the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Dictionaries
Head
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible
or HEAD . 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’ ( 1 Samuel 28:2; cf. Psalms 140:7 ), ‘swearing by the head’ ( Matthew 5:36 ), and the metaphorical use, common to all languages, as equivalent to ‘chief.’ In Deuteronomy 28:13 , Isaiah 9:14 , we find ‘head and tail’ as a proverbial expression. Christ is the head of the Church ( Ephesians 4:15 , Colossians 1:18; Colossians 2:19 ), as man is of the woman ( Ephesians 5:23 ). To lift up the head is to grant success ( Psalms 27:6; Psalms 110:7 , Genesis 41:13 , where there is an obvious ironical parallel in Genesis 41:19 ). The hand on the head was a sign of mourning ( 2 Samuel 13:19 , Jeremiah 2:37 ); so dust or ashes ( 2 Samuel 1:2 , Lamentations 2:10 ); or covering the head ( 2 Samuel 15:30 , Jeremiah 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 [Note: Authorized Version.] and RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] , Leviticus 10:6; Leviticus 13:45 , Ezekiel 24:17 ). Similarly shaving the head , a common practice in the East ( Job 1:20 , Isaiah 15:2; Isaiah 22:12 , Ezekiel 7:18 , Amos 8:10 ); it was forbidden to priests ( Leviticus 21:5 ), and, in special forms, to all Israelites ( Leviticus 19:27 , Deuteronomy 14:1 ). It might also mark the close of a period of mourning ( Deuteronomy 21:12 ), or of a Nazirite’s vow ( Numbers 6:9 , Acts 18:18 ), or of a Levite’s purification ( Numbers 8:7 ). In Deuteronomy 32:42 there is a reference to the warrior’s long hair, RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] . Laying hands on the head was ( a ) part of the symbolism of sacrifice ( Leviticus 16:21 ), ( b ) a sign of blessing ( Genesis 48:14 ), ( c ) a sign of consecration or ordination ( Numbers 27:23 , Acts 6:6 ). In 2 Kings 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’ ( Psalms 7:16; and probably Proverbs 25:22 , Romans 12:20 ).
C. W. Emmet.
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Hastings, James. Entry for 'Head'. Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/hdb/h/head.html. 1909.
