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Behead

Original Hebrew / Aramaic / Greek connected to this term

How to read this: there is rarely one magic “true meaning” hidden behind an English word. A lexicon records a word’s semantic range. The intended meaning is narrowed by grammar, sentence, author, historical usage and context.

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H3772

כָּרַת

ka.rat — to cut: cut

: cut/fell 1) to cut, cut off, cut down, cut off a body part, cut out, eliminate, kill, cut a covenant 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to cut off 1a1a) to cut off a body part, behead 1a2) to cut down 1a3) to hew 1a4) to cut or make a covenant 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be cut off 1b2) to be cut down 1b3) to be chewed 1b4) to be cut off, fail 1c) (Pual) 1c1) to be cut off 1c2) to be cut down 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cut off 1d2) to cut off, destroy 1d3) to cut down, destroy 1d4) to take away 1d5) to permit to perish 1e) (Hophal) cut off

258 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G607

ἀποκεφαλίζω

apokephalizō — to behead

ἀπο-κεφαλίζω (ἀπό, κεφαλή), [in LXX: Psa.151:7 * ;] to behead: Mat.14:10, Mrk.6:16, 28 Luk.9:9.† (AS)

4 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G3990

πελεκίζω

pelekizō — to behead

πελεκίζω (πέλεκυς, a battle-axe), to out off with an axe, esp. to behead: with accusative, Rev.20:4 (Polyb., al.).† (AS)

1 tagged verse occurrence · see every occurrence →

Historical dictionary entry

A method of taking away life practised among the Egyptians (Gen. 40:17-19). There are instances of this mode of punishment also among the Hebrews (2 Sam. 4:8; 20:21, 22; 2 Kings 10:6-8). It is also mentioned in the New Testament (Matt. 14:8-12; Acts 12:2).

Scripture references

Source: Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897). Historical dictionary wording reflects the scholarship and language of its era.

Compare other reference traditions

Look up Behead in Smith’s Bible Dictionary and ISBE →