כֹּהֵן

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