HEAD (גֻּלְגֹּ֫לֶת, H1653, poll, skull; רֹאשׁ֒, H8031, head; רֹאשׁ֒, H8031, head, the commonest term; κεφαλή, G3051, head). Both the brain case and the face are included in the head, considered to be the seat of the life or the soul, although the Jews considered the heart to be the seat of the intellect, and often used the head to stand for the whole person (Acts 18:6). The word applies to animals, much as the bull’s head of the burnt offering (Lev 1:4), and to inanimate objects in phrases like, “Lift up your heads, O gates” (Ps 24:7), the four heads of rivers (Gen 2:10), and the head stone (Zech 4:7), also applied to Christ (Matt 21:42). Heads of animals decorated the tops of furniture in eastern homes. Early Christians preserved the head of a saint or martyr as an object of adoration which could exert miraculous power (HERE, Vol. 6, p. 536. J. A. MacCulloch). The mark of the beast was put upon the forehead (Rev 14:9).

Injury to the head was a chief form of defeating an enemy (Ps 68:21). Decapitation, a custom likewise practiced in Babylonia and Assyria, added insult to injury (1 Sam 17:51). On the other hand, anointing the head was a symbol of joy and prosperity (Ps 23:5; Heb 1:9), and dedication to priestly service (Exod 29:7).

Leaders are heads, “the elder and honored man is the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail” (Isa 9:15). Christ is the head of the church, His body, and of all creation (Eph 1:22), of every man (1 Cor 11:3) and of all rule and authority (Col 2:10). The husband is the head of the woman. Because of the Gr. custom of veiling of women, as opposed to the Jewish custom, Paul urged the Corinthian women to be obedient to the local standards of decency and order, and to cover the head in worship. Men, however, pray with uncovered heads. At present, the wearing of hats by women in the sanctuary is a sign of the headship of Christ.

Blessing comes upon the head (Gen 49:26), therefore the hands were laid upon it (Gen 48:17) and sins were transferred from the man to the beast by this gesture (Exod 29:15). To “heap coals of fire on the head” meant returning good for evil (Matt 5:44; Rom 12:20). The Israelite swore by his head (Matt 5:36) but the modern Oriental by his beard. Covering or dusting the head or laying the hand on it signified sadness, grief, or shame (2 Sam 13:19). To wag the head expressed derision (Mark 15:29) and to bow down the head displayed sadness, humility, and mourning (Isa 58:5). “Yet will I not lift up my head” is equivalent to lack of self-assertion (Job 10:15 KJV). Life gave one a hoary head along with honor and wisdom (Prov 16:31).