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,” Prov. x, 6;
that is, upon their persons. God says of the wicked, “I will recompense
their way upon their head,” Ezek. ix, 10. It signifies a chief or
capital city: “The head of Syria is Damascus,” Isaiah vii, 8. It denotes
a chief or principal members in society: “The Lord will cut off from
Israel head and tail. The ancient and honourable he is the head,” Isaiah
ix, 14, 15. “The seed of the woman shall bruise the head of the
serpent,” Gen. iii, 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,” Amos viii, 10. In prosperity, they anointed their heads
with sweet oils: “Let thy head lack no” perfumed “ointment,” Eccles. ix,
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,” Isaiah xxxvii, 22.
Head is taken for one that hath rule and preëminence 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, Gen. iii, 16;
also in regard to preëminence of sex, 1 Peter iii, 7, and excellency of
knowledge, 1 Cor. xiv, 35. The Apostle mentions this subordination of
persons in 1 Cor. xi, 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,” Psalm cxviii, 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.
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,” Prov. x, 6;
that is, upon their persons. God says of the wicked, “I will recompense
their way upon their head,” Ezek. ix, 10. It signifies a chief or
capital city: “The head of Syria is Damascus,” Isaiah vii, 8. It denotes
a chief or principal members in society: “The Lord will cut off from
Israel head and tail. The ancient and honourable he is the head,” Isaiah
ix, 14, 15. “The seed of the woman shall bruise the head of the
serpent,” Gen. iii, 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,” Amos viii, 10. In prosperity, they anointed their heads
with sweet oils: “Let thy head lack no” perfumed “ointment,” Eccles. ix,
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,” Isaiah xxxvii, 22.
Head is taken for one that hath rule and preëminence 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, Gen. iii, 16;
also in regard to preëminence of sex, 1 Peter iii, 7, and excellency of
knowledge, 1 Cor. xiv, 35. The Apostle mentions this subordination of
persons in 1 Cor. xi, 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,” Psalm cxviii, 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.