"the head, Mt. 5:36; 6:17; the head, top; κεφαλὴ γωνίας, the head of the corner, the chief corner-stone, Mt. 21:42; Lk. 20:17; met. the head, superior, chief, principal, one to whom others are subordinate, 1 Cor. 11:3; Eph. 1:22"
Definition and meaning
the head, Mt. 5:36; 6:17; the head, top; κεφαλὴ γωνίας, the head of the corner, the chief corner-stone, Mt. 21:42; Lk. 20:17; met. the head, superior, chief, principal, one to whom others are subordinate, 1 Cor. 11:3; Eph. 1:22
In the original Greek the word is written: κεφαλή
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of kephale (G2776) across the King James Bible.
Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger.
And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.
Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.
And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
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Common questions
Strong's G2776 (kephale) is a Greek word that means: the head, Mt. 5:36; 6:17; the head, top; κεφαλὴ γωνίας, the head of the corner, the chief corner-stone, Mt. 21:42; Lk. 20:17; met. the head, superior, chief, principal, one to whom others are subordin... It appears 68 times in the King James Bible.
The word kephale (G2776) appears 68 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2776 is kephale, a Greek word defined as: the head, Mt. 5:36; 6:17; the head, top; κεφαλὴ γωνίας, the head of the corner, the chief corner-stone, Mt. 21:42; Lk. 20:17; met. the head, superior,. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
kephale is a Greek word found in the New Testament.