2786. Képhas

Lexicon

Képhas: Cephas

Original Word: Κηφᾶς
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: Képhas
Pronunciation: KAY-fas
Phonetic Spelling: (kay-fas')
Definition: Cephas
Meaning: Cephas (Aramaic for rock), the new name given to Simon Peter, the apostle.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Cephas.

Of Chaldee origin (compare keph); the Rock; Cephas (i.e. Kepha), a surname of Peter -- Cephas.

see HEBREW keph

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
of Aramaic origin
Definition
"a rock," Cephas, a name given to the apostle Peter
NASB Translation
Cephas (9).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 2786: Κεφας

Κεφας, κεφα (Buttmann, 20 (18)), ὁ (Chaldean כֵּיפָא, a rock), Cephas (equivalent to Πέτρος (cf. B. D. (American edition), p. 2459)), the surname of Simon the apostle: John 1:42 (43); 1 Corinthians 1:12; 1 Corinthians 3:22; 1 Corinthians 9:5; 1 Corinthians 15:5; Galatians 2:9; and L T Tr WH also in Galatians 1:18; Galatians 2:11, 14.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Of Aramaic origin, derived from the word כֵּיפָא (kepha), meaning "rock" or "stone."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The corresponding Hebrew entry is Strong's Hebrew 3710, כֵּיפָא (kepha), which also means "rock" or "stone." This connection underscores the continuity between the Aramaic and Greek designations for Peter, reflecting his foundational role in the church.

Usage: The name Κηφᾶς is used in the New Testament to refer to the Apostle Peter. It highlights his role and character as a foundational figure in the early Christian church.

Context: Κηφᾶς (Cephas) is a significant name in the New Testament, attributed to Simon Peter, one of Jesus Christ's twelve apostles. The name Cephas is of Aramaic origin and translates to "rock" or "stone," which is synonymous with the Greek name Peter (Πέτρος, Petros). This name was given to Simon by Jesus, as recorded in John 1:42: "And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, 'You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas' (which is translated as Peter)." This renaming signifies Peter's future role as a foundational leader in the early church, as further emphasized in Matthew 16:18, where Jesus declares, "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it."

The use of Κηφᾶς in the New Testament underscores Peter's prominence among the apostles and his pivotal role in the spread of the Gospel. Paul refers to Peter as Cephas in several of his epistles, including 1 Corinthians 1:12, 3:22, 9:5, and 15:5, as well as Galatians 1:18 and 2:9, 11, 14. These references highlight Peter's influence and authority within the early Christian community, as well as his interactions with other apostles and early church leaders.

The dual naming of Peter as both Κηφᾶς and Πέτρος reflects the cultural and linguistic context of the early church, which was situated at the crossroads of Aramaic and Greek-speaking worlds. This duality also emphasizes the universality of Peter's mission and the church's outreach to both Jewish and Gentile audiences.

Forms and Transliterations

Κηφα Κηφᾷ Κηφᾶ Κηφαν Κηφᾶν Κηφας Κηφᾶς κίβδηλον Kepha Kephâ Kēpha Kēphâ Kephā̂i Kēphā̂i Kephan Kephân Kēphan Kēphân Kephas Kephâs Kēphas Kēphâs

Englishman's Concordance

John 1:42 N-NMS
GRK: σὺ κληθήσῃ Κηφᾶς ὃ ἑρμηνεύεται
NAS: you shall be called Cephas (which
KJV: shalt be called Cephas, which
INT: you will be called Cephas which means

1 Corinthians 1:12 N-GMS
GRK: Ἐγὼ δὲ Κηφᾶ Ἐγὼ δὲ
NAS: and I of Apollos, and I of Cephas, and I of Christ.
KJV: and I of Cephas; and I
INT: I moreover of Cephas I moreover

1 Corinthians 3:22 N-NMS
GRK: Ἀπολλὼς εἴτε Κηφᾶς εἴτε κόσμος
NAS: Apollos or Cephas or the world
KJV: Apollos, or Cephas, or the world,
INT: Apollos or Cephas or [the] world

1 Corinthians 9:5 N-NMS
GRK: κυρίου καὶ Κηφᾶς
NAS: of the Lord and Cephas?
KJV: of the Lord, and Cephas?
INT: Lord and Cephas

1 Corinthians 15:5 N-DMS
GRK: ὅτι ὤφθη Κηφᾷ εἶτα τοῖς
NAS: and that He appeared to Cephas, then
KJV: he was seen of Cephas, then
INT: that he appeared to Cephas then to the

Galatians 1:18 N-AMS
GRK: Ἰεροσόλυμα ἱστορῆσαι Κηφᾶν καὶ ἐπέμεινα
NAS: to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed
INT: Jerusalem to make acquaintance with Peter and I remained

Galatians 2:9 N-NMS
GRK: Ἰάκωβος καὶ Κηφᾶς καὶ Ἰωάννης
NAS: to me, James and Cephas and John,
KJV: when James, Cephas, and John,
INT: James and Cephas and John

Galatians 2:11 N-NMS
GRK: δὲ ἦλθεν Κηφᾶς εἰς Ἀντιόχειαν
NAS: But when Cephas came to Antioch,
INT: moreover came Peter to Antioch

Galatians 2:14 N-DMS
GRK: εἶπον τῷ Κηφᾷ ἔμπροσθεν πάντων
NAS: I said to Cephas in the presence
INT: I said to Peter before all

Strong's Greek 2786
9 Occurrences

Κηφᾶ — 3 Occ.
Κηφᾶν — 1 Occ.
Κηφᾶς — 5 Occ.