Greek noun (feminine) · G2776
κεφαλή
kephalekef-al-ay'
head
75 uses in the Greek text, one for each word STEP Bible has tagged with this key
Concordance spelling: kephalḗ
Word page · Part of the concordance, one page for every word of the Hebrew and Greek text. Strong's G2776is this word's number in James Strong's 1890 index of the King James Bible.
- 11 of 27New Testament books
- 10spellings
The definition in full
Strong's key (1890) · G2776
the head (as the part most readily taken hold of), literally or figuratively
The King James renders it: head.
James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890), public domain. Strong indexed the King James text, and this site quotes his entry as that index.
Summary
kephale is rendered "head". It stands 75 times in the Greek text, across eleven books.
- Nineteen of the uses stand in Revelation, more than in any other book.
- Its first use in canonical order opens the ledger below.Matthew 5:36Nor should you swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black.
- The Greek text spells it ten different ways.
The first use
Nor should you swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black.
Matthew 5:36κεφαλῇ
The first use, in the order of the New Testament's books.
Where the word stands
Nineteen of the word's seventy-five uses are in Revelation.
What the word means
Each meaning, and the words it is translated by
How the Greek text is glossed, word by word
- head55
- heads17
- chief2
- the head1
The words built on the same word-part
Each word below begins with the same letters this one begins with. A shared word-part shows a family. It does not settle what any one of them means, so each word carries its own uses on its own page. Scholars call that shared part the stem.
The words it stands beside
All 75, in canonical order
Every use, in order
Every use, grouped by book, with its verse.
10 spellings and their grammar
STEP Bible tags every word of the Hebrew and Greek text with its spelling and its grammar. Both lists below count the rows printed underneath, written out in English, with the code beside each one as it was tagged.
How it is spelled
- κεφαλὴν24
- κεφαλῆς15
- κεφαλὰς13
- κεφαλὴ10
- κεφαλῇ4
- κεφαλαὶ3
- κεφαλήν3
- κεφαλή1
- κεφαλήν.¶1
- κεφαλῶν1
The grammar of each form
- noun · accusative (object) · feminine singular28N-ASF
- noun · genitive (“of”) · feminine singular15N-GSF
- noun · accusative (object) · feminine plural13N-APF
- noun · nominative (subject) · feminine singular11N-NSF
- noun · dative (“to / for”) · feminine singular4N-DSF
- noun · nominative (subject) · feminine plural3N-NPF
- noun · genitive (“of”) · feminine plural1N-GPF
Matthew
twelve uses
Nor should you swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black.
- κεφαλῇkephaleanoun · dative (“to / for”) · feminine singulartagged: head
But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
- κεφαλὴνkephalennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: head
Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”
- κεφαλὴνkephalennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: head
And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
- κεφαλῆςkephalesnoun · genitive (“of”) · feminine singulartagged: head
Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”
- κεφαλὴνkephalennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: head
John’s head was brought in on a platter and presented to the girl, who carried it to her mother.
- κεφαλὴkephalenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: head
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?
- κεφαλὴνkephalennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: chief
a woman came to Him with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, which she poured on His head as He reclined at the table.
- κεφαλῆςkephalesnoun · genitive (“of”) · feminine singulartagged: head
And they twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand and knelt down before Him to mock Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
- κεφαλῆςkephalesnoun · genitive (“of”) · feminine singulartagged: head
Then they spit on Him and took the staff and struck Him on the head repeatedly.
- κεφαλὴνkephalennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: head
Above His head they posted the written charge against Him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
- κεφαλῆςkephalesnoun · genitive (“of”) · feminine singulartagged: head
And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads
- κεφαλὰςkephalasnoun · accusative (object) · feminine pluraltagged: heads
Mark
eight uses
Then she went out and asked her mother, “What should I request?” And her mother answered, “The head of John the Baptist.”
- κεφαλὴνkephalennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: head
At once the girl hurried back to the king with her request: “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter immediately.”
- κεφαλὴνkephalennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: head
So without delay, the king commanded that John’s head be brought in. He sent an executioner, who went and beheaded him in the prison.
- κεφαλὴνkephalennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: head
The man brought John’s head on a platter and presented it to the girl, who gave it to her mother.
- κεφαλὴνkephalennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: head
Have you never read this Scripture: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
- κεφαλὴνkephalennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: chief
While Jesus was in Bethany reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke open the jar and poured it on Jesus’ head.
- κεφαλῆςkephalesnoun · genitive (“of”) · feminine singulartagged: head
They kept striking His head with a staff and spitting on Him. And they knelt down and bowed before Him.
- κεφαλὴνkephalennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: head
And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,
- κεφαλὰςkephalasnoun · accusative (object) · feminine pluraltagged: heads
Luke
seven uses
As she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears and wipe them with her hair. Then she kissed His feet and anointed them with the perfume.
- κεφαλῆςkephalesnoun · genitive (“of”) · feminine singulartagged: head
You did not anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with perfume.
- κεφαλήνkephalennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: head
Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”
- κεφαλὴνkephalennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: head
And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
- κεφαλῆςkephalesnoun · genitive (“of”) · feminine singulartagged: head
But Jesus looked directly at them and said, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’?
- κεφαλὴνkephalennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: head
Yet not even a hair of your head will perish.
- κεφαλῆςkephalesnoun · genitive (“of”) · feminine singulartagged: head
When these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
- κεφαλὰςkephalasnoun · accusative (object) · feminine pluraltagged: heads
John
five uses
“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well!”
- κεφαλήν.¶kephalennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: head
The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns, set it on His head, and dressed Him in a purple robe.
- κεφαλῇkephaleanoun · dative (“to / for”) · feminine singulartagged: head
When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished.” And bowing His head, He yielded up His spirit.
- κεφαλὴνkephalennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: head
The cloth that had been around Jesus’ head was rolled up, lying separate from the linen cloths.
- κεφαλῆςkephalesnoun · genitive (“of”) · feminine singulartagged: head
and she saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and the other at the feet.
- κεφαλῇkephaleanoun · dative (“to / for”) · feminine singulartagged: head
Acts
five uses
This Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’
- κεφαλὴνkephalennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: head
But when they opposed and insulted him, he shook out his garments and told them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
- κεφαλὴνkephalennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: head
Paul remained in Corinth for quite some time before saying goodbye to the brothers. He had his head shaved in Cenchrea to keep a vow he had made, and then he sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila.
- κεφαλήνkephalennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: head
Take these men, purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that there is no truth to these rumors about you, but that you also live in obedience to the law.
- κεφαλήνkephalennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: head
So for your own preservation, I urge you to eat something, because not a single hair of your head will be lost.”
- κεφαλῆςkephalesnoun · genitive (“of”) · feminine singulartagged: head
Romans
one use
On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
- κεφαλὴνkephalennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: head
1 Corinthians
ten uses
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.
- κεφαλὴkephalenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: head
- κεφαλὴkephalenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: head
- κεφαλὴkephalenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: head
Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head.
- κεφαλῆςkephalesnoun · genitive (“of”) · feminine singulartagged: head
- κεφαλὴνkephalennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: head
And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for it is just as if her head were shaved.
- κεφαλῇkephaleanoun · dative (“to / for”) · feminine singulartagged: head
- κεφαλὴνkephalennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: head
A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man.
- κεφαλὴνkephalennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: head
For this reason a woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels.
- κεφαλῆςkephalesnoun · genitive (“of”) · feminine singulartagged: head
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you.” Nor can the head say to the feet, “I do not need you.”
- κεφαλὴkephalenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: head
Ephesians
four uses
And God put everything under His feet and made Him head over everything for the church,
- κεφαλὴνkephalennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: head
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head.
- κεφαλήkephalenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: head
For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior.
- κεφαλὴkephalenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: head
- κεφαλὴkephalenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: head
Colossians
three uses
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.
- κεφαλὴkephalenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: head
And you have been made complete in Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
- κεφαλὴkephalenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: head
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.
- κεφαλὴνkephalennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: head
1 Peter
one use
To you who believe, then, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”
- κεφαλὴνkephalennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: head
Revelation
nineteen uses
The hair of His head was white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like a blazing fire.
- κεφαλὴkephalenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: the head
Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and on these thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white, with golden crowns on their heads.
- κεφαλὰςkephalasnoun · accusative (object) · feminine pluraltagged: heads
And the locusts looked like horses prepared for battle, with something like crowns of gold on their heads, and faces like the faces of men.
- κεφαλὰςkephalasnoun · accusative (object) · feminine pluraltagged: heads
Now the horses and riders in my vision looked like this: The riders had breastplates the colors of fire, sapphire, and sulfur. The heads of the horses were like the heads of lions, and out of their mouths proceeded fire, smoke, and sulfur.
- κεφαλαὶkephalainoun · nominative (subject) · feminine pluraltagged: heads
- κεφαλαὶkephalainoun · nominative (subject) · feminine pluraltagged: heads
For the power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; indeed, their tails were like snakes, having heads with which to inflict harm.
- κεφαλὰςkephalasnoun · accusative (object) · feminine pluraltagged: heads
Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head. His face was like the sun, and his legs were like pillars of fire.
- κεφαλῆςkephalesnoun · genitive (“of”) · feminine singulartagged: head
And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed in the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head.
- κεφαλῆςkephalesnoun · genitive (“of”) · feminine singulartagged: head
Then another sign appeared in heaven: a huge red dragon with seven heads, ten horns, and seven royal crowns on his heads.
- κεφαλὰςkephalasnoun · accusative (object) · feminine pluraltagged: heads
- κεφαλὰςkephalasnoun · accusative (object) · feminine pluraltagged: heads
Then I saw a beast with ten horns and seven heads rising out of the sea. There were ten royal crowns on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.
- κεφαλὰςkephalasnoun · accusative (object) · feminine pluraltagged: heads
- κεφαλὰςkephalasnoun · accusative (object) · feminine pluraltagged: heads
One of the heads of the beast appeared to be mortally wounded. But the mortal wound was healed, and the whole world marveled and followed the beast.
- κεφαλῶνkephalonnoun · genitive (“of”) · feminine pluraltagged: heads
And I looked and saw a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was One like the Son of Man, with a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand.
- κεφαλῆςkephalesnoun · genitive (“of”) · feminine singulartagged: head
And the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, where I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.
- κεφαλὰςkephalasnoun · accusative (object) · feminine pluraltagged: heads
“Why are you so amazed?” said the angel. “I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and ten horns.
- κεφαλὰςkephalasnoun · accusative (object) · feminine pluraltagged: heads
This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.
- κεφαλαὶkephalainoun · nominative (subject) · feminine pluraltagged: heads
Then they will throw dust on their heads as they weep and mourn and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, where all who had ships on the sea were enriched by her wealth! For in a single hour she has been destroyed.”
- κεφαλὰςkephalasnoun · accusative (object) · feminine pluraltagged: heads
He has eyes like blazing fire, and many royal crowns on His head. He has a name written on Him that only He Himself knows.
- κεφαλὴνkephalennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: head
Where it leads
How the numbers are counted
Every count on this page comes from STEP Bible's tagged Hebrew and Greek text, the same text the ledger prints. A use is counted once each time the tagging marks a word with this key.
Spellings are counted as the Greek text spells them, with the sentence's own punctuation taken off the word first, so a form that ends a clause is not counted as a second spelling.
The words it stands beside are the nouns, verbs and adjectives immediately before or after it, counted in every verse where the word stands. The article, the conjunctions and the prepositions are left out, because they stand beside every word.
The family is read from the lexicon by the stem the two words share, with the accents off, and a person or a place named on the stem is left out.
