Word
כֹּהֵן
kôhên · H3548 · Hebrew · 750 occurrences
Meanings
-
priest
Person ordained and consecrated to perform religious services on behalf of others
ExamplesGenesis 14:18 And Melchizedek the king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High.
Genesis 41:45 Then Pharaoh named Joseph Zaphenath-paneah; and he gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, to be his wife. And Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.
Genesis 41:50 Now before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, bore to him.
How it’s used In 10 roles
Every occurrence, grouped by the words it is grammatically related to.
the word studied the word it goes with
Whose, or of whatGenitive or possessive
52 occurrences in 14 groups
- בָּמָהhigh place, heights 7
- הוּhis 7
- הּher 7
- יְהֹוָהthe LORD, YHWH 6
- רֹאשׁhead, top, chief 5
- נוּour 4
- Other words · 6 groups that occur once or twice (10) 10
Words describing itAdjectives, demonstratives, participles
63 occurrences in 34 groups
- גָּדוֹלgreat, large 21
- מָשִׁיחַanointed (one) 4
- שֶׁבַעseven 4
- הָיָהto be, to become 3
- מָשַׁחto anoint 3
- שָׁרַתto minister, to serve, to attend 3
- Other words · 28 groups that occur once or twice (32) 32
Named alongside itApposition
224 occurrences in 60 groups
- אֶלְעָזָרEleazar 29
- בֵּןson 21
- אַהֲרוֹןAaron 16
- יְהוֹיָדָעJehoiada 16
- לֵוִיִּיLevite 15
- נָשָׂאto lift up, to carry, to bear 13
- Other words · 37 groups that occur once or twice (42) 42
What it doesIt is the subject
275 occurrences in 82 groups
- רָאָהto see 26
- כָּפַרto make atonement, to atone, to forgive 20
- לָקַחto take, to receive 18
- קָטַרto burn incense, to burn (offerings) 12
- עָשָׂהto do, to make 11
- טָהֵרto become clean, to purify, to cleanse 9
- Other words · 54 groups that occur once or twice (65) 65
What is done to itIt is the object
41 occurrences in 21 groups
- הָיָהto be, to become 8
- עָמַדto stand 4
- עָשָׂהto do, to make 4
- צָוָהto give orders 4
- Other words · 17 groups that occur once or twice (21) 21
Second object ofSecond object
1 occurrences in 1 groups
- נָתַןto give, to put, to set 1
What it is said to bePredicate
8 occurrences in 7 groups
- הֶםthem 2
- בֵּןson 1
- אֵלֶּהthese 1
- פָּנִיםface, presence, before 1
- רוּעַto shout 1
- שָׁםthere 1
What is said to be itIt is the predicate
20 occurrences in 19 groups
- צָדוֹקZadok 4
- Other words · 18 groups that occur once or twice (24) 24
After prepositionsPrepositional phrases
128 occurrences in 9 groups
- לto/for 85
- אֵלto, toward 63
- מִןfrom 15
- בin/on/with 11
- עַלon, upon, over, against 5
- נֶגֶדbefore, opposite 4
In phrases “… of it”It is the genitive
75 occurrences in 33 groups
- פָּנִיםface, presence, before 7
- בַּתdaughter 5
- מָוֶתdeath 5
- רֶגֶלfoot, leg 5
- בֵּןson 4
- כַּףpalm, hand 4
- Other words · 22 groups that occur once or twice (28) 28
When two words share a role, as in “Paul and Barnabas said”, the verse appears under each, so a section’s counts can add up to more than the number of occurrences.
MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.
In the other Testament 3 words
- ἱερεύς hiereús · G2409 · priest
- Greek ἱερεύς is the standard Septuagint rendering of Hebrew כֹּהֵן across priestly contexts, carrying the same core semantic range of cultic/religious officiant roles.
- כָּהֵן kâhên · H3549 · priest
- Aramaic cognate of the Hebrew term, sharing the same root and core priestly sense; used in Daniel's Aramaic sections.
- ἀρχιερεύς archiereús · G749 · chief priest, high priest, most important priest
- Greek ἀρχιερεύς specifically denotes the high priest (chief among priests), whereas Hebrew כֹּהֵן covers the general priestly office and can include chief priests but is not restricted to that elevated rank; the cross-linguistic equivalence holds where context specifies the high priest role.
Semantic domains 1 entry
- Priests001001003008
- The noun is the common word for priest, naming the individuals who minister before the LORD throughout the Levitical and historical books, and by extension a chief ruler or officer in a small number of occurrences.
Word family 4 words
Words formed from the same root. They share a form, not always a meaning.
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon H3548. kohen כֹּהֵן750 noun masculine priest (Late Hebrew כֹּהֵן; Aramaic כַּהֲנָא…
H3548. kohen
כֹּהֵן750 noun masculine priest (Late Hebrew כֹּהֵן; Aramaic כַּהֲנָא כָּהֵין,, , ; Ethiopic all id.; on Phoenician and Arabic see above); — ׳כ Gen 14:18 439t.; plural כֹּהֲנִים Exo 19:6 272t.; construct כֹּהֲנֵי 1Sa 5:5 13t.; suffix כֹּהֲנַי Lam 1:19 Lam 1:22t. suffixes —
1 priest-king: e.g. Melchizedek Gen 14:18 (E ?), compare Psa 110:4 (the Messianic priest-king like Melchizedek); Zec 6:13 (Messianic priest and king); Israel כֹּהֲנִים מַמְלֶכֶת Exo 19:6 (E) a kingdom of priests (priests and kings at once in their relation to the nations); compare Isa 61:6 (of Israel ministering as a priest); or a chieftain (exercising priestly functions) מִדְיָן כֹּהֵן Exo 2:16; Exo 3:1; Exo 18:1 (all J E); so also probably the sons of David 2Sa 8:18, his grandson 1Ki 4:5, and Ira the Jairite 2Sa 20:26, who as princes performed priestly functions. With these we may class the כהנים Exo 19:22, Exo 19:24 (J).
2 priests of other religions than ׳י 's: Potiphera ׳כ אֹן Gen 41:45, Gen 41:50 (E), Gen 46:20 (P); Egyptian כהנים Gen 47:22 (twice in verse); Gen 47:26 (J); ׳כ דָגוֺן 1Sa 5:5; Philistine וקסמים כהנים 1Sa 6:2; כֹּהֲנָיו his priests: e.g. of Baal 2Ki 10:19 +? 2Ki 10:11; of Chemosh Jer 48:7; of Malcam Jer 49:3; Mattan was ׳כ הבעל 2Ki 11:18 2Ch 23:17; הכהנים עם הכמרים Zep 1:4; Josiah burned the bones of the priests of the Baalim and Asherim 2Ch 34:5.
3 priests of special orders in Israel:
a. Micah in the hill-country of Ephraim consecrated his own son לְכֹהֵן וַיְהִילֿוֺ Jdg 17:5; but so soon as he could secure Jonathan ben Gershom, a descendant of Moses (see VB Jdg 18:30), he consecrated him, ל ׳היה לכהן Jdg 17:10, Jdg 17:12, Jdg 17:13; Jdg 18:4, Jdg 18:19; הַכֹּהֵן Jdg 18:6; Jdg 18:17; Jdg 18:18; Jdg 18:20; Jdg 18:24; Jdg 18:27. He was captured by the Danites, and he and his line became priests at Dan until the Exile, Jdg 18:19; Jdg 18:19; Jdg 18:30.
b. Jeroboam כהנים עשׂה 1Ki 12:31 of those not לוי מבני, as ׳כ (הַ)בָּמוֺת priests of (the) high places 1Ki 12:32; 1Ki 13:2, 1Ki 13:33 (twice in verse) = ׳כ לבמות2Ch 11:15; Amaziah (of this class) was ׳כ ביתאֿל Amo 7:10; see also 2Ch 13:9; called by Chronicler ׳כ אלהים לְלֹא 2Ch 13:9; yet Hosea rebukes them as priests of ׳י Hos 4:4, Hos 4:9; Hos 5:1; Hos 6:9; at the Exile they were deported by the Assyrians 2Ki 17:27-28,.
c. the people imported into Samaria made some of themselves ׳כ במות to worship ׳י the God of the land 2Ki 17:32.
4 priests in Israel הכהנים who bore the ark and the trumpets Jos 3:13-14, Jos 3:15, Jos 3:17; Jos 4:3, Jos 4:9, Jos 4:10, Jos 4:17, Jos 4:18 (twice in verse); Jos 6:4 (twice in verse); Jos 6:6 (twice in verse); Jos 6:8-9, Jos 6:12, Jos 6:13, Jos 6:16 (all J E), 1Ki 8:3, 1Ki 8:6, 1Ki 8:10, 1Ki 8:11; Eli was הכהן 1Sa 1:9; 1Sa 2:11; ׳כ יהוה 1Sa 14:3; and his sons ׳כ ליהוה 1Sa 1:3; a הַכֹּהֲנִים מִשְׁמַּט 1Sa 2:13 mentions the ministering priest הכהן and the הַכ ׳נַעַר 1Sa 2:13-14, 1Sa 2:15 (twice in verse), Ahijah was ׳הַכּ in time of Saul 1Sa 14:19 (twice in verse); 1Sa 14:36; Abimelech ׳הַכּ at Nob, a priestly center, 1Sa 21:2; 1Sa 21:3; 1Sa 21:5; 1Sa 21:6; 1Sa 21:7; 1Sa 21:10; 1Sa 22:11; where were many י ׳כֹּהֲנֵי 1Sa 22:17 (twice in verse); 1Sa 22:21, all slain by Saul except Abiathar son of Ahimelech 1Sa 22:11, 1Sa 22:18 (twice in verse); 1Sa 22:19, who became ׳הַכּ 1Sa 23:9; 1Sa 30:7; 1Ki 1:7, 1Ki 1:19, 1Ki 1:25, 1Ki 1:42; 1Ki 2:22, 1Ki 2:26; Zadok later was ׳הַכּ 2Sa 15:27; 1Ki 1:8, 1Ki 1:26, 1Ki 1:32, 1Ki 1:34, 1Ki 1:38, 1Ki 1:39, 1Ki 1:44, 1Ki 1:45; 1Ki 2:35; 1Ki 3:2; 1Ch 16:39; 1Ch 24:6: so that the two were (ה)כהנים 2Sa 8:17 = 1Ch 18:16 (read בֶּןאֿח ׳וְאֶבְיָתָר 2Sa 8:17 ᵑ6 We Dr, and correct 1Ch 18:16 accordingly) 2Sa 15:35 (twice in verse); 2Sa 17:15; 2Sa 19:12; 2Sa 20:25; 1Ki 4:4; Solomon removed Abiathar 1Ki 2:27 and Zadok was anointed לְכֹהֵן according to 1Ch 29:22; compare prediction of rejection of house of Eli and selection of ׳כ נֶאֱמָן 1Sa 2:28, 1Sa 2:35; Jehoiada ׳הַכּ led the revolution against Athaliah 2Ki 11:9 (twice in verse); 2Ki 11:10, 2Ki 11:15 (twice in verse); 2Ki 11:18; 2Ki 12:3; 2Ki 12:8; 2Ki 12:10 2Ch 22:11; 2Ch 23:8 (twice in verse); 2Ch 23:9, 2Ch 23:14 (twice in verse); 2Ch 24:2, 2Ch 24:20, 2Ch 24:25, perhaps also Jer 29:26; הכהנים sustaining him in his reforms 2Ki 12:5; 2Ki 12:6; 2Ki 12:7; 2Ki 12:8; 2Ki 12:9; 2Ki 12:10; 2Ki 12:17; Uriah was ׳הַכּ in the reign of Ahaz 2Ki 16:10-11, (twice in verse); 2Ki 16:15-16, Isa 8:2; Hilkiah of Josiah 2Ki 22:10, 2Ki 22:12, 2Ki 22:14; 2Ki 23:24; 2Ch 34:14, 2Ch 34:18. Other individual priests are named, e.g.: Pashhur of Jehoiachin Jer 20:1; Zephaniah of Zedekiah Jer 21:1; Jer 29:25-26, Jer 29:29; Jer 37:3; ׳הַכּ is Ezekiel's title Eze 1:3. Priests are classed with officials of state: prophets and priests 2Ki 23:2; Isa 28:7; Jer 5:31; Jer 6:13; Jer 8:10; Jer 14:18; Jer 23:11, Jer 23:33, Jer 23:34; Jer 26:7-8, Jer 26:11, Jer 26:16; Jer 29:1; Lam 2:20; Lam 4:13; priests and elders Lam 1:19; Lam 4:16; king and priest Lam 2:6; kings, priests, and prophets Jer 13:13; kings, princes, and priests Jer 1:18; princes, eunuchs, and priests Jer 34:19; priest, sage, and prophet Jer 18:18; chiefs, priests, and prophets Mic 3:11; prophets, priests, and elders Eze 7:26; kings, princes, priests, and prophets Jer 2:26; Jer 4:9; Jer 8:1; Jer 32:32; princes, judges, prophets, and priests Zep 3:4; seeming to exclude any other officials. Apparently in the same Generic sense הכהנים Jer 1:1; Jer 2:8; Jer 27:16; Jer 28:1, Jer 28:5; Jer 29:25; Jer 31:14; כַּכֹּהֵן Isa 24:2; כהנים Job 12:19; כהניה Lam 1:4; Eze 22:26; כהניו Psa 78:64. Moses and Aaron among his priests Psa 99:6 includes Moses (against P). Zion's priests clothed with righteousness and salvation Psa 132:9; Psa 132:16 2Ch 6:41, probably here also.
5 Levitical priests הַלְוִיִּם הַכֹּהֲנִים Deu 17:9, Deu 17:18; Deu 18:1; Deu 24:8; Deu 27:9; Jos 3:3; Jos 8:33 (all D), Jer 33:18 (inverted), Jer 33:21 (neither in ᵐ5), 2Ch 5:5 (= ׳וְהַלּ ׳הַכּ 1Ki 8:4: Chronicler retains original Deuteronomic reading), Eze 43:19; Eze 44:15 (compare
6); ׳הַכּ לִוֵי בְּנֵי Deu 21:5; Deu 31:9; לכ ׳לקח ׳לל Isa 66:21 take for priests, for Levites (of the nations in Messianic age). Doubtless of same class are: הַכֹּהֲנִים Deu 18:3; Deu 19:17; Jos 3:6, Jos 3:8; Jos 4:11 (D); and הַכֹּהֵן, the priest officiating on a particular occasion Deu 18:3; Deu 20:2; or holding a particular dignity Deu 17:12; Deu 26:3-4,. The כהנים of the other cities of Judah, ׳כ הבמות, who were not allowed to minister in Jerusalem 2Ki 23:8 (twice in verse); 2Ki 23:9, 2Ki 23:20, may be an attempt to enforce an exclusion from the priesthood of all but Levitical priests.
6 Zadokite priests: Ezekiel distinguishes among הלוים הכהנים those of the seed of Zadok, צָדוֺק בְּנֵי; all but the latter excluded by him from priesthood Eze 40:46; Eze 43:19; Eze 44:15; Eze 48:11; the priests of his code being all Zadokites Eze 40:45-46, Eze 42:13-14, Eze 43:24, Eze 43:27; Eze 44:21-22, Eze 44:30 (twice in verse); Eze 44:31; Eze 45:4, Eze 45:19; Eze 46:2, Eze 46:19, Eze 46:20; Eze 48:10, Eze 48:13.
7 Aaronic priests. In H. it is taken for granted that a priest is of the seed of Aaron; the plural is never used; כֹּהֵן is used for any priest Lev 21:9; Lev 22:10-11, Lev 22:12, Lev 22:13; הַכֹּהֵן for Aaron Lev 21:21, and for the official priest (acting for the priesthood, almost collective) Lev 17:5-6, Lev 22:14; Lev 23:10-11, Lev 23:20 (twice in verse); Lev 27:8 (3 t. in verse); Lev 27:11-12, (twice in verse); Lev 27:14 (twice in verse); Lev 27:18, Lev 27:21, Lev 27:23. The priests of P are אַהֲרֹן בְּנֵי Lev 1:5, Lev 1:8, Lev 1:11; Lev 2:2; Lev 3:2; Lev 21:1; Num 3:3; Num 10:8; Jos 21:19; so in Chronicles 2Ch 13:9-10, 2Ch 26:18; 2Ch 29:21; 2Ch 31:19; 2Ch 35:14 (twice in verse); הַכֹּהֵן is used of Aaron 22 t., Eleazar 29 t., Phinehas Jos 22:30 and elsewhere; 180 t. of ministering priests, or Generic of the priests; הכהנים Lev 6:22; Lev 7:6; Lev 13:2; Lev 16:33; Jos 4:16; כהן Lev 6:16. Chronicles distinguishes וְהַלְוִיִּם הַכֹּהֲנִים 1Ch 13:2; 1Ch 15:11, 1Ch 15:14; 1Ch 23:2; 1Ch 24:6, 1Ch 24:31; 1Ch 28:13, 1Ch 28:21; 2Ch 8:15; 2Ch 11:13; 2Ch 13:9-10, 2Ch 23:4; 2Ch 24:5; 2Ch 29:4; 2Ch 30:15, 2Ch 30:25; 2Ch 31:2 (twice in verse); 2Ch 31:4, 2Ch 31:9; 2Ch 34:30; 2Ch 35:8, 2Ch 35:18 (the variants without וְ2Ch 23:18; 2Ch 30:27 are due to copyists' errors), Ezr 1:5; Ezr 2:70; Ezr 3:8, Ezr 3:12; Ezr 6:20; Ezr 7:7; Ezr 8:29-30, Ezr 9:1; Neh 7:72; Neh 8:13; Neh 11:3; Neh 12:1, Neh 12:30, Neh 12:44 (twice in verse); Neh 13:30; והכהנים הלוים2Ch 19:8; 2Ch 30:21; priests, Levites, and others 1Ch 9:2; Ezr 10:5; Neh 10:1; Neh 10:29; Neh 10:35; Neh 11:20; לֵוִי בְּנֵי antith. to ׳הַכּ Ezr 8:15; הלוים עם אהרן בן הכהן Neh 10:39; (ה)כהנים in Chronicles 67 t. has the same reference, as also כֹּהֲנֵינוּ Ezr 9:7; Neh 9:32, Neh 9:34; כֹּהֵן Ezr 2:63 = Neh 7:65; ׳כ ליחוה2Ch 26:17; כהניו His (God's) priests2Ch 13:12; ׳כ מוֺרֶה teaching priest2Ch 15:3; הַכֹּהֵן is used of Jehoiada in time of David 1Ch 27:5, and Azariah in the reign of Uzziah 2Ch 26:17. In the literature of the restoration הַכֹּהֵן is used of Ezra, Ezr 7:11; Ezr 10:10, Ezr 10:16; Neh 8:2, Neh 8:9; Neh 12:26; Uriah Ezr 8:33; Eliashib Neh 13:4; Shelemiah Neh 13:13; הכהנים Joe 1:9, Joe 1:13; Joe 2:17; Hag 2:11-12, Hag 2:13; Zec 7:5; Mal 1:6; Mal 2:1; priests and prophets Zec 7:3; כהן Mal 2:7.
8 the high priest: הַכֹּהֵן is frequently used (see
4) to designate the priest who was at the head of priestly affairs. The adjective הַגָּדוֺל first appears of Jehoiada 2Ki 12:11, then of Hilkiah 2Ki 22:4, 2Ki 22:8; 2Ki 23:4; 2Ch 34:9; after the exile, of Joshua Hag 1:1, Hag 1:12, Hag 1:14; Hag 2:2, Hag 2:4; Zec 3:1, Zec 3:8; Zec 6:11, and Eliashib Neh 3:1, Neh 3:20; Neh 13:28. But P uses it of Aaron and his eldest descendants who are anointed with holy oil Lev 21:10 (H; ׳הכ מֵאֶחָיו הַגָּדוֺל), Num 35:25, Num 35:28 (twice in verse); Jos 20:6, and so ׳הַכּ הַמָּשִׁיחַ Lev 4:3, Lev 4:5, Lev 4:16; Lev 6:15, compare Lev 16:32. ׳כ הָראֹשׁ is used of Seraiah 2Ki 25:18 = Jer 52:24; and, in Chronicler, of Amariah 2Ch 19:11, Jehoiada 2Ch 24:11, Azariah 2Ch 26:20; 2Ch 31:10; of Aaron, Ezr 7:5. (We also supposes הרואה in 2Sa 15:27 to be a corruption of הראשׁ, which he regards as post-exilic insertion. The test is corrupt [see DrSm. 1.c.]; but this correction is improbable. Lists of high priests occur 1 Chronicles 5:30-41; 1Ch 6:35-38.) A priest of second rank (כ
כֹּהֵן750 noun masculine priest (Late Hebrew כֹּהֵן; Aramaic כַּהֲנָא כָּהֵין,, , ; Ethiopic all id.; on Phoenician and Arabic see above); — ׳כ Gen 14:18 439t.; plural כֹּהֲנִים Exo 19:6 272t.; construct כֹּהֲנֵי 1Sa 5:5 13t.; suffix כֹּהֲנַי Lam 1:19 Lam 1:22t. suffixes —
1 priest-king: e.g. Melchizedek Gen 14:18 (E ?), compare Psa 110:4 (the Messianic priest-king like Melchizedek); Zec 6:13 (Messianic priest and king); Israel כֹּהֲנִים מַמְלֶכֶת Exo 19:6 (E) a kingdom of priests (priests and kings at once in their relation to the nations); compare Isa 61:6 (of Israel ministering as a priest); or a chieftain (exercising priestly functions) מִדְיָן כֹּהֵן Exo 2:16; Exo 3:1; Exo 18:1 (all J E); so also probably the sons of David 2Sa 8:18, his grandson 1Ki 4:5, and Ira the Jairite 2Sa 20:26, who as princes performed priestly functions. With these we may class the כהנים Exo 19:22, Exo 19:24 (J).
2 priests of other religions than ׳י 's: Potiphera ׳כ אֹן Gen 41:45, Gen 41:50 (E), Gen 46:20 (P); Egyptian כהנים Gen 47:22 (twice in verse); Gen 47:26 (J); ׳כ דָגוֺן 1Sa 5:5; Philistine וקסמים כהנים 1Sa 6:2; כֹּהֲנָיו his priests: e.g. of Baal 2Ki 10:19 +? 2Ki 10:11; of Chemosh Jer 48:7; of Malcam Jer 49:3; Mattan was ׳כ הבעל 2Ki 11:18 2Ch 23:17; הכהנים עם הכמרים Zep 1:4; Josiah burned the bones of the priests of the Baalim and Asherim 2Ch 34:5.
3 priests of special orders in Israel:
a. Micah in the hill-country of Ephraim consecrated his own son לְכֹהֵן וַיְהִילֿוֺ Jdg 17:5; but so soon as he could secure Jonathan ben Gershom, a descendant of Moses (see VB Jdg 18:30), he consecrated him, ל ׳היה לכהן Jdg 17:10, Jdg 17:12, Jdg 17:13; Jdg 18:4, Jdg 18:19; הַכֹּהֵן Jdg 18:6; Jdg 18:17; Jdg 18:18; Jdg 18:20; Jdg 18:24; Jdg 18:27. He was captured by the Danites, and he and his line became priests at Dan until the Exile, Jdg 18:19; Jdg 18:19; Jdg 18:30.
b. Jeroboam כהנים עשׂה 1Ki 12:31 of those not לוי מבני, as ׳כ (הַ)בָּמוֺת priests of (the) high places 1Ki 12:32; 1Ki 13:2, 1Ki 13:33 (twice in verse) = ׳כ לבמות2Ch 11:15; Amaziah (of this class) was ׳כ ביתאֿל Amo 7:10; see also 2Ch 13:9; called by Chronicler ׳כ אלהים לְלֹא 2Ch 13:9; yet Hosea rebukes them as priests of ׳י Hos 4:4, Hos 4:9; Hos 5:1; Hos 6:9; at the Exile they were deported by the Assyrians 2Ki 17:27-28,.
c. the people imported into Samaria made some of themselves ׳כ במות to worship ׳י the God of the land 2Ki 17:32.
4 priests in Israel הכהנים who bore the ark and the trumpets Jos 3:13-14, Jos 3:15, Jos 3:17; Jos 4:3, Jos 4:9, Jos 4:10, Jos 4:17, Jos 4:18 (twice in verse); Jos 6:4 (twice in verse); Jos 6:6 (twice in verse); Jos 6:8-9, Jos 6:12, Jos 6:13, Jos 6:16 (all J E), 1Ki 8:3, 1Ki 8:6, 1Ki 8:10, 1Ki 8:11; Eli was הכהן 1Sa 1:9; 1Sa 2:11; ׳כ יהוה 1Sa 14:3; and his sons ׳כ ליהוה 1Sa 1:3; a הַכֹּהֲנִים מִשְׁמַּט 1Sa 2:13 mentions the ministering priest הכהן and the הַכ ׳נַעַר 1Sa 2:13-14, 1Sa 2:15 (twice in verse), Ahijah was ׳הַכּ in time of Saul 1Sa 14:19 (twice in verse); 1Sa 14:36; Abimelech ׳הַכּ at Nob, a priestly center, 1Sa 21:2; 1Sa 21:3; 1Sa 21:5; 1Sa 21:6; 1Sa 21:7; 1Sa 21:10; 1Sa 22:11; where were many י ׳כֹּהֲנֵי 1Sa 22:17 (twice in verse); 1Sa 22:21, all slain by Saul except Abiathar son of Ahimelech 1Sa 22:11, 1Sa 22:18 (twice in verse); 1Sa 22:19, who became ׳הַכּ 1Sa 23:9; 1Sa 30:7; 1Ki 1:7, 1Ki 1:19, 1Ki 1:25, 1Ki 1:42; 1Ki 2:22, 1Ki 2:26; Zadok later was ׳הַכּ 2Sa 15:27; 1Ki 1:8, 1Ki 1:26, 1Ki 1:32, 1Ki 1:34, 1Ki 1:38, 1Ki 1:39, 1Ki 1:44, 1Ki 1:45; 1Ki 2:35; 1Ki 3:2; 1Ch 16:39; 1Ch 24:6: so that the two were (ה)כהנים 2Sa 8:17 = 1Ch 18:16 (read בֶּןאֿח ׳וְאֶבְיָתָר 2Sa 8:17 ᵑ6 We Dr, and correct 1Ch 18:16 accordingly) 2Sa 15:35 (twice in verse); 2Sa 17:15; 2Sa 19:12; 2Sa 20:25; 1Ki 4:4; Solomon removed Abiathar 1Ki 2:27 and Zadok was anointed לְכֹהֵן according to 1Ch 29:22; compare prediction of rejection of house of Eli and selection of ׳כ נֶאֱמָן 1Sa 2:28, 1Sa 2:35; Jehoiada ׳הַכּ led the revolution against Athaliah 2Ki 11:9 (twice in verse); 2Ki 11:10, 2Ki 11:15 (twice in verse); 2Ki 11:18; 2Ki 12:3; 2Ki 12:8; 2Ki 12:10 2Ch 22:11; 2Ch 23:8 (twice in verse); 2Ch 23:9, 2Ch 23:14 (twice in verse); 2Ch 24:2, 2Ch 24:20, 2Ch 24:25, perhaps also Jer 29:26; הכהנים sustaining him in his reforms 2Ki 12:5; 2Ki 12:6; 2Ki 12:7; 2Ki 12:8; 2Ki 12:9; 2Ki 12:10; 2Ki 12:17; Uriah was ׳הַכּ in the reign of Ahaz 2Ki 16:10-11, (twice in verse); 2Ki 16:15-16, Isa 8:2; Hilkiah of Josiah 2Ki 22:10, 2Ki 22:12, 2Ki 22:14; 2Ki 23:24; 2Ch 34:14, 2Ch 34:18. Other individual priests are named, e.g.: Pashhur of Jehoiachin Jer 20:1; Zephaniah of Zedekiah Jer 21:1; Jer 29:25-26, Jer 29:29; Jer 37:3; ׳הַכּ is Ezekiel's title Eze 1:3. Priests are classed with officials of state: prophets and priests 2Ki 23:2; Isa 28:7; Jer 5:31; Jer 6:13; Jer 8:10; Jer 14:18; Jer 23:11, Jer 23:33, Jer 23:34; Jer 26:7-8, Jer 26:11, Jer 26:16; Jer 29:1; Lam 2:20; Lam 4:13; priests and elders Lam 1:19; Lam 4:16; king and priest Lam 2:6; kings, priests, and prophets Jer 13:13; kings, princes, and priests Jer 1:18; princes, eunuchs, and priests Jer 34:19; priest, sage, and prophet Jer 18:18; chiefs, priests, and prophets Mic 3:11; prophets, priests, and elders Eze 7:26; kings, princes, priests, and prophets Jer 2:26; Jer 4:9; Jer 8:1; Jer 32:32; princes, judges, prophets, and priests Zep 3:4; seeming to exclude any other officials. Apparently in the same Generic sense הכהנים Jer 1:1; Jer 2:8; Jer 27:16; Jer 28:1, Jer 28:5; Jer 29:25; Jer 31:14; כַּכֹּהֵן Isa 24:2; כהנים Job 12:19; כהניה Lam 1:4; Eze 22:26; כהניו Psa 78:64. Moses and Aaron among his priests Psa 99:6 includes Moses (against P). Zion's priests clothed with righteousness and salvation Psa 132:9; Psa 132:16 2Ch 6:41, probably here also.
5 Levitical priests הַלְוִיִּם הַכֹּהֲנִים Deu 17:9, Deu 17:18; Deu 18:1; Deu 24:8; Deu 27:9; Jos 3:3; Jos 8:33 (all D), Jer 33:18 (inverted), Jer 33:21 (neither in ᵐ5), 2Ch 5:5 (= ׳וְהַלּ ׳הַכּ 1Ki 8:4: Chronicler retains original Deuteronomic reading), Eze 43:19; Eze 44:15 (compare
6); ׳הַכּ לִוֵי בְּנֵי Deu 21:5; Deu 31:9; לכ ׳לקח ׳לל Isa 66:21 take for priests, for Levites (of the nations in Messianic age). Doubtless of same class are: הַכֹּהֲנִים Deu 18:3; Deu 19:17; Jos 3:6, Jos 3:8; Jos 4:11 (D); and הַכֹּהֵן, the priest officiating on a particular occasion Deu 18:3; Deu 20:2; or holding a particular dignity Deu 17:12; Deu 26:3-4,. The כהנים of the other cities of Judah, ׳כ הבמות, who were not allowed to minister in Jerusalem 2Ki 23:8 (twice in verse); 2Ki 23:9, 2Ki 23:20, may be an attempt to enforce an exclusion from the priesthood of all but Levitical priests.
6 Zadokite priests: Ezekiel distinguishes among הלוים הכהנים those of the seed of Zadok, צָדוֺק בְּנֵי; all but the latter excluded by him from priesthood Eze 40:46; Eze 43:19; Eze 44:15; Eze 48:11; the priests of his code being all Zadokites Eze 40:45-46, Eze 42:13-14, Eze 43:24, Eze 43:27; Eze 44:21-22, Eze 44:30 (twice in verse); Eze 44:31; Eze 45:4, Eze 45:19; Eze 46:2, Eze 46:19, Eze 46:20; Eze 48:10, Eze 48:13.
7 Aaronic priests. In H. it is taken for granted that a priest is of the seed of Aaron; the plural is never used; כֹּהֵן is used for any priest Lev 21:9; Lev 22:10-11, Lev 22:12, Lev 22:13; הַכֹּהֵן for Aaron Lev 21:21, and for the official priest (acting for the priesthood, almost collective) Lev 17:5-6, Lev 22:14; Lev 23:10-11, Lev 23:20 (twice in verse); Lev 27:8 (3 t. in verse); Lev 27:11-12, (twice in verse); Lev 27:14 (twice in verse); Lev 27:18, Lev 27:21, Lev 27:23. The priests of P are אַהֲרֹן בְּנֵי Lev 1:5, Lev 1:8, Lev 1:11; Lev 2:2; Lev 3:2; Lev 21:1; Num 3:3; Num 10:8; Jos 21:19; so in Chronicles 2Ch 13:9-10, 2Ch 26:18; 2Ch 29:21; 2Ch 31:19; 2Ch 35:14 (twice in verse); הַכֹּהֵן is used of Aaron 22 t., Eleazar 29 t., Phinehas Jos 22:30 and elsewhere; 180 t. of ministering priests, or Generic of the priests; הכהנים Lev 6:22; Lev 7:6; Lev 13:2; Lev 16:33; Jos 4:16; כהן Lev 6:16. Chronicles distinguishes וְהַלְוִיִּם הַכֹּהֲנִים 1Ch 13:2; 1Ch 15:11, 1Ch 15:14; 1Ch 23:2; 1Ch 24:6, 1Ch 24:31; 1Ch 28:13, 1Ch 28:21; 2Ch 8:15; 2Ch 11:13; 2Ch 13:9-10, 2Ch 23:4; 2Ch 24:5; 2Ch 29:4; 2Ch 30:15, 2Ch 30:25; 2Ch 31:2 (twice in verse); 2Ch 31:4, 2Ch 31:9; 2Ch 34:30; 2Ch 35:8, 2Ch 35:18 (the variants without וְ2Ch 23:18; 2Ch 30:27 are due to copyists' errors), Ezr 1:5; Ezr 2:70; Ezr 3:8, Ezr 3:12; Ezr 6:20; Ezr 7:7; Ezr 8:29-30, Ezr 9:1; Neh 7:72; Neh 8:13; Neh 11:3; Neh 12:1, Neh 12:30, Neh 12:44 (twice in verse); Neh 13:30; והכהנים הלוים2Ch 19:8; 2Ch 30:21; priests, Levites, and others 1Ch 9:2; Ezr 10:5; Neh 10:1; Neh 10:29; Neh 10:35; Neh 11:20; לֵוִי בְּנֵי antith. to ׳הַכּ Ezr 8:15; הלוים עם אהרן בן הכהן Neh 10:39; (ה)כהנים in Chronicles 67 t. has the same reference, as also כֹּהֲנֵינוּ Ezr 9:7; Neh 9:32, Neh 9:34; כֹּהֵן Ezr 2:63 = Neh 7:65; ׳כ ליחוה2Ch 26:17; כהניו His (God's) priests2Ch 13:12; ׳כ מוֺרֶה teaching priest2Ch 15:3; הַכֹּהֵן is used of Jehoiada in time of David 1Ch 27:5, and Azariah in the reign of Uzziah 2Ch 26:17. In the literature of the restoration הַכֹּהֵן is used of Ezra, Ezr 7:11; Ezr 10:10, Ezr 10:16; Neh 8:2, Neh 8:9; Neh 12:26; Uriah Ezr 8:33; Eliashib Neh 13:4; Shelemiah Neh 13:13; הכהנים Joe 1:9, Joe 1:13; Joe 2:17; Hag 2:11-12, Hag 2:13; Zec 7:5; Mal 1:6; Mal 2:1; priests and prophets Zec 7:3; כהן Mal 2:7.
8 the high priest: הַכֹּהֵן is frequently used (see
4) to designate the priest who was at the head of priestly affairs. The adjective הַגָּדוֺל first appears of Jehoiada 2Ki 12:11, then of Hilkiah 2Ki 22:4, 2Ki 22:8; 2Ki 23:4; 2Ch 34:9; after the exile, of Joshua Hag 1:1, Hag 1:12, Hag 1:14; Hag 2:2, Hag 2:4; Zec 3:1, Zec 3:8; Zec 6:11, and Eliashib Neh 3:1, Neh 3:20; Neh 13:28. But P uses it of Aaron and his eldest descendants who are anointed with holy oil Lev 21:10 (H; ׳הכ מֵאֶחָיו הַגָּדוֺל), Num 35:25, Num 35:28 (twice in verse); Jos 20:6, and so ׳הַכּ הַמָּשִׁיחַ Lev 4:3, Lev 4:5, Lev 4:16; Lev 6:15, compare Lev 16:32. ׳כ הָראֹשׁ is used of Seraiah 2Ki 25:18 = Jer 52:24; and, in Chronicler, of Amariah 2Ch 19:11, Jehoiada 2Ch 24:11, Azariah 2Ch 26:20; 2Ch 31:10; of Aaron, Ezr 7:5. (We also supposes הרואה in 2Sa 15:27 to be a corruption of הראשׁ, which he regards as post-exilic insertion. The test is corrupt [see DrSm. 1.c.]; but this correction is improbable. Lists of high priests occur 1 Chronicles 5:30-41; 1Ch 6:35-38.) A priest of second rank (כ
Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), public domain
Topical studies with this word 1 entry
Meanings adapted from the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament, © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0 and the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew (from the Semantic Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew), © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0; MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.
Sources
eRhema lexical overview, based on the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew and the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament (© United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Macula Hebrew and Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0); released under CC BY-SA 4.0
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org.