Head

Head. κεφαλή, רֹאשׁ. In the OT the word is from “an unused root meaning to shake.” Used in both the OT and NT for the part of the body (Mat 6:7, Lev 8:12), and to indicate chief or captain, the leadership of governments and principalities, of power and authority (Col 2:10, Isa 7:8). It carries an implied signification of “top,” “identity,” “ultimate,” or “superior,”  especially for Christ himself (1 co 11:3, 1 co 11:7, Eph 1:21-22, Col 1:18, Col 2:10). Biblically, however, “head” is never directly implicated in thinking, planning, or reason as in the modern age.[1] Biblically, “head,” is to be generally taken as a superior or dominating carnal or spiritual place of the sovereignty of the body, a synecdoche for the whole of the man’s position and power, rather than a superior or dominating spiritual/mental action.

Most significantly, κεφαλή is used in the messianic prophecy of Psalms 118:22,23, Acts 4:11, Luke 20:17, Mark 12:10 and Matthew 21:42: 

Matthew 21:42 (KJV) 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?

Being the most crucial instance of the word to the whole of the NT revelation of the OT, we may infer that “head” has a superior signification of the ultimate spiritual authority of Messiah Jesus and His Prophetic Word of demonstration: the only single part of the whole of theology which cold be said holding the rest together, but is rejected because of its seemingly small quantitive and qualitative appearance.

[1] “The connotations of the word “heart” in 1st-century use are also not the same in our modern age. For us, the heart is related to affective life. From his heart, man loves or hates, desires or fears. The heart has no part in the intellectual life. The Hebrew uses the heart to indicate a wider range of meaning, including sentiments, but also memories, thoughts, reasoning, and planning.” (Leon-Dufor 1967). Also see (Hastings, Dictionary of the Bible 1963), (McKenzie 1965).