Dictionary Article

The uppermost portion of the body, containing the brain, major sense organs, and the mouth. It appears many times in the Bible as a physical description. The Hebrew term for head is also used figuratively in the Old Testament. Frequently, it designates prominence or authority.

To raise one’s head was considered an act of pride (Ps 140:9) or honor (Gn 40:20; Pss 3:3; 27:6). Bowing the head signified humility (Is 58:5) or sadness (Lam 2:10). The Hebrew word is used metaphorically of mountain peaks (Gn 8:5), the tops of buildings (Gn 11:4) or trees (2 Sm 5:24), and river sources (Gn 2:10). The term was commonly used to designate positions of political, military, or familiar authority. In this sense the “head” exercised control over all those subjected to him (Jgs 10:18; 1 Sm 15:17; Ps 18:43; Is 7:8-9; Jer 31:7; Hos 1:11). David was called the “keeper of mine head” (KJB) when he served as the bodyguard of Achish (1 Sm 28:2; cf. Jgs 9:53; Ps 68:21).

Show passage in OET: PSA 140:9

OET-RV PSA 140:9

⇔  9 Those who surround me raise their heads.
⇔ Let the mischief from their own lips bounce back on them.

OET-LV PSA 140:10

10  The _head _of my _surroundings _of_my the _mischief _of their _lips _of mmm.

Show passage in OET: GEN 40:20

OET-RV GEN 40:20

20 Then three days later, it was Par’oh’s birthday and he held a feast for all his officials and he got the chief of the cupbearers and the chief of the bakers brought in to stand publicly in the middle of everyone.

OET-LV GEN 40:20

20 And_he/it _was in _the_day the_third the_day _of DOM Parˊoh was _born and_he/it _made a _feast to/from_all/each/any/every servants _of_his and_he _lifted _up DOM the _head _of the _chief _of the _cup _bearers and_DOM the _head _of the _chief _of the _bakers in _the_middle servants _of_his.

Show passage in OET: PSA 3:3

OET-RV PSA 3:3

⇔  3 But you, Yahweh, protect me like a shield.
⇔ You honour and encourage me.

OET-LV PSA 3:4

4  And_you(ms) Oh_YHWH are_a _shield behind_me honour _of_my and_the _one _who_lifts _up my_head.

Show passage in OET: PSA 27:6

OET-RV PSA 27:6

6 Then I’ll be helped to achieve victory over my enemies all around me,
⇔ and I will offer celebratory sacrifices in his tent.
⇔ ≈ I’ll make music and sing to Yahweh.

OET-LV PSA 27:6

6 And_now my_head it _will _rise above enemies _of_my around _of_me and_I _will _sacrifice in_tent _of_his sacrifices _of a _shout _of _joy I _will _sing and_I _will _sing _praises to/for_YHWH.

Show passage in OET: ISA 58:5

OET-RV ISA 58:5

5 Is that the kind of fasting that I would choose?
⇔ A day when a person humbles themself and bows their head down like a bulrush does.
⇔ They wear sackcloth and form a bed of ashes to sit on.
⇔ Is that really a fast that’s acceptable to Yahweh?

OET-LV ISA 58:5

5 Like_this the_fast which_I_choose _it is _it a _day _of anyone to _humble self _of_his to_bow_down like_a _bulrush his/its_head and_sackcloth and_ash[es] he _spreads _as _a _bed (to)_this do _you _call a _fast and_a _day _of acceptance to/for_YHWH.

Show passage in OET: LAM 2:10

OET-RV LAM 2:10

10 They sit on the ground.
⇔ The elders of the daughter that’s Tsiyon (Zion) are silenced.
⇔ They have thrown up dust on their heads and put on sackcloth.
⇔ Yerushalem’s (Jerusalem) young women have bowed their heads to the ground.

OET-LV LAM 2:10

10 They _sit to_ground the _elders _of the _daughter _of Tsiyyōn they _are _silent they _have _caused _to _rise dust on head _of_their they _have _girded _on sackcloth(s) they _have _brought _down to_ground head _of_their the _virgins _of Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem).

Show passage in OET: GEN 8:5

OET-RV GEN 8:5

5 The water continued to recede until December when the tops of the mountains became visible.

OET-LV GEN 8:5

5 And_the_waters they _were going and_decreasing until the_month (the)_tenth in_month on_day_one of_month the _tops _of the _mountains they _were _seen.

Show passage in OET: GEN 11:4

OET-RV GEN 11:4

4 Then they said, “Come on, let’s build a city for ourselves and a tower with its top in the sky, and let’s make a reputation for ourselves, so that we don’t get scattered all over the whole earth.”

OET-LV GEN 11:4

4 And_they _said come_NOW let _us _build to/for_ourselves a _city and_(a)_tower and_its_top in_the _heavens and_we _may _make to/for_ourselves a _name lest we _should _be _scattered over the _surface _of all _of the_earth/land.

Show passage in OET: SA2 5:24

OET-RV SA2 5:24

24 Then when you hear a sound in the tops of the trees that sounds like marching, then you’ll know that Yahweh has gone ahead to strike the Pelishtim’ camp.”

OET-LV SA2 5:24

24 And_let _it _be in/on/at/with DOM the_sound _of marching in_the _tops _of the _balsam _trees then you _will _act _decisively if/because then YHWH he _has _gone _out to_your_face to_attack (in)_the_camp _of the_Pəlishtiy.

Show passage in OET: GEN 2:10

OET-RV GEN 2:10

10 A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and then from there it split into four rivers.

OET-LV GEN 2:10

10 And_river was_going _out from_ˊĒden to_water DOM the_garden and_from_there it _divided and_it _was to_four heads.

Show passage in OET: JDG 10:18

OET-RV JDG 10:18

18 Then the princes of Gilead said to each other, “Who will lead us to fight against the Amonim? He can become the leader over all of us who live in Gilead.”

OET-LV JDG 10:18

18 And_ the_people the _leaders _of Gilˊād _they _said each to his/its_neighbour who the_man who he _will _begin to_fight against_the _people _of ˊAmmōn he _will _become (into)_chief to_all/each/any/every the _inhabitants _of Gilˊād.

Show passage in OET: SA1 15:17

OET-RV SA1 15:17

17 So Shmuel told him, “Although you consider yourself insignificant, aren’t you the head of the tribes of Yisrael (Israel)? Yahweh anointed you as king over Yisrael,

OET-LV SA1 15:17

17 And_ Shəmū^ʼēl/(Samuel) _he/it _said am_not though were_small you in_your _two’s _own _of_eyes the _chief _of the _tribes _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) are_you and_he_anointed _you YHWH to_king over Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

Show passage in OET: PSA 18:43

OET-RV PSA 18:43

43 You rescued me from people’s feuds.
⇔ You’ve made me the head over nations.
⇔ ≈ People serve me that I never knew before.

OET-LV PSA 18:44

44  You_delivered _me from_the_strifes _of a _people you_appointed _me to_the_head _of nations a _people which_not I _knew they_served _me.

Show passage in OET: ISA 7:8–9

OET-RV ISA 7:8

8 because Aram’s capital is Damesek (Damascus)
⇔ and Damesek’ leader is Retsin.
⇔ Nevertheless, with sixty-five years Efrayim (Ephraim) (the northern kingdom) will no longer exist as a nation.

OET-RV ISA 7:9

9 Efrayim’s capital is Shomron (Samaria).
⇔ and Shomron’s leader is Remalyah’s son.
⇔ If you don’t keep believing,
⇔ then you’ll end up not standing.’ ”

OET-LV ISA 7:8

8 If/because the _head _of ʼArām is_Dammeseq and_the _head _of Dammeseq is_Rəʦīn and_in_yet sixty and_five year[s] ʼEfrayim it _will _be _shattered from_a _people.

OET-LV ISA 7:9

9 And_the _head _of ʼEfrayim is_Shomrōn and_the _head _of Shomrōn is_the _son _of Rəmal^yāhū if not you(pl)_will _believe if/because not you(pl)_will _be _established.

Show passage in OET: JER 31:7

OET-RV JER 31:7

7 because Yahweh says this:
⇔ “Sing for Yisrael (Israel) (Ya’akov (Jacob)) with gladness,
⇔ ≈ and shout for this leader of the nations.
⇔ Cause it to be heard, praise, and say,
⇔ ‘Yahweh, save your people, the remnant of Yisrael.’

OET-LV JER 31:7

7 If/because thus YHWH he _says cry _out of_Yaˊₐqoⱱ/(Jacob) gladness and_cry _aloud on_the _chief _of the_nations make _a _proclamation praise and_say save Oh_YHWH DOM people _of_your DOM the _remnant _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

Show passage in OET: HOS 1:11

OET-RV HOS 1:11

11 The people from both Yehudah (Judah) and Yisrael (Israel) will be gathered together. They’ll appoint one leader for themselves, and they’ll come out of the countries where they’d been exiled, because the day of Yizre’el (Jezreel) (which means ‘planted by God’) will be great.

OET-LV HOS 2:2

2  And_ the _people _of Yəhūdāh and_the _sons of _Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) _they _will _be _gathered together and_they _will _appoint to/for_them a _leader one and_they _will _go _up from the_earth/land if/because will _be_great the _day _of Yizrəˊ^ʼēl/(Jezreel).

Show passage in OET: SA1 28:2

OET-RV SA1 28:2

2 “Sounds good,” David replied, “because you’ll be able to see for yourself what your servant can do.”
¶ “I’ll appoint as my permanent bodyguard,” Akish told him.

OET-LV SA1 28:2

2 And_ Dāvid _he/it _said to ʼAkīsh for_so/thus/hence you you _will _know DOM that_which servant _of_your he _will _do and_ ʼAkīsh _he/it _said to Dāvid for_so/thus/hence a _watchman of_head _of_my I_will _make _you all _of the_days.

Show passage in OET: JDG 9:53

OET-RV JDG 9:53

53 but a woman threw an upper millstone down onto Avimelek’s head and it crushed his skull.

OET-LV JDG 9:53

53 And_ a _woman one _she _threw a _mill-stone _of an _upper _mill-stone on the _head _of ʼAⱱīmelek and_she _crushed DOM skull _of_his.

Show passage in OET: PSA 68:21

OET-RV PSA 68:21

21 But God will smash the heads of his enemies—
⇔ the hair on the head of those who continue with their guilty acts.

OET-LV PSA 68:22

22  Surely god he _will _smash the _head _of his _enemies _of_his the_crown _of _head _of hair one _who_goes _about in_guilt(s)_of_his.

Jump to OET PSA 140:9 section.

Jump to OET GEN 40:20 section.

Jump to OET PSA 3:3 section.

Jump to OET PSA 27:6 section.

Jump to OET ISA 58:5 section.

Jump to OET LAM 2:10 section.

Jump to OET GEN 8:5 section.

Jump to OET GEN 11:4 section.

Jump to OET SA2 5:24 section.

Jump to OET GEN 2:10 section.

Jump to OET JDG 10:18 section.

Jump to OET SA1 15:17 section.

Jump to OET PSA 18:43 section.

Jump to OET ISA 7:8–9 section.

Jump to OET JER 31:7 section.

Jump to OET HOS 1:11 section.

Jump to OET SA1 28:2 section.

Jump to OET JDG 9:53 section.

Jump to OET PSA 68:21 section.

Greek philosophers used the image of the body to represent the universe. The head of this body—called Zeus or Reason—was considered responsible for the creation and sustenance of the remaining members (celestial beings, humans, animals, plants, and inanimate objects). The universe, or “body,” owed its existence to the “head.”

Between 460 BC (the date usually ascribed to the first writings of Hippocrates) and AD 200 (the death of Galen, who developed Hippocrates’ findings), Greek medical science came to understand the head as the seat of intelligence. The body was able to operate efficiently only because the brain was capable of interpreting data received from the body (eyes, ears, skin, and so on), and because it was able to send out appropriate impulses to the various members of the body, based upon the data received. The ability of the brain to interpret and direct made the existence of the body completely dependent upon it.

Show passage in OET: MAT 5:36

OET-RV MAT 5:36

36 And don’t swear by your own strength, because you can’t even make one strand of hair grow a different colour.

OET-LV MAT 5:36

36 nor may _you _swear by the head of _you, because you _are_ not _being _able to _make one hair white.
or black.

Show passage in OET: MAT 6:17

OET-RV MAT 6:17

17 Instead, when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face

OET-LV MAT 6:17

17 But you fasting, anoint the head of _you and wash the face of _you,

Show passage in OET: MAT 14:8

OET-RV MAT 14:8

8 The young woman was urged on by her mother to tell Herodes that she wanted Yohan-the-immerser’s head on a plate.

OET-LV MAT 14:8

8 And which having _been _urged _on by the mother of _her:
Give to _me, she _is _saying:
here on a_platter, the head of _Yōannaʸs the immerser.

Show passage in OET: MAT 26:7

OET-RV MAT 26:7

7 A woman inside the house came up to him carrying a carved alabaster flask of very expensive lotion, which she poured over his head as he was seated,

OET-LV MAT 26:7

7 a_woman having an_alabaster _flask of_ heavily _valued _ointment approached to _him, and she _poured _down it on the head of _him reclining.

Show passage in OET: MRK 6:27

OET-RV MRK 6:27

27 So he ordered an executioner to go out and return with Yohan’s head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison

OET-LV MRK 6:27

27 And immediately the king having _sent _out an_executioner, commanded to _bring the head of _him.
And having _gone _away, he _beheaded him in the prison,

Show passage in OET: MRK 14:3

OET-RV MRK 14:3

3 Meanwhile, Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) was in Beyt-Ania (Bethany) at the home of Shim’on (Simon) who had previously had leprosy. Yeshua was sitting there when a woman came in with a hand-crafted container of very expensive fragrant lotion. Breaking open the sealed flask, she poured the fragrant oil over Yeshua’s head.

OET-LV MRK 14:3

3 And him being in Baʸthania, in the house of _Simōn the leprous, reclining of _him, a_woman came having an_alabaster _flask of _ointment, of_ genuine expensive _nard, having _broken the alabaster _flask, she _poured _down it on _the head of _him.

Show passage in OET: LUK 7:46

OET-RV LUK 7:46

46 You didn’t offer olive oil for my head, but she anointed my feet with this lotion,

OET-LV LUK 7:46

46 you_ not _anointed the head of _me, With _olive _oil, but this one anointed the feet of _me with _ointment.

Show passage in OET: JHN 13:9

OET-RV JHN 13:9

9 “Well, if that’s so,” Kefa said, “don’t just wash my feet but my hands and my head as well.”

OET-LV JHN 13:9

9 Simōn Petros is _saying to _him:
master, not only the feet of _me, but also my hands and my head.

Show passage in OET: JHN 20:7

OET-RV JHN 20:7

7 But the piece of cloth that had been on the head wasn’t lying there with the linen strips, but had been folded and placed separately.

OET-LV JHN 20:7

7 and the handkerchief, which was on the head of _him, lying there not with the linen _cloths, but separately having _been _wrapped in one place.

Show passage in OET: REV 1:14

OET-RV REV 1:14

14 His hair was gleaming white like wool or snow and his eyes were bright like a fiery flame.

OET-LV REV 1:14

14 And the head of _him and his hairs were white, as _though wool white as snow, and the eyes of _him like a_flame of _fire,

Show passage in OET: REV 4:4

OET-RV REV 4:4

4 Surrounding that throne were twenty-four other thrones, and on them sat twenty-four elders dressed in white and with golden crowns on their heads.

OET-LV REV 4:4

4 And around the throne were twenty thrones four, and on thrones the twenty four elders sitting, having _been _clothed clothes white, and on the heads of _them crowns golden.

Show passage in OET: REV 12:1

OET-RV REV 12:1

12 Then a miraculous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and with the moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head.

OET-LV REV 12:1

12 And a_sign great was _seen in the heaven:
a_woman having _been _clothed with _the sun, and the moon was beneath the feet of _her, and on the head of _her a_crown twelve of _stars,

Show passage in OET: REV 9:7; REV 9:17; REV 9:19

OET-RV REV 9:7

7 The locusts looked like horses that had been prepared for battle, with something on their heads that were similar to golden crowns and their faces being like human faces.

OET-RV REV 9:17

17 and this is what the horses and their riders looked like in my vision: the soldiers wore chestplates that were red like fire, blue like sapphire, and yellow like sulfur. The heads of the horses were like lions’ heads, and fire, smoke, and fumes from burning sulfur came out of their mouths.

OET-RV REV 9:19

19 because the horses’ power is in their mouths and in their tails, because their tails are like snakes, having heads that injure people.

OET-LV REV 9:7

7 And the likenesses of _the locusts was similar to _horses having _been _prepared for war, and something on the heads of _them were like crowns similar to _gold, and the faces of _them like the_faces of _humans,

OET-LV REV 9:17

17 And thus I _saw the horses in my vision, and the ones sitting on them:
having breastplates fiery, and hyacinthine, and sulfurous, and the heads of _the horses like the_heads of _lions, and out _of the mouths of _them is _going _out fire, and smoke, and sulfur.

OET-LV REV 9:19

19 For/Because the power of _the horses in the mouth of _them is and in the tails of _them, because/for the tails of _them are similar to _serpents, having heads, and with them they _are _injuring.

Show passage in OET: REV 12:3

OET-RV REV 12:3

3 Another miraculous sign appeared in heaven, and wow, a huge, red dinosaur with seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns on his heads.

OET-LV REV 12:3

3 And was _seen another sign in the heaven:
and see, a_dragon red great having seven heads, and ten horns, and on the heads of _him seven crowns,

Show passage in OET: ROM 12:20

OET-RV ROM 12:20

20 But if your enemies are hungry, then feed them, and if they’re thirsty, then give them a drink, because you’ll be leaving them to their own shame and judgement.

OET-LV ROM 12:20

20 But if may _be _hungering the enemy of _you, be _feeding him, if he _may _be _thirsting, be _giving _to _drink him, because/for this doing, charcoal of _fire you _will _be _heaping on the head of _him.

Show passage in OET: MAT 5:44

OET-RV MAT 5:44

44 but I’m telling you to love your enemies and to pray for anyone who’s persecuting you,

OET-LV MAT 5:44

44 But I am _saying to _you _all, be _loving the enemies of _you _all, and be _praying for the ones persecuting you _all,

Show passage in OET: ACT 21:24

OET-RV ACT 21:24

24 Why don’t you join these four and join them in the purification ceremony at the temple and pay their expenses in getting your heads shaved. Then everyone will be able to see that it’s false what they’ve heard about you, because you clearly still comply with Mosheh’s instructions.

OET-LV ACT 21:24

24 Having _taken these men, be _purified with them and spend for them, in _order _that they _will _be _shaving his head, and all will _be _knowing that of _which they _have _been _instructed about you nothing is, but you _are _aligning also yourself, keeping the law.

Show passage in OET: MAT 8:20

OET-RV MAT 8:20

20 “Foxes have burrows,” said Yeshua, “and birds have their nests, but the son of humanity doesn’t even have a place to lay his head.”

OET-LV MAT 8:20

20 And the Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) is _saying to _him:
- Foxes are _having burrows and the birds of _the sky nests, but the the_son of_ the _man is _having not somewhere he _may _be _laying his head.

Show passage in OET: LUK 9:58

OET-RV LUK 9:58

58 “Foxes have their burrows,” he responded, “and the birds have their nests, but the son of humanity has no home where he can lie down and relax.”

OET-LV LUK 9:58

58 And the Yaʸsous said to _him:
- foxes are _having burrows, and the birds of _the sky nests, but the son of_ the _man is_ not _having somewhere his head may _be _laying.

Jump to OET MAT 5:36 section.

Jump to OET MAT 6:17 section.

Jump to OET MAT 14:8 section.

Jump to OET MAT 26:7 section.

Jump to OET MRK 6:27 section.

Jump to OET MRK 14:3 section.

Jump to OET LUK 7:46 section.

Jump to OET JHN 13:9 section.

Jump to OET JHN 20:7 section.

Jump to OET REV 1:14 section.

Jump to OET REV 4:4 section.

Jump to OET REV 12:1 section.

Jump to OET REV 9:7 section. · OET REV 9:17 section. · OET REV 9:19 section.

Jump to OET REV 12:3 section.

Jump to OET ROM 12:20 section.

Jump to OET MAT 5:44 section.

Jump to OET ACT 21:24 section.

Jump to OET MAT 8:20 section.

Jump to OET LUK 9:58 section.

The apostle Paul drew from the OT metaphorical understanding of the term to express the headship of God over Christ, Christ over man, and man over woman (1 Cor 11:3-16; cf. Eph 5:23). In the light of these relationships, Paul encouraged women at Corinth to wear veils in worship. The veil gave a woman the authority to worship as an equal with men before God. The term is used again with the meaning “authority” to express the lordship of Christ over the universe (Eph 1:21-22; Col 2:10).

Show passage in OET: EPH 5:23

OET-RV EPH 5:23

23 because the husband is the leader of the wife just like the messiah is the head and saviour of his body, the church.

OET-LV EPH 5:23

23 because the_husband is head of _the wife, as also the chosen _one /messiah is the_head of _the assembly, he the_saviour of _the body.

Show passage in OET: EPH 1:21–22

OET-RV EPH 1:21

21 giving him authority over every law and government, and over every powerful group and organisation, and over every earthly title, not only in the present age but also in the age to come.

OET-RV EPH 1:22

22 Everything in existence will be under his authority and God set him in charge of all matters concerning the assembly,

OET-LV EPH 1:21

21 above every rule, and authority, and power, and mastership, and every name being _named, not only in the this age, but also in the one coming,

OET-LV EPH 1:22

22 and all things subjected under the feet of _him, and gave_ of _him _to _be head concerning all things to _the assembly,

Show passage in OET: COL 2:10

OET-RV COL 2:10

10 and you also have been completed and are in him. He is the head of all rule and authority.

OET-LV COL 2:10

10 and you _all _are having _been _fulfilled in him, who is the head of _all rule and authority,

Jump to OET EPH 5:23 section.

Jump to OET EPH 1:21–22 section.

Jump to OET COL 2:10 section.

Paul used the image of the head and body to express the relationship between Christ and his church (Eph 4:15; 5:23; cf. 1 Cor 12:12-27). In addition to the OT sense, the contributions of medical science in Paul’s day may provide insight into this image, for Christ is not only the dominant ruler over the church but also the dynamic force that provides its direction and unity. The ability of the church to exist and the focal point of its activity are rooted in the work of its “head,” Jesus Christ. In this light, various modern exegetes have argued that headship does not mean “authority” as much as it means “source,” as in the term “fountainhead.” Thus, he who is the head is the source, the supplier. These interpreters see God as being Christ’s supplier, and Christ being the church’s supplier, and man being woman’s supplier.

Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary