HEAD is taken sometimes for poison, because the Hebrew Rosch, which signifies Head, signifies likewise poison. Caput aspidum suget, he shall suck the venom of asps. Ecclus. xxv. 22.And Ecclesiasticus, Non est caput nequius super caput colubri, & non est ira super iram mulieris: there is no poison more dangerous than that of a serpent, and no wrath more impetuous than that of a woman.
Amos viii. 10.In times of mourning, they covered their Heads, they cut and plucked off their hair; super omne caput calvitium, say the Prophets, speaking of unhappy times; on the contrary, in prosperity they anointed their Heads with sweet oils: Let thy Head lack no ointments, Eccl. ix. 8.
To shake their HEADS at any one, is sometimes a gesture of contempt and insult: The virgin the daughter of Sion hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her Head at thee. Isa. xxxv. 11, 22. This sometimes was a sign of joy and admiration. Job’s friends and relations, after his cure and restoration, came to eat and rejoice with him: Et moverunt caput super eum. Job xlii. 11.