UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

Sense 1: head

Semantic entry: 8.10

Semantic domains: Body, Body Parts, and Body Products

Subdomains: Parts of the Body

Definition: uppermost part of the human body, or the front or upper part of the body of an animal, typically separated from the rest of the body by a neck, and containing the brain, mouth, and sense organs; associated with the entire person, that person’s life and responsibilities

Notes: In some languages it may be necessary to distinguish clearly between the head which is still a part of a body and a severed head. It is this latter meaning which is obviously involved in RV MRK 6:25 · LV MRK 6:25 · Read together MRK 6:25.|In rendering RV CO1 11:4 · LV CO1 11:4 · Read together CO1 11:4, πᾶς ἀνὴρ προσευχόμενος ἢ προφητεύων κατὰ κεφαλῆς ἔχων ‘any man who prays or prophesies with his head covered,’ it may be important to indicate that the covering is not one which is designed to cover the entire head including the face, but only the top of the head. The same applies, of course, to RV CO1 11:5 · LV CO1 11:5 · Read together CO1 11:5 and RV CO1 11:7 · LV CO1 11:7 · Read together CO1 11:7.

Sense 2: one who is the head of, one who is superior to, one who is supreme over

Semantic entry: 87.51

Semantic domains: Status

Subdomains: High Status or Rank [including persons of high status]

Definition: (a figurative extension of meaning of κεφαλή[a] ‘head,’ 8.10: κεφαλή) one who is of supreme or pre-eminent status, in view of authority to order or command

Sense 3: cornerstone, important stone

Semantic entry: 7.44

Semantic domains: Constructions

Subdomains: Parts and Areas of Buildings

Definition: (a set phrase, literally: head of the corner) the cornerstone or capstone of a building, essential to its construction (κεφαλὴ γωνίας occurs in the NT only figuratively in reference to Christ)

Notes: Though some scholars have thought that κεφαλὴ γωνίας refers to a keystone of an arch or the lintel stone over a door, it is highly probable that κεφαλὴ γωνίας has essentially the same meaning as ἀκρογωνιαῖος.

Collocations: κεφαλὴ γωνίας

Further resources: Realia:3.1.1.1

Sense 4: to lie down to rest, to lie down to sleep

Semantic entry: 23.83

Semantic domains: Physiological Processes and States

Subdomains: Tire, Rest

Definition: (an idiom, literally: to lay down the head) to experience the rest which comes from sleep

Notes: ὁ δὲ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου οὐκ ἔχει ποῦ τὴν κεφαλὴν κλίνω ‘the Son of Man has no place to lie down to rest’ RV MAT 8:20 · LV MAT 8:20 · Read together MAT 8:20, implies that Jesus possessed no permanent home. In RV JHN 19:30 · LV JHN 19:30 · Read together JHN 19:30 this same expression must be understood not as an idiom but as a case of literally bowing the head (see 16.16: κλίνω).

Collocations: τὴν κεφαλὴν κλίνω

Sense 5: to have one’s head covered, to cover one’s head

Semantic entry: 49.16

Semantic domains: Activities Involving Clothing and Adorning

Definition: (an idiom, literally: to have down on the head) to wear a covering over one’s head

Collocations: κατὰ κεφαλῆς ἔχω