כֹּהֵן (H3548) — Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּהֵן

𐤊𐤄𐤍

kôhên

H3548 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

An individual officially serving in a religious capacity, especially as an officiant in ritual or sacrificial contexts; most often, a member of a hereditary group responsible for overseeing offerings, maintaining sanctity, and mediating between the divine and the community. The term may also refer more broadly to religious functionaries or, in rare cases, non-Israelite priests or high-ranking religious officials in other cultures. Semantic range includes: religious officiant, sacrificial priest, temple functionary, cultic authority, religious leader, priest-like figure (in metaphorical or foreign contexts).

Semantic Range

priest, religious official, ritual functionary, temple officiant, sacrificial mediator, magico-religious figure (in foreign contexts), metaphorical leader

Root / Etymology

From the root כָּהַן (khn), meaning 'to officiate as a priest' or 'to serve in a sacerdotal capacity.' כֹּהֵן is the active participle form, literally 'one who performs priestly service.' The root denotes performance of religious rituals, though the noun came to refer specifically to the Israelite priestly office. Cognate forms appear in other Semitic languages (e.g., Ugaritic khn, Akkadian kinu), usually denoting similar ritual-religious functions.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, כֹּהֵן most commonly designates members of the Israelite priesthood, descended from Aaron, who hold exclusive rights to officiate sacrifices and maintain the tabernacle/temple cult. During the monarchic period and through the Second Temple period, the word increasingly denotes the hereditary priestly caste, often distinguished from Levites (assistants) and lay Israelites. In non-Israelite settings (cf. Melchizedek as priest of El Elyon, or 'priests of Dagon'), כֹּהֵן is used generically for individuals in similar ritual roles among other peoples. In postexilic and later periods, the term becomes specialized for the temple priesthood in Jerusalem. English translations often render כֹּהֵן as 'priest,' but this can obscure differences between Israelite, Judahite, and other ancient near Eastern religious officials. In some passages, the term is metaphorically extended to prominent figures exercising mediating functions (e.g., in reference to royal advisors or leaders in certain poetic texts). Use of 'priest' as a translation can be misleading for pre-monarchic or early Israelite contexts, where ritual roles may not have been as institutionally formalized as in later periods. The modern surname 'Cohen' derives from this term, reflecting descent from the priestly line, but this carries later associations not present in the biblical text.

Translation Consistency

primary "priest" 42 occurrences

'Priest' is by far the dominant, natural English equivalent in the SILEX range and in actual usage (432 of 750 occurrences). It cleanly covers the primary sense—hereditary/official religious officiant, temple functionary, sacrificial mediator—and easily yields regular singular/plural and possessive forms for consistency across all SIDANCE entries. It also accommodates broader or metaphorical uses (foreign or high-ranking religious figures) without forcing an awkward or overly technical alternative.

Alternatives (8 occurrences):

"officiating-priests" (8x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

active participle of כָּהַן; literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman); chief ruler, [idiom] own, priest, prince, principal officer.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

כהן (kâhan) — to serve as a priest, to perform cultic duties

Root כהן to officiate, serve in religious ritual, conduct priestly service

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H3547	כָּהַן	he performed priestly service
H3549	כָּהֵן	the priests
H3550	כְּהֻנָּה	the priestly office

Word Forms

36 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`H3548-05`	הַ/כֹּהֵ֗ן	hakohen	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the priest	the officiating priest	the officiating priest	355
`H3548-04`	הַ/כֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים	hakohanim	`HTd/Ncmpa`	the priests	the officiating-priests	the officiating-priests	182
`H3548-19`	כֹּהֵ֖ן	kohen	`HNcmsa`	priest	officiating priest	priest of	30
`H3548-29`	וְ/הַ/כֹּהֲנִ֖ים	vehakohanim	`HC/Td/Ncmpa`	and the priests	and the officiating-priests	and the priests	28
`H3548-20`	לַ/כֹּהֲנִ֖ים	lakohanim	`HRd/Ncmpa`	to the priests	to the priestly officiants	to the priests	23
`H3548-18`	כֹּהֲנִ֑ים	kohanim	`HNcmpa`	priests	officiating priests	priests	18
`H3548-21`	לַ/כֹּהֵ֑ן	lakohen	`HRd/Ncmsa`	to the priest	to the priestly officiant	to the priest	18
`H3548-10`	כֹהֵ֖ן	khohen	`HNcmsa`	priest	ritual officiant	priest	14
`H3548-13`	כֹּהֲנֵ֥י	kohaney	`HNcmpc`	priests	officiating priests of	officiating priests of	12
`H3548-30`	וְ/הַ/כֹּהֵ֣ן	vehakohen	`HC/Td/Ncmsa`	and the priest	and the priestly officiant	and the priest	7
`H3548-09`	כֹהֲנִ֖ים	khohanim	`HNcmpa`	priests	priestly officiants	priests	6
`H3548-23`	לְ/כֹהֵֽן	lekhohen	`HR/Ncmsa`	as priest	to a priest-officiant	to a priest	6
`H3548-01`	בַּ/כֹּהֲנִ֑ים	bakohanim	`HRd/Ncmpa`	the priests	among the officiating priests	among the priests	5
`H3548-36`	וְ/לַ/כֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים	velakohanim	`HC/Rd/Ncmpa`	and-to-the-priests	and to the priest-officiants	and to the priest-officiants	5
`H3548-12`	כֹּהֲנָי/ו֩	kohanayv	`HNcmpc/Sp3ms`	his priests	his officiating-priests	his priests	4
`H3548-14`	כֹּהֲנֶ֜י/הָ	kohaneyha	`HNcmpc/Sp3fs`	her priests	her officiating-priests	her priests	4
`H3548-24`	מֵֽ/הַ/כֹּהֲנִֽים	mehakohanim	`HR/Td/Ncmpa`	of the priests	from the officiating-priests	from the priests	4
`H3548-25`	מִ/כֹּהֵ֔ן	mikohen	`HR/Ncmsa`	from the priest	from a priest-officiant	from a priest	3
`H3548-27`	וּ/לְ/כֹהֵ֥ן	ulekhohen	`HC/R/Ncmsc`	and a priest	and to a priestly-officiant	and to a priest	3
`H3548-06`	כַּ/כֹּהֵ֑ן	kakohen	`HRd/Ncmsa`	like priest	as a priestly officiant	as a priest	2
`H3548-16`	כֹּהֲנֶ֜י/ךָ	kohaneykha	`HNcmpc/Sp2ms`	your-priests	your priest-officiants	your priests	2
`H3548-17`	כֹּהֲנֵ֣י/נוּ	kohaneynu	`HNcmpc/Sp1cp`	our priests	our priest-officiants	our priests	2
`H3548-31`	וְ/כֹהֲנָ֛י/ו	vekhohanayv	`HC/Ncmpc/Sp3ms`	and his priests	and his officiating-priests	and his priests	2
`H3548-32`	וְ/כֹהֲנֶ֨י/הָ֙	vekhohaneyha	`HC/Ncmpc/Sp3fs`	and her priests	and her priestly officiants	and her priests	2
`H3548-35`	וְ/כֹהֵֽן	vekhohen	`HC/Ncmsa`	but a priest	and priestly officiant	and priest	2
`H3548-02`	בְּֽ/כֹהֲנָ֗י/ו	bekhohanayv	`HR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms`	among his priests	among his priest-officiants	among his priests	1
`H3548-03`	בְּ/כֹהֲנֵ֥י	bekhohaney	`HR/Ncmpc`	the priests of	officiating priests of	priests of	1
`H3548-07`	כֹהֲנֵ֨י	khohaney	`HNcmpc`	priests of	officiating priests of	priests of	1
`H3548-08`	כֹהֲנֵ֜י/נוּ	khohaneynu	`HNcmpc/Sp1cp`	our priests	our officiating priests	our priests	1
`H3548-11`	כֹּהֲנַ֥/י	kohanay	`HNcmpc/Sp1cs`	my priests	my priests	my priests	1
`H3548-15`	כֹּהֲנֵי/הֶ֖ם	kohaneyhem	`HNcmpc/Sp3mp`	their priests	their priests	their priests	1
`H3548-22`	לְ/כֹהֲנֶ֖י/הָ	lekhohaneyha	`HR/Ncmpc/Sp3fs`	its priests	to her priest-officiants	to her priests	1
`H3548-26`	וּ/לְ/כֹהֲנֵ֛י/נוּ	ulekhohaneynu	`HC/R/Ncmpc/Sp1cp`	and-upon-our-priests	and to our priest-officiants	and to our priests	1
`H3548-28`	וּ/בַ/כֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים	uvakohanim	`HC/Rd/Ncmpa`	and-in-the-priests	and in the officiating-priests	and among the priests	1
`H3548-33`	וְ/כֹהֲנֵי/הֶ֖ם	vekhohaneyhem	`HC/Ncmpc/Sp3mp`	and their priests	and their priest-officiants	and their priests	1
`H3548-34`	וְ/כֹ֨הֲנִ֜ים	vekhohanim	`HC/Ncmpa`	and the priests	priestly officiants	priests	1

Occurrences in Scripture

750 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`H3548-10`	Genesis 14:18	כֹהֵ֖ן	khohen	`HNcmsa`	priest	ritual officiant	priest
`H3548-19`	Genesis 41:45	כֹּהֵ֥ן	kohen	`HNcmsc`	priest	officiating priest	priest of
`H3548-19`	Genesis 41:50	כֹּהֵ֥ן	kohen	`HNcmsc`	priest	officiating priest	priest of
`H3548-19`	Genesis 46:20	כֹּהֵ֣ן	kohen	`HNcmsc`	priest	officiating priest	priest of
`H3548-04`	Genesis 47:22	הַ/כֹּהֲנִ֖ים	hakohanim	`HTd/Ncmpa`	the priests	the officiating-priests	the officiating-priests
`H3548-20`	Genesis 47:22	לַ/כֹּהֲנִ֜ים	lakohanim	`HRd/Ncmpa`	for the priests	to the priestly officiants	to the priests
`H3548-04`	Genesis 47:26	הַ/כֹּֽהֲנִים֙	hakohanim	`HTd/Ncmpa`	the priests	the officiating-priests	the officiating-priests
`H3548-27`	Exodus 2:16	וּ/לְ/כֹהֵ֥ן	ulekhohen	`HC/R/Ncmsc`	Now the priest of	and to a priestly-officiant	and to a priest
`H3548-19`	Exodus 3:1	כֹּהֵ֣ן	kohen	`HNcmsc`	the priest of	officiating priest	priest of
`H3548-10`	Exodus 18:1	כֹהֵ֤ן	khohen	`HNcmsc`	priest	ritual officiant	priest
`H3548-18`	Exodus 19:6	כֹּהֲנִ֖ים	kohanim	`HNcmpa`	of priests	officiating priests	priests
`H3548-04`	Exodus 19:22	הַ/כֹּהֲנִ֛ים	hakohanim	`HTd/Ncmpa`	the priests	the officiating-priests	the officiating-priests
`H3548-29`	Exodus 19:24	וְ/הַ/כֹּהֲנִ֣ים	vehakohanim	`HC/Td/Ncmpa`	and the priests	and the officiating-priests	and the priests
`H3548-05`	Exodus 29:30	הַ/כֹּהֵ֛ן	hakohen	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the priest	the officiating priest	the officiating priest
`H3548-05`	Exodus 31:10	הַ/כֹּהֵ֔ן	hakohen	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the priest	the officiating priest	the officiating priest
`H3548-05`	Exodus 35:19	הַ/כֹּהֵ֔ן	hakohen	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the priest	the officiating priest	the officiating priest
`H3548-05`	Exodus 38:21	הַ/כֹּהֵֽן	hakohen	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the priest	the officiating priest	the officiating priest
`H3548-05`	Exodus 39:41	הַ/כֹּהֵ֔ן	hakohen	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the priest	the officiating priest	the officiating priest
`H3548-04`	Leviticus 1:5	הַֽ/כֹּֽהֲנִים֙	hakohanim	`HTd/Ncmpa`	the priests	the officiating-priests	the officiating-priests
`H3548-05`	Leviticus 1:7	הַ/כֹּהֵ֛ן	hakohen	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the priest	the officiating priest	the officiating priest
`H3548-04`	Leviticus 1:8	הַ/כֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים	hakohanim	`HTd/Ncmpa`	the priests	the officiating-priests	the officiating-priests
`H3548-05`	Leviticus 1:9	הַ/כֹּהֵ֤ן	hakohen	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the priest	the officiating priest	the officiating priest
`H3548-04`	Leviticus 1:11	הַ/כֹּהֲנִ֧ים	hakohanim	`HTd/Ncmpa`	the priests	the officiating-priests	the officiating-priests
`H3548-05`	Leviticus 1:12	הַ/כֹּהֵן֙	hakohen	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the priest	the officiating priest	the officiating priest
`H3548-05`	Leviticus 1:13	הַ/כֹּהֵ֤ן	hakohen	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the-priest	the officiating priest	the officiating priest
`H3548-05`	Leviticus 1:15	הַ/כֹּהֵן֙	hakohen	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the priest	the officiating priest	the officiating priest
`H3548-05`	Leviticus 1:17	הַ/כֹּהֵן֙	hakohen	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the priest	the officiating priest	the officiating priest
`H3548-04`	Leviticus 2:2	הַ/כֹּהֲנִים֒	hakohanim	`HTd/Ncmpa`	the priests	the officiating-priests	the officiating-priests
`H3548-05`	Leviticus 2:2	הַ/כֹּהֵ֜ן	hakohen	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the priest	the officiating priest	the officiating priest
`H3548-05`	Leviticus 2:8	הַ/כֹּהֵ֔ן	hakohen	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the priest	the officiating priest	the officiating priest
`H3548-05`	Leviticus 2:9	הַ/כֹּהֵ֤ן	hakohen	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the priest	the officiating priest	the officiating priest
`H3548-05`	Leviticus 2:16	הַ/כֹּהֵ֜ן	hakohen	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the priest	the officiating priest	the officiating priest
`H3548-04`	Leviticus 3:2	הַ/כֹּהֲנִ֧ים	hakohanim	`HTd/Ncmpa`	the priests	the officiating-priests	the officiating-priests
`H3548-05`	Leviticus 3:11	הַ/כֹּהֵ֖ן	hakohen	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the priest	the officiating priest	the officiating priest
`H3548-05`	Leviticus 3:16	הַ/כֹּהֵ֖ן	hakohen	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the priest	the officiating priest	the officiating priest
`H3548-05`	Leviticus 4:3	הַ/כֹּהֵ֧ן	hakohen	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the priest	the officiating priest	the officiating priest
`H3548-05`	Leviticus 4:5	הַ/כֹּהֵ֥ן	hakohen	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the priest	the officiating priest	the officiating priest
`H3548-05`	Leviticus 4:6	הַ/כֹּהֵ֛ן	hakohen	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the priest	the officiating priest	the officiating priest
`H3548-05`	Leviticus 4:7	הַ/כֹּהֵ֨ן	hakohen	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the priest	the officiating priest	the officiating priest
`H3548-05`	Leviticus 4:10	הַ/כֹּהֵ֔ן	hakohen	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the priest	the officiating priest	the officiating priest
`H3548-05`	Leviticus 4:16	הַ/כֹּהֵ֥ן	hakohen	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the priest	the officiating priest	the officiating priest
`H3548-05`	Leviticus 4:17	הַ/כֹּהֵ֛ן	hakohen	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the priest	the officiating priest	the officiating priest
`H3548-05`	Leviticus 4:20	הַ/כֹּהֵ֖ן	hakohen	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the priest	the officiating priest	the officiating priest
`H3548-05`	Leviticus 4:25	הַ/כֹּהֵ֜ן	hakohen	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the priest	the officiating priest	the officiating priest
`H3548-05`	Leviticus 4:26	הַ/כֹּהֵ֛ן	hakohen	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the-priest	the officiating priest	the officiating priest
`H3548-05`	Leviticus 4:30	הַ/כֹּהֵ֤ן	hakohen	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the priest	the officiating priest	the officiating priest
`H3548-05`	Leviticus 4:31	הַ/כֹּהֵן֙	hakohen	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the-priest	the officiating priest	the officiating priest
`H3548-05`	Leviticus 4:31	הַ/כֹּהֵ֖ן	hakohen-2	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the-priest	the officiating priest	the officiating priest
`H3548-05`	Leviticus 4:34	הַ/כֹּהֵ֜ן	hakohen	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the priest	the officiating priest	the officiating priest
`H3548-05`	Leviticus 4:35	הַ/כֹּהֵ֤ן	hakohen	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the priest	the officiating priest	the officiating priest

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