders, protects, and matures His people. The pastoral test is simple: are we holding fast to Christ, or are we trusting a substitute to make the body whole?
Col.2.19
κεφαλή can be literal or figurative. The figurative sense in Colossians is shaped by the body metaphor: Christ is the Head from whom the body is supplied and held together.
Scripture repeatedly presents God's people as dependent on the Lord for life, order, and protection. Paul gives that dependence a Christ-centered body image: the church lives by holding fast to Christ its Head.
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