Colossians 1:18

King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

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, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
• Eph 1:22-23 : 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the 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 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.
• 1 Cor 15:20-23 : 20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward 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 the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
• Matt 28:18 : 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
• John 1:27 : 27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet 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, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
• Ps 89:27 : 27 Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.
• Eph 5:23 : 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
• Col 1:24 : 24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind 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 in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
• Rev 22:13 : 13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
• 1 Cor 15:25 : 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all 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 again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
• Rev 1:8 : 8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
• Rev 1:18 : 18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermo, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
• Rev 3:14 : 14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the cation of God;
• Rev 5:9-9 : 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals theof: for thou wast slain, and hast deemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindd, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall ign on the earth. 11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to ceive power, and riches, and wisdom, and stngth, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 13 And every catu which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as a in the sea, and all that a in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
• Rev 11:15 : 15 And the seventh angel sounded; and the we gat voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world a become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall ign for ever and ever.
• Rev 21:6 : 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life fely.
• Rev 21:23-24 : 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light theof. 24 And the nations of them which a saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
• 1 John 1:1 : 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
• Eph 1:10 : 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
• Rom 8:29 : 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
• Col 2:10-14 : 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
• Isa 52:13 : 13 Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.
• Matt 23:8 : 8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
• John 3:34-35 : 34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. 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 And of his fulness have all we 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 li: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever. 3 Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty. 4 And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. 5 Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.