κεφαλίς (kephalis)
kephalis
scroll
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun kephalis literally means "little head," derived from the word for head itself. In ancient usage, it referred to the small wooden knob at the end of the rod used to roll up a scroll. Because this tip resembled a small head, the term eventually came to describe the entire rolled volume or document.
This word appears only once in the New Testament, in Hebrews 10:7. The author quotes Psalm 40, describing a servant who says, "A body you have prepared for me... behold, I have come... in the scroll of the book it is written of me." Here, kephalis represents the sacred text containing God's will. The imagery connects the physical object—a rolled papyrus—with the divine plan recorded within it.
Translators often render this as "scroll" or "book." The choice highlights that the message was not just abstract but contained in a tangible, readable format. This usage underscores the importance of Scripture as a concrete record of God's promises and purposes for His people.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word kephalis in Hebrews 10:7 brings ancient Scripture into sharp focus. It refers to a rolled scroll, the standard way important documents were stored and shared in the first century. When the writer quotes Psalm 40, he highlights that God’s will was not a vague idea but something written down, preserved, and ready to be read.
This image reminds us that faith is grounded in real history and tangible truth. The scroll represents a covenant, a promise kept through generations until it found its fulfillment in Christ. For believers today, this underscores the reliability of God’s Word. It is not lost or forgotten but securely recorded for our guidance and hope.
Knowing that God’s plan was inscribed in a physical object helps us trust His promises now. Just as that scroll survived time to speak to the first readers, Scripture continues to guide us with clarity and purpose. We can rest in the certainty that what is written remains true for every generation.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] scroll1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- κεφαλίδι1×
Key Verses
-
Hebrews 10:7
Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come (in the scroll of the book it is written of me) to do your will, O God.’”
This verse uniquely uses kephalis to describe the physical scroll containing the prophetic declaration of Christ’s obedience, emphasizing the tangible nature of God's written will.