Reference: Head
Hastings
Not the head but the heart was regarded as the seat of intellect; it was, however, the seat of life, and was naturally held in honour. Hence phrases such as 'keeper of my head' (1Sa 28:2; cf. Ps 140:7), 'swearing by the head' (Mt 5:36), and the metaphorical use, common to all languages, as equivalent to 'chief.' In De 28:13; Isa 9:14, we find 'head and tail' as a proverbial expression. Christ is the head of the Church (Eph 4:15; Col 1:18; 2:19), as man is of the woman (Eph 5:23). To lift up the head is to grant success (Ps 27:6; 110:7; Ge 41:13, where there is an obvious ironical parallel in Ge 41:19). The hand on the head was a sign of mourning (2Sa 13:19; Jer 2:37); so dust or ashes (2Sa 1:2; La 2:10); or covering the head (2Sa 15:30; Jer 14:3). On the other hand, to uncover the head, i.e. to loose the turban and leave the hair in disorder, was also a sign of mourning (see AV and Revised Version margin, Le 10:6; 13:45; Eze 24:17). Similarly shaving the head, a common practice in the East (Job 1:20; Isa 15:2; 22:12; Eze 7:18; Am 8:10); it was forbidden to priests (Le 21:5), and, in special forms, to all Israelites (Le 19:27; De 14:1). It might also mark the close of a period of mourning (De 21:12), or of a Nazirite's vow (Nu 6:9; Ac 18:18), or of a Levite's purification (Nu 8:7). In De 32:42 there is a reference to the warrior's long hair, Revised Version margin. Laying hands on the head was (a) part of the symbolism of sacrifice (Le 16:21), (b) a sign of blessing (Ge 48:14), (c) a sign of consecration or ordination (Nu 27:23; Ac 6:6). In 2Ki 2:3 the reference seems to be to the pupil sitting at the feet of his master. 'Head' is also used, like 'face,' as a synonym for 'self' (Ps 7:16; and probably Pr 25:22; Ro 12:20).
C. W. Emmet.
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And as he declared them unto us, even so it came to pass. I was restored to mine office again, and he was hanged."
And then seven other cows came up after them, poor and very evil favored and lean fleshed: so that I never saw their like, in all the land of Egypt, in evil favoredness.
And Israel stretched out his righthand and laid it upon Ephraim's head which was the younger, and his lefthand upon Manasseh's head, crossing his hands; for Manasseh was the elder.
And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and Ithamar his eldest sons, "Uncover not your head, neither rent your clothes; lest ye die and wrath come upon all the people. Let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, beweep the burning which the LORD hath burnt.
"And the leper, in whom the plague is, shall have his clothes rent and his head bare and his mouth muffled and shall be called unclean.
and let Aaron put both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the misdeeds of the children of Israel, and all their trespasses, and all their sins: and let him put them upon the head of the goat and send him away by the hands of one that is acquainted in the wilderness.
Ye shall not round the locks of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the tufts of thy beard.
They shall make them no baldness upon their heads or shave off the locks of their beards, nor make any marks in their flesh.
"'And if it fortune that any man, by chance, die suddenly before him and defile the head of his abstinence, then must he shave his head the day of his cleansing: even the seventh day he shall shave it.
And this do unto them when thou cleansest them: sprinkle water of purifying upon them and make a razor to run along upon all the flesh of them, and let them wash their clothes, and then they shall be clean.
and put his hands upon him and give him a charge, as the LORD commanded through the hand of Moses.
Ye are the children of the LORD your God; cut not yourselves nor make you any baldness between the eyes for any man's death.
then bring her home to thine house and let her shave her head and pare her nails
And the LORD shall set thee before and not behind, and thou shalt be above only and not beneath: if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God which I command thee this day to keep and to do them.
I will make mine arrows drunken with blood, and my sword shall eat flesh of the blood of the slain and of the captive and of the bare head of the enemy.'
And David said again to Achish, "Then thou shalt know what thy servant can do." And Achish said to David, "Then I will make thee keeper of my head forever."
Behold, there came a man the third day out of the host from Saul with his clothes rent and earth upon his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the earth and did obeisance.
And Tamar put ashes on her head and rent her gay kirtle that was on her and put her hand on her head and so went, and as she went cried.
And David went up on Mount Olivet and wept as he went, and had his head covered and went thereto barefoot. And all the people that was with him, had every man his head covered, and as they went, wept also.
the children of the Prophets that were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, "Knowest thou not how that the LORD will take away thy master from thee this day?" And he said, "I know it too; hold your peace."
Then Job stood up, and rent his clothes, shaved his head, fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
For his travail shall come upon his own head, and his wickedness shall fall upon his own head, and his wickedness shall fall on his own pate.
And now shall he lift up mine head above mine enemies round about me. Therefore will I offer in his dwelling an oblation with great gladness; I will sing and speak praises unto the LORD.
O LORD. O LORD God, thou strength of my health; thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.
For so shalt thou heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
Therefore the LORD shall root out of Israel both head and tail, branch and twig in one day.
They went up to the idols' house, even to Dibon to the high places, to weep for Nebo; and Moab did mourn for Medeba. All their heads were bald, and all their beards shaven.
And at the same time shall the LORD of Hosts call men to weeping, mourning, to baldness and a putting on of sackcloth.
Yea, thou shalt go thy way from them, and smite thine hands together upon thy head. Because the LORD shall bring that confidence and hope of thine to naught, and thou shalt not prosper withal."
The lords shall send their servants to fetch water, and when they come to the wells, they shall find no water, but shall carry their vessels home empty. They shall be ashamed and confounded, and shall cover their heads.
{Yod} The Senators of the daughter Zion sit upon the ground in silence: they have strawed ashes upon their heads, and girded themselves with sackcloth. The maidens of Jerusalem hang down their heads to the ground.
they shall gird themselves with sack cloth, fear shall fall upon them. Their faces shall be confounded, and their heads bald;
Thou mayest mourn by thyself alone, but use no deadly lamentation. Hold on thy bonnet, and put on thy shoes upon thy feet, cover not thy face, and eat no mourner's bread."
Your high feasts will I turn to sorrow, and your songs to mourning: I will bring sackcloth upon all backs, and baldness on every head. Yea, such a mourning will I send them, as is made upon an only begotten son, and they shall have a miserable end.
neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one white hair or black:
which they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.
Paul, after this, tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, Priscilla and Aquila accompanying him. And he shore his head in Cenchreae. For he had a vow.
Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him: if he thirst, give him drink. For in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
But let us follow the truth in love, and in all things grow in him which is the head, that is to say Christ,
For the husband is the wife's head, even as Christ is the head of the congregation, and the same is the saviour of the body.
And he is the head of the body, that is, to wit, of the congregation: he is the beginning and first begotten of the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence.
and holdeth not the head: whereof all the body by joints and couples receiveth nourishment, and is knit together, and increaseth with the increasing that cometh of God.
Morish
Besides the common use of this as 'chief,' referring to the heads of families and heads of tribes, the word was used symbolically of government and power, as when God declared that the Seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's 'head.' Ge 3:15. In the N.T. the term ?????? is employed for the relative position of man in nature, and of Christ and of God: the head of the woman is the man; the head of every man is Christ; and the head of Christ is God. 1Co 11:3. In another connection Christ is the head of the church, Eph 5:23; Col 1:18; and He is head over all things to the church. Eph 1:22; Col 2:10. As head of the church Christ removes entirely every other controlling or guiding authority. As the head of a man guides and controls his body, so Christ has the complete control over His church.
In Re 12:3 the 'head' symbolises a form of power or kingdom; and in Re 17:3,9, the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sitteth, representing Rome, which was commonly described as built upon seven hills, and the woman signifies Papal Rome.
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Moreover, I will put hatred between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed. And that seed shall tread thee on the head, and thou shalt tread it on the heel."
I would ye knew that Christ is the head of every man; and the man is the woman's head; and God is Christ's head.
And hath put all things under his feet, and hath made him above all things, the head of the congregation:
For the husband is the wife's head, even as Christ is the head of the congregation, and the same is the saviour of the body.
And he is the head of the body, that is, to wit, of the congregation: he is the beginning and first begotten of the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence.
and ye are complete in him, which is the head of all rule and power.
And there appeared another wonder in heaven, for behold a great red dragon, having seven heads, and ten horns, and seven crowns on his heads:
And he carried me away into the wilderness in the spirit. And I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet beast full of names of blasphemy, which had ten horns.
And here is a mind that hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth:
Watsons
HEAD. This word has several significations, beside its natural one, which denotes the head of a man. It is sometimes used in Scripture for the whole man: "Blessings are upon the head of the just," Pr 10:6.; that is, upon their persons. God says of the wicked, "I will recompense their way upon their head," Ezekiel 9., 10. It signifies a chief or capital city: "The head of Syria is Damascus," Isa 7:8. It denotes a chief or principal member in society: "The Lord will cut off from Israel head and tail. The ancient and honourable, he is the head," Isa 9:14-15. "The seed of the woman shall bruise the head of the serpent," Ge 3:15; that is, Christ Jesus, the blessed seed of the woman, shall overthrow the power, policy, and works of the devil. The river in paradise was divided into four heads or branches. In times of grief, the mourners covered their heads: they cut and plucked off their hair. Amos, speaking of unhappy times, says, "I will bring baldness upon every head," Am 8:10. In prosperity, they anointed their heads with sweet oils: "Let thy head lack no" perfumed "ointment," Ec 9:8. To shake the head at any one, expresses contempt: "The virgin, the daughter of Zion, hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee," Isa 37:22.
Head is taken for one that hath rule and preeminence over others. Thus God is the head of Christ; as Mediator, from him he derives all his dignity and authority. Christ is the only spiritual head of the church, both in respect of eminence and influence; he communicates life, motion, and strength to every believer. Also the husband is the head of his wife, because by God's ordinance he is to rule over her, Ge 3:16; also in regard to pre- eminence of sex, 1Pe 3:7, and excellency of knowledge, 1Co 14:35. The Apostle mentions this subordination of persons in 1Co 11:3: "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God." "The stone which the builders rejected was made the head of the corner," Ps 118:22. It was the first in the angle, whether it were disposed at the top of that angle to adorn and crown it, or at the bottom to support it. This, in the New Testament is applied to Christ, who is the strength and beauty of the church, to unite the several parts of it, namely, both Jews and Gentiles together.
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Moreover, I will put hatred between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed. And that seed shall tread thee on the head, and thou shalt tread it on the heel." And unto the woman he said, "I will surely increase thy sorrow and make thee oft with child, and with pain shalt thou be delivered: And thy lusts shall pertain unto thy husband and he shall rule thee."
The same stone which the builders refused, is become the headstone in the corner.
Loving and favorable is the face of the righteous; but the forehead of the ungodly is past shame, and presumptuous.
Let thy garments be always white, and let thy head want none ointment.
For the head city of the Syrians is Damascus, but the head of Damascus is Rezin. And after five and threescore years, shall Ephraim be no more a people.
Therefore the LORD shall root out of Israel both head and tail, branch and twig in one day. By the head, is understood the senator and honorable man, and by the tail, the Prophet that preacheth lies.
this is the answer, that the LORD hath given concerning him: Despised art thou, and mocked, O daughter of Zion, he hath shaken his head at thee, O daughter of Jerusalem.
Your high feasts will I turn to sorrow, and your songs to mourning: I will bring sackcloth upon all backs, and baldness on every head. Yea, such a mourning will I send them, as is made upon an only begotten son, and they shall have a miserable end.
I would ye knew that Christ is the head of every man; and the man is the woman's head; and God is Christ's head.
If they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is a shame for women to speak in the congregation.
Likewise, ye men, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as unto them that are heirs also of the grace of life, that your prayers be not let.