κεφαλαιόω
kephalaióō
G2775 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To strike or wound on the head; to inflict a blow or injury upon the head of someone or something. In extended use, to damage or incapacitate by means of a head wound. The primary lexical sense is physical harm to the head, with specific nuance of a violent or impactful action causing such injury.
Semantic Range
to strike the head, to wound in the head, to inflict a head injury, to cause damage to the head
Root / Etymology
From κεφάλαιον (head, principal sum), itself from κεφαλή (head) + -όω (verb-forming suffix meaning 'to make' or 'to cause'). Thus, literally 'to make head' or 'to do something to the head'.
Historical & Contextual Notes
κεφαλαιόω is a relatively rare verb, primarily attested in later Hellenistic Greek and literary Koine, including the Septuagint (e.g., Judges 9:53) and the New Testament. Its usage is nearly always literal, denoting a physical blow to the head rather than metaphorical or abstract senses. Compared with similar verbs such as πληγόω (to strike, smite) or τραυματίζω (to wound, injure), κεφαλαιόω is distinguished by its specific focus on the head as the target of the action. In English translations, the phrase 'wound in the head' or 'strike on the head' is typical, but might underemphasize the specificity and violence implied in the Greek term's literal context. Septuagint usage sometimes serves to translate specific Hebrew idioms for striking the head, suggesting the term may have developed to represent those idiomatic constructions in Greek translation literature.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the same as κεφάλαιον; (specially) to strike on the head:--wound in the head.
Root Family
κεφαλ- (kephálaion) — head, chief, principal
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G2774 | κεφάλαιον | the principal matter |
| G2776 | κεφαλή | heads |
| G2777 | κεφαλίς | in the scroll roll |
| G346 | ἀνακεφαλαίομαι | to sum up into one |
| G4344 | προσκεφάλαιον | a head-cushion |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2775-01 |
ἐκεφαλίωσαν | ekephaliosan | V AOR ACT IND 3P PL |
they wounded in the head | they struck on the head | they struck on the head | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2775-01 |
Mark 12:4 | ἐκεφαλίωσαν | ekephaliosan | V AOR ACT IND 3P PL |
they wounded in the head | they struck on the head | they struck on the head |