Colossians 1:18

American Standard Version (1901)

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Καὶ αὐτός ἐστιν ἡ κεφαλὴ τοῦ σώματος, τῆς ἐκκλησίας: ὅς ἐστιν ἀρχή, πρωτότοκος ἐκ τῶν νεκρῶν· ἵνα γένηται ἐν πᾶσιν αὐτὸς πρωτεύων.

Transliteration

And he estin the kephalē of the sōmatos, of the ekklēsias: who estin archē, prōtotokos from the nekrōn; so that he might genētai in all things himself prōteuōn.

Grammar Details

• *estin*: present, active, indicative, 3rd person singular - is
• *kephalē*: nominative, feminine, singular - head
• *sōmatos*: genitive, neuter, singular - of body, possessive
• *ekklēsias*: genitive, feminine, singular - of church/assembly, apposition
• *archē*: nominative, feminine, singular - beginning/ruler
• *prōtotokos*: nominative, masculine, singular - firstborn
• *nekrōn*: genitive, masculine, plural - dead ones, source
• *genētai*: aorist, middle, subjunctive, 3rd person singular - might become
• *prōteuōn*: present, active, participle, nominative, masculine, singular - having first place

Word Meanings

• *kephalē*: head/ruler/source
• *sōmatos*: body/physical form
• *ekklēsias*: church/assembly/congregation
• *archē*: beginning/origin/ruler/first principle
• *prōtotokos*: firstborn/preeminent one
• *nekrōn*: dead ones/corpses
• *genētai*: might become/be/come to be
• *prōteuōn*: having first place/preeminent/holding supremacy

Referenced Verses

• Rev 1:5 : 5 and from Jesus Christ, [who is] the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loveth us, and loosed us from our sins by his blood;
• Eph 1:22-23 : 22 and he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
• Acts 26:23 : 23 how that the Christ must suffer, [and] how that he first by the resurrection of the dead should proclaim light both to the people and to the Gentiles.
• 1 Cor 15:20-23 : 20 But now hath Christ been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of them that are asleep. 21 For since by man [came] death, by man [came] also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; then they that are Christ's, at his coming.
• 1 Cor 11:3 : 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.
• Eph 4:15-16 : 15 but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, [even] Christ; 16 from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in [due] measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love.
• Matt 28:18 : 18 And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth.
• John 1:27 : 27 [ even] he that cometh after me, the latchet of whose shoe I am not worthy to unloose.
• John 3:29-31 : 29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, that standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is made full. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is of the earth, and of the earth he speaketh: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
• Ps 89:27 : 27 I also will make him [my] first-born, The highest of the kings of the earth.
• Eph 5:23 : 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, [being] himself the saviour of the body.
• Col 1:24 : 24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church;
• John 11:25-26 : 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth on me, though he die, yet shall he live; 26 and whosoever liveth and believeth on me shall never die. Believest thou this?
• Rev 22:13 : 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
• 1 Cor 15:25 : 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all his enemies under his feet.
• Heb 1:5-6 : 5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, This day have I begotten thee? and again, I will be to him a Father, And he shall be to me a Son? 6 And when he again bringeth in the firstborn into the world he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
• Rev 1:8 : 8 I am the Alpha and the Omega, saith the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.
• Rev 1:18 : 18 and the Living one; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.
• Rev 3:14 : 14 And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God:
• Rev 5:9-9 : 9 And they sing a new song, saying, Worthy art thou to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou was slain, and didst purchase unto God with thy blood [men] of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation, 10 and madest them [to be] unto our God a kingdom and priests; and they reign upon earth. 11 And I saw, and I heard a voice of many angels round about the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12 saying with a great voice, Worthy is the Lamb that hath been slain to receive the power, and riches, and wisdom, and might and honor, and glory, and blessing. 13 And every created thing which is in the heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and on the sea, and all things are in them, heard I saying, Unto him that sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb, [be] the blessing, and the honor, and the glory, and the dominion, for ever and ever.
• Rev 11:15 : 15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there followed great voices in heaven, and they said, The kingdom of the world is become [the kingdom] of out Lord, and of his Christ: and he shall reign for ever and ever.
• Rev 21:6 : 6 And he said unto me, They are come to pass. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
• Rev 21:23-24 : 23 And the city hath no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine upon it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the lamp thereof [is] the Lamb. 24 And the nations shall walk amidst the light thereof: and the kings of the earth bring their glory into it.
• 1 John 1:1 : 1 That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we beheld, and our hands handled, concerning the Word of life
• Eph 1:10 : 10 unto a dispensation of the fulness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth; in him, [I say],
• Rom 8:29 : 29 For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren:
• Col 2:10-14 : 10 and in him ye are made full, who is the head of all principality and power: 11 in whom ye were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ; 12 having been buried with him in baptism, wherein ye were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, you, [I say], did he make alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses; 14 having blotted out the bond written in ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us: and he hath taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross;
• Isa 52:13 : 13 Behold, my servant shall deal wisely, he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high.
• Matt 23:8 : 8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your teacher, and all ye are brethren.
• John 3:34-35 : 34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for he giveth not the Spirit by measure. 35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
• John 1:1 : 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
• John 1:16 : 16 For of his fulness we all received, and grace for grace.
• Song 5:10 : 10 My beloved is white and ruddy, The chiefest among ten thousand.
• Ps 45:2-5 : 2 Thou art fairer than the children of men; Grace is poured into thy lips: Therefore God hath blessed thee for ever. 3 Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O mighty one, Thy glory and thy majesty. 4 And in thy majesty ride on prosperously, Because of truth and meekness [and] righteousness: And thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. 5 Thine arrows are sharp; The peoples fall under thee; [They are] in the heart of the king's enemies.