Bible Encyclopedia: Head

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

COVERING, FOR THE HEAD

kuv'-er-ing, (peribolaion): Mentioned in the New Testament only in 1 Corinthians 11:15: "For her hair is given her for a covering," literally, "something cast round," probably equivalent to "veil" (which see). Read in the light of the context: "Every woman praying or prophesying with her head unveiled dishonoreth her head" (verse 5). The meaning would seem to be that Nature itself, in providing women with a natural veil, has taught the lesson underlying the prevailing custom, that woman should not be unveiled in the public assemblies.

George B. Eager

HEAD

hed (ro'-sh, Aramaic re'sh, and in special sense gulgoleth, literally, "skull," "cut-off head" (1 Chronicles 10:10), whence Golgotha (Matthew 27:33 Mark 15:22 John 19:17); mera'ashah, literally, "head-rest," "pillow," "bolster" (1 Kings 19:6); qodhqodh, literally, crown of the head (Deuteronomy 28:35; Deuteronomy 33:16, 20 2 Samuel 14:25 Isaiah 3:17 Jeremiah 48:45); barzel, "the head of an axe" (Deuteronomy 19:5, the Revised Version margin "iron"; 2 Kings 6:5); lehabhah, lahebheth, "the head of a spear" (1 Samuel 17:7); kephale): The first-mentioned Hebrew word and its Aramaic form are found frequently in their literal as well as metaphorical sense. We may distinguish the following meanings:

1. Used of Men:

By a slight extension of meaning, "head" occasionally stands for the person itself. This is the case in all passages where evil is said to return or to be requited upon the head of a person (see below).

2. Used of Animals:

The word is also used in connection with the serpent's head (Genesis 3:15), the head of the sacrificial ram, bullock and goat (Exodus 29:10, 15, 19 Leviticus 4:4, 24), the head of leviathan (Job 41:7, Hebrew 40:31).

3. The Head-Piece:

It is used also as representing the top or summit of a thing, as the capital of column or pillar (Exodus 36:38; Exodus 38:28 2 Chronicles 3:15); of mountains (Exodus 19:20 Numbers 21:20 Judges 9:7 Amos 1:2; Amos 9:3); of a scepter (Esther 5:2); of a ladder (Genesis 28:12); of a tower (Genesis 11:4).

4. Beginning, Source, Origin:

As a fourth meaning the word occurs (Proverbs 8:23 Ecclesiastes 3:11 Isaiah 41:4) in the sense of beginning of months (Exodus 12:2), of rivers (Genesis 2:10), of streets or roads (Isaiah 51:20 Ezekiel 16:25; Ezekiel 21:21).

As a leader, prince, chief, chieftain, captain (or as an adjective, with the meaning of foremost, uppermost), originally: "he that stands at the head"; compare "God is with us at our head" (2 Chronicles 13:12); "Knowest thou that Yahweh will take away thy master from thy head?" (2 Kings 2:3); "head-stone" the Revised Version (British and American) "top stone," i.e. the upper-most stone (Zechariah 4:7).

5. Leader, Prince:

Israel is called the head of nations (Deuteronomy 28:13); "The head (capital) of Syria is Damascus, and the head (prince) of Damascus is Rezin" (Isaiah 7:8); "heads of their fathers' houses," i.e. elders of the clans (Exodus 6:14); compare "heads of tribes" (Deuteronomy 1:15), also "captain," literally, head (Numbers 14:4 Deuteronomy 1:15 1 Chronicles 11:42 Nehemiah 9:17). The phrase "head and tail" (Isaiah 9:14; Isaiah 19:15) is explained by the rabbis as meaning the nobles and the commons among the people; compare "palm-branch and rush" (Isaiah 9:14), "hair of the feet. and beard" (Isaiah 7:20), but compare also Isaiah 9:15. In the New Testament we find the remarkable statement of Christ being "the head of the church" (Ephesians 1:22; Ephesians 5:23), "head of every man" (1 Corinthians 11:3), "head of all principality and power" (Colossians 2:10), "head of the body, the church" (Colossians 1:18; compare Ephesians 4:15). The context of 1 Corinthians 11:3 is very instructive to a true understanding of this expression: "I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God" (compare Ephesians 5:23). Here, clearly, reference is had to the lordship of Christ over His church, not to the oneness of Christ and His church, while in Ephesians 4:16 the dependence of the church upon Christ is spoken of. These passages should not therefore be pressed to include the idea of Christ being the intellectual center, the brain of His people, from whence the members are passively governed, for to the Jewish mind the heart was the seat of the intellect, not the head.

See HEART.

6. Various Uses:

As the head is the most essential part of physical man, calamity and blessing are said to come upon the head of a person (Genesis 49:26 Deuteronomy 33:16 Judges 9:57 1 Samuel 25:39 2 Chronicles 6:23 Ezekiel 9:10; Ezekiel 11:21; Ezekiel 16:43; Ezekiel 22:31). For this reason hands are placed upon the head of a person on which blessings are being invoked (Genesis 48:14, 17, 18 Matthew 19:15) and upon the sacrificial animal upon which sins are laid (Exodus 29:15 Leviticus 1:4; Leviticus 4:29, 33). Responsibility for a deed is also said to rest on the head of the doer (2 Samuel 1:16; 2 Samuel 3:29 1 Kings 8:32 Psalm 7:16 Acts 18:6). The Bible teaches us to return good for evil (Matthew 5:44), or in the very idiomatic Hebrew style, to "heap coals of fire upon (the) head" of the adversary (Proverbs 25:22 Romans 12:20). This phrase is dark as to its origin, but quite clear as to its meaning and application (compare Romans 12:17, 19, 21). The Jew was inclined to swear by his head (Matthew 5:36), as the modern Oriental swears by his beard. The head is said to be under a vow (Numbers 6:18, 19 Acts 18:18; Acts 21:23), because the Nazirite vow could readily be recognized by the head.

There are numerous idiomatic expressions connected with the head, of which we enumerate the following: "the hoary head" designates old age (see HAIR); "to round the corners of the head," etc. (Leviticus 19:27; compare also Deuteronomy 14:1 Amos 8:10), probably refers to the shaving of the side locks or the whole scalp among heathen nations, which was often done in idolatrous shrines or in token of initiation into the service of an idol. It was therefore forbidden to Israel, and its rigid observance gave rise to the peculiar Jewish custom of wearing long side locks (see HAIR). "Anointing the head" (Psalm 23:5; Psalm 92:10 Hebrews 1:9) was a sign of joy and hospitality, while the "covering of the head" (2 Samuel 15:30 Esther 6:12 Jeremiah 14:3), "putting the hand upon the head" (2 Samuel 13:19) and putting earth, dust or ashes upon it (Joshua 7:6 1 Samuel 4:12 2 Samuel 12; 2 Samuel 13:19 Lamentations 2:10; compare Amos 2:7) were expressive of sadness, grief, deep shame and mourning. In Esther 7:8 Haman's face is covered as a condemned criminal, or as one who has been utterly put to shame, and who has nothing more to say for his life.

In this connection the Pauline injunction as to the veiling of women in the public gatherings of the Christians (1 Corinthians 11:5), while men were instructed to appear bareheaded, must be mentioned. This is diametrically opposed to the Jewish custom, according to which men wore the head covered by the Tallith or prayer shawl, while women were considered sufficiently covered by their long hair (1 Corinthians 11:15). The apostle here simply commends a Greek custom for the congregation residing among Greek populations; in other words, he recommends obedience to local standards of decency and good order.

"To bruise the head" (Genesis 3:15) means to injure gravely; "to smite through the head" (Psalm 68:21) is synonymous with complete destruction. "To shake or wag the head" (Psalm 22:7; Psalm 44:14; Psalm 64:8 Jeremiah 18:16; Jeremiah 48:27 Lamentations 2:15 Matthew 27:39 Mark 15:29) conveys the meaning of open derision and contempt. "To bow down the head" (Isaiah 58:5) indicates humility, sadness and mourning, but it may also be a mere pretense for piety. (Sirach 19:26).

H. L. E. Luering

Greek

2776. kephale -- the head
... the head. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: kephale Phonetic Spelling:
(kef-al-ay') Short Definition: the head Definition: (a) the head, (b) met ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2776.htm - 6k

2775. kephalaioo -- to strike on the head
... to strike on the head. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: kephalaioo Phonetic
Spelling: (kef-al-ahee-o'-o) Short Definition: I wound in the head Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2775.htm - 6k

4719. stachus -- a head of grain
... a head of grain. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: stachus Phonetic
Spelling: (stakh'-oos) Short Definition: a head of grain Definition: a head ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4719.htm - 6k

2777. kephalis -- a little head, a roll
... a little head, a roll. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: kephalis
Phonetic Spelling: (kef-al-is') Short Definition: a roll, volume Definition: (lit ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2777.htm - 6k

2870. kopetos -- a beating of the head and breast
... a beating of the head and breast. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration:
kopetos Phonetic Spelling: (kop-et-os') Short Definition: lamentation ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2870.htm - 6k

2656. kataneuo -- to make a sign (by nodding the head)
... to make a sign (by nodding the head). Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: kataneuo
Phonetic Spelling: (kat-an-yoo'-o) Short Definition: I nod, make a sign ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2656.htm - 6k

2774. kephalaion -- of the head, the main point
... of the head, the main point. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: kephalaion
Phonetic Spelling: (kef-al'-ah-yon) Short Definition: the chief matter, a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2774.htm - 6k

4676. soudarion -- a handkerchief, a head cloth (for the dead)
... a handkerchief, a head cloth (for the dead). Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: soudarion Phonetic Spelling: (soo-dar'-ee-on) Short Definition: ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4676.htm - 6k

1593. ekneuo -- to bend the head away, to withdraw
... to bend the head away, to withdraw. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ekneuo
Phonetic Spelling: (ek-nyoo'-o) Short Definition: I retire, withdraw Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1593.htm - 6k

3617. oikodespotes -- the master of a house
... the master of a house. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: oikodespotes
Phonetic Spelling: (oy-kod-es-pot'-ace) Short Definition: a head of a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3617.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

6936. qodqod -- head, crown of the head
... 6935, 6936. qodqod. 6937 . head, crown of the head. Transliteration: qodqod
Phonetic Spelling: (kod-kode') Short Definition: head. ...
/hebrew/6936.htm - 6k

4763. meraashoth -- a place at the head, head place
... 4762, 4763. meraashoth. 4764 . a place at the head, head place. Transliteration:
meraashoth Phonetic Spelling: (mer-ah-ash-aw') Short Definition: head. ...
/hebrew/4763.htm - 6k

7146. qarachath -- baldness of head
... 7145, 7146. qarachath. 7147 . baldness of head. Transliteration: qarachath
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-rakh'-ath) Short Definition: head. ...
/hebrew/7146.htm - 6k

1538. gulgoleth -- a skull, head, poll (of persons)
... 1537, 1538. gulgoleth. 1539 . a skull, head, poll (of persons). Transliteration:
gulgoleth Phonetic Spelling: (gul-go'-leth) Short Definition: head. ...
/hebrew/1538.htm - 6k

7217. resh -- head
... 7216, 7217. resh. 7218 . head. Transliteration: resh Phonetic Spelling: (raysh)
Short Definition: head. Word Origin (Aramaic) corresponding ...
/hebrew/7217.htm - 6k

7218. rosh -- head
... 7217, 7218. rosh. 7219 . head. Transliteration: rosh Phonetic Spelling:
(roshe) Short Definition: head. Word Origin a prim. root ...
/hebrew/7218.htm - 6k

7872. sebah -- hoary head, old age
... 7871, 7872. sebah. 7873 . hoary head, old age. Transliteration: sebah
Phonetic Spelling: (say-baw') Short Definition: hair. Word ...
/hebrew/7872.htm - 6k

7541. raqqah -- the temple (part of the head)
... 7540, 7541. raqqah. 7542 . the temple (part of the head). Transliteration:
raqqah Phonetic Spelling: (rak-kaw') Short Definition: temple. ...
/hebrew/7541.htm - 6k

8014. Salmay -- head of a postexilic family
... 8013, 8014. Salmay. 8015 . head of a postexilic family. Transliteration: Salmay
Phonetic Spelling: (sal-mah'-ee) Short Definition: Shalmai. ...
/hebrew/8014.htm - 6k

6380. Pokereth Hatstsebayim -- "bindress of the gazelles," head of ...
Pokereth Hatstsebayim. 6379, 6380. Pokereth Hatstsebayim. 6381 . "bindress
of the gazelles," head of a postexilic family. Transliteration: Pokereth ...
/hebrew/6380.htm - 6k

Library

Whether Christ is the Head of the Church?
... OF THE GRACE OF CHRIST, AS HE IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH (EIGHT ARTICLES)
Whether Christ is the Head of the Church? Objection 1: It ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether christ is the head.htm

On the Head and the Marks of the Church
... DISPUTATION LIII ON THE HEAD AND THE MARKS OF THE CHURCH. Though the head
and the body be of one nature, and though, according to ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/disputation liii on the head.htm

The Words, "The Head of Every Man is Christ. ...
... Book IV. Chapter III. The words, "The head of every man is Christ.� The
words, "The head of every man is Christ...and the head ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter iii the words the.htm

Whether the Devil is the Head of all the Wicked?
... OF THE GRACE OF CHRIST, AS HE IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH (EIGHT ARTICLES)
Whether the devil is the head of all the wicked? Objection ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the devil is the.htm

Whether Christ is the Head of the Angels?
... OF THE GRACE OF CHRIST, AS HE IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether
Christ is the Head of the angels? ... For the head and members are of one nature. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether christ is the head 4.htm

Head of the Lord
... Fragments. IX. Head of the Lord. Head of the Lord"His simple Divinity; because
He is the Beginning and Creator of all things: in Daniel. [3642] ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the decretals/ix head of the lord.htm

The Heart-Road to the Head.
... II The Wooing Lover (John i. 1-18.) The Heart-road to the Head. Then John
goes on to say, "the darkness apprehended it not." The ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on johns gospel/the heart-road to the head.htm

Whether the Grace of Christ, as Head of the Church, is the Same as ...
... OF THE GRACE OF CHRIST, AS HE IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether
the grace of Christ, as Head of the Church, is the same as His habitual grace ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the grace of christ 3.htm

Whether Christ is the Head of Men as to their Bodies or Only as to ...
... OF THE GRACE OF CHRIST, AS HE IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether
Christ is the Head of men as to their bodies or only as to their souls? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether christ is the head 2.htm

Second Head of Doctrine
... Second Head of Doctrine. The Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/various/the canons of dordt/second head of doctrine .htm

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) The anterior or superior part of an animal, containing the brain, or chief ganglia of the nervous system, the mouth, and in the higher animals, the chief sensory organs; poll; cephalon.

2. (n.) The uppermost, foremost, or most important part of an inanimate object; such a part as may be considered to resemble the head of an animal; often, also, the larger, thicker, or heavier part or extremity, in distinction from the smaller or thinner part, or from the point or edge; as, the head of a cane, a nail, a spear, an ax, a mast, a sail, a ship; that which covers and closes the top or the end of a hollow vessel; as, the head of a cask or a steam boiler.

3. (n.) The place where the head should go; as, the head of a bed, of a grave, etc.; the head of a carriage, that is, the hood which covers the head.

4. (n.) The most prominent or important member of any organized body; the chief; the leader; as, the head of a college, a school, a church, a state, and the like.

5. (n.) The place or honor, or of command; the most important or foremost position; the front; as, the head of the table; the head of a column of soldiers.

6. (n.) Each one among many; an individual; -- often used in a plural sense; as, a thousand head of cattle.

7. (n.) The seat of the intellect; the brain; the understanding; the mental faculties; as, a good head, that is, a good mind; it never entered his head, it did not occur to him; of his own head, of his own thought or will.

8. (n.) The source, fountain, spring, or beginning, as of a stream or river; as, the head of the Nile; hence, the altitude of the source, or the height of the surface, as of water, above a given place, as above an orifice at which it issues, and the pressure resulting from the height or from motion; sometimes also, the quantity in reserve; as, a mill or reservoir has a good head of water, or ten feet head; also, that part of a gulf or bay most remote from the outlet or the sea.

9. (n.) A headland; a promontory; as, Gay Head.

10. (n.) A separate part, or topic, of a discourse; a theme to be expanded; a subdivision; as, the heads of a sermon.

11. (n.) Culminating point or crisis; hence, strength; force; height.

12. (n.) Power; armed force.

13. (n.) A headdress; a covering of the head; as, a laced head; a head of hair.

14. (n.) An ear of wheat, barley, or of one of the other small cereals.

15. (n.) A dense cluster of flowers, as in clover, daisies, thistles; a capitulum.

16. (n.) A dense, compact mass of leaves, as in a cabbage or a lettuce plant.

17. (n.) The antlers of a deer.

18. (n.) A rounded mass of foam which rises on a pot of beer or other effervescing liquor.

19. (n.) Tiles laid at the eaves of a house.

20. (a.) Principal; chief; leading; first; as, the head master of a school; the head man of a tribe; a head chorister; a head cook.

21. (v. t.) To be at the head of; to put one's self at the head of; to lead; to direct; to act as leader to; as, to head an army, an expedition, or a riot.

22. (v. t.) To form a head to; to fit or furnish with a head; as, to head a nail.

23. (v. t.) To behead; to decapitate.

24. (v. t.) To cut off the top of; to lop off; as, to head trees.

25. (v. t.) To go in front of; to get in the front of, so as to hinder or stop; to oppose; hence, to check or restrain; as, to head a drove of cattle; to head a person; the wind heads a ship.

26. (v. t.) To set on the head; as, to head a cask.

27. (v. i.) To originate; to spring; to have its source, as a river.

28. (v. i.) To go or point in a certain direction; to tend; as, how does the ship head?

29. (v. i.) To form a head; as, this kind of cabbage heads early.

30. (suffix.) A variant of -hood.

Thesaurus

Head (4291 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) The uppermost, foremost, or most important part of an inanimate object;
such a part as may be considered to resemble the head of an animal; often, also ...
/h/head.htm - 24k

Bald-head (1 Occurrence)
Bald-head. Baldhead, Bald-head. Baldness . Multi-Version Concordance
Bald-head (1 Occurrence). 2 Kings 2:23 And he went ...
/b/bald-head.htm - 6k

Axe-head (1 Occurrence)
Axe-head. Axe, Axe-head. Axes . Multi-Version Concordance
Axe-head (1 Occurrence). 2 Kings 6:5 But as one was felling ...
/a/axe-head.htm - 6k

Ax-head
Ax-head. Axhead, Ax-head. Axles . Int. ... AX (AXE); AX-HEAD. aks; aks'hed: Nine
different Hebrew words have been rendered "ax": (1) garzen. ...
/a/ax-head.htm - 9k

Head-dresses (11 Occurrences)
Head-dresses. Headdresses, Head-dresses. Headed . Multi-Version
Concordance Head-dresses (11 Occurrences). Exodus 28 ...
/h/head-dresses.htm - 9k

Head-band (2 Occurrences)
Head-band. Headband, Head-band. Headbands . Multi-Version Concordance
Head-band (2 Occurrences). 1 Kings 20:38 So the ...
/h/head-band.htm - 7k

Head-dress (22 Occurrences)
Head-dress. Headdress, Head-dress. Headdresses . Easton's Bible Dictionary ... It
is first mentioned in Exodus 28:40 (AV, "bonnets;" RV, "head-tires"). ...
/h/head-dress.htm - 14k

Head-bands (2 Occurrences)
Head-bands. Headbands, Head-bands. Head-covers . Easton's Bible Dictionary ...
Multi-Version Concordance Head-bands (2 Occurrences). ...
/h/head-bands.htm - 7k

Head-covers (1 Occurrence)
Head-covers. Head-bands, Head-covers. Headdress . Multi-Version
Concordance Head-covers (1 Occurrence). 2 Chronicles ...
/h/head-covers.htm - 6k

Head-priest (1 Occurrence)
Head-priest. Head-men, Head-priest. Heads . Multi-Version Concordance
Head-priest (1 Occurrence). 2 Chronicles 24:11 ...
/h/head-priest.htm - 6k

Bible Concordance

Head (4291 Occurrences)

Head is found 4291 times in 12 translations.

You can narrow your search using the Advanced Bible Search.

Subtopics

Head

Head Covering

Head Coverings

Head in Grief: Covered Up

Head in Grief: Shorn

Head in Grief: Sprinkled With Dust

Head in Grief: The Hands Placed On