Lexical Definition

‎κεφαλή‎ kephalḗ (kef-al-ay') head ^G:N-F
from the primary (in the sense of seizing)

head.

• the head (as the part most readily taken hold of), literally or figuratively

Abbott-Smith

κεφαλή, -ῆς, ἡ, [in LXX nearly always for רֹאשׁ;]
the head: Mt 5:36, Mk 6:24, Re 1:14 9:7, al. mult.; fig., ἄνθρακες ἐπὶ τὴν κ., Ro 12:20(LXX); αἷμα, Ac 18:6; metaph., of a husband, c. gen., I Co 11:3, Eph 5:23; of Christ, I Co 11:3, Eph 4:15 5:23, Col 1:18 2:10, 19; of things, κ. γωνίας, Mt 21:42(LXX).

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

κεφαλή, ἡ,

head of man or beast, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; κεφαλῇ.. μείζονες taller in stature, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; so μείων.. κεφαλήν[Refs 3rd c.BC+]

__a κατὰ κεφαλῆς, Epic dialect κὰκ κεφαλῆς, down over the head, κόνιν.. χεύατο κὰκ κεφαλῆς [Refs 8th c.BC+]
__b κατὰ κεφαλήν, Epic dialect κὰκ κεφαλήν on the head, Ἐρύλαον.. βάλε πέτρῳ μέσσην κὰκ κεφαλήν [Refs 8th c.BC+]: in Prose, from above, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: c.genitive, above, κ. κ. τινῶν γενέσθαι [Refs]; τὸ κ. κ. ὕδωρ, of rain water, [Refs 4th c.BC+] (-ῆς): in Architecture texts, upright, [Refs]; also, per head, each person (compare below 1.2), [LXX+4th c.BC+]
__c ἐς πόδας ἐκ κεφαλῆς from head to foot, [Refs 8th c.BC+]
__d ἐπὶ κεφαλήν head foremost, ἐπὶ κ. κατορύξαι to bury head downwards, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐπὶ κ. ὠθέεσθαι to be thrust headlong, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οὐ βουλόμενος πολίτας ἄνδρας ἐπὶ κ. εἰσπράττειν τὸν μισθόν recklessly, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἐπὶ ταῖς κεφαλαῖς περιφέρειν carry on high, in token of admiration, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__2 as the noblest part, periphrastic for the whole person, πολλὰς ἰφθίμους κ. [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἶσον ἐμῇ κ. no less than myself, [Refs 8th c.BC+]: in bad sense, ὦ κακαὶ κεφαλαί [Refs 5th c.BC+]: in bad sense, ἡ μιαρὰ καὶ ἀναιδὴς αὕτη κ. [Refs 4th c.BC+]; μεγάλη κ. a great personage, Vett. Val.[Refs]
__3 life, ἐμῇ κ. περιδείδια [Refs 8th c.BC+]; παρθέμενοι κεφαλάς staking their heads on the cast, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; τὴν κ. ἀποβαλέεις [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__4 in imprecations, ἐς κεφαλὴν τράποιτ᾽ ἐμοί on my head be it! [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐς κ. σοί (i.e. τράποιτο) [NT+5th c.BC+]
__II of things, extremity,
__II.a in Botany, κ. σκορόδου head (= inflorescence) of garlic, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ῥίζα κ. ἔχουσα πλείονας tubers, [Refs 1st c.AD+]
__II.b in Anatomy, κεφαλαὶ τῆς κάτω γνάθου, probably the condyloid and coronoid processes, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἡ κ. τοῦ ὄρχεως, ={ἐπιδιδυμίς}, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; μηροῦ, κνήμης κ., [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; of the base of the heart, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; but, apex, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of the sac in poulps, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; of muscles, origin, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__II.c generally, top, brim of a vessel, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; coping of a wall, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; capital of a column, [LXX+2nd c.AD+]
__II.d in plural, source of a river, [Refs 5th c.BC+] (butsg., mouth, οἶδα Γέλα ποταμοῦ κεφαλῇ ἐπικείμενον ἄστυ [Refs]: generally, source, origin, Ζεὺς κ. (variant{ἀρχή}), Ζεὺς μέσσα, Διὸς δ᾽ ἒκ πάντα τελεῖται τέτυκται codices) [Refs 5th c.AD+]; starting-point, κ. χρόνου [Refs 6th c.AD+]
__II.e extremity of a plot of land, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
__III Ὁμηρείη κ. bust of Homer, [Refs]
__IV κ. περίθετος wig, head-dress, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__V metaphorically, κ. δείπνου pièce de résistance, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__V.2 crown, completion, κεφαλὴν ἐπιθεῖναι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; consummation, σχεῖν κ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__V.3 sum, total, πάσας ἐρρηγείας [Refs]; of money, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__V.4 band of men, [LXX]; right-hand half of a phalanx (opposed to οὐρά), [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__V.5 Astron., κ. τοῦ κόσμου, of Aries, [Refs 4th c.AD+]. (ghebh-, compare κεβλή and Engl. gable.)

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: LXX.Exod.16.16 ☩ Acts.18.6 ☩ LXX.Job.1.17}