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כָּהַן

𐤊𐤄𐤍

kâhan

H3547 verb

SILEX Entry

Root כהן to serve as a priest, to perform cultic duties

Definition

To exercise the functions of a priest; to perform cultic or ceremonial duties associated with priesthood within the religious practices of ancient Israel. The term denotes the formal performance of priestly actions, such as offering sacrifices, maintaining ritual purity, making intercessions, and fulfilling other liturgical responsibilities. The word may also appear in an extended sense to mean to serve or act as an intermediary in cultic contexts.

Semantic Range

to exercise priestly functions, officiate in a temple or sanctuary, perform the duties of a kohen; act in a mediatory ritual role; serve in formal priestly capacity

Root / Etymology

From the root כּהן, which primarily signifies 'to act or serve as a priest.' The verb is denominative, derived from the noun כֹּהֵן (kohen, 'priest'). While the noun is ancient and widespread across Northwest Semitic languages, possibly linked distantly to conceptions of 'serving' or 'standing,' the verb appears to develop as a specific denominative meaning 'to perform the function of a kohen.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

The verb כָּהַן occurs rarely in the Hebrew Bible, used only in reference to individuals performing cultic or priestly duties. It is particularly linked to the hereditary Israelite priesthood but can also refer to priestly figures outside the Israelite tradition (e.g., in reference to Melchizedek, or to priests of foreign deities or locations). The term is never used to describe the wider lay or Levite service—its restriction is specifically to כהנים (kohanim). English translations often render forms of כָּהַן with 'to minister,' 'to officiate,' or 'to act as priest,' which can sometimes obscure the technical, role-specific nature of the word in ancient Israelite context. Within the monarchic and post-exilic periods, the scope of priestly duties described by כָּהַן could shift depending on developments in Israelite temple practice. The term does not carry overtones of spiritual leadership per se, but references the legitimate, cultically sanctioned actions of a designated priestly figure. In postbiblical Hebrew, the root develops diverse metaphorical extensions, but these are not present in biblical usage. In later translation traditions, the idea of 'priesthood' became associated with different religious institutions and, in English, anachronistically ascribed to 'Jewish' contexts; lexically, the biblical verbal usage is narrower and more technical.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root, apparently meaning to mediate in religious services; but used only as denominative from כֹּהֵן; to officiate as a priest; figuratively, to put on regalia; deck, be (do the office of a, execute the, minister in the) priest('s office).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

כהן (k-h-n) — priesthood, priestly service, cultic mediation

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3548 כֹּהֵן among the officiating priests
H3549 כָּהֵן the priests
H3550 כְּהֻנָּה the priestly office

Word Forms

9 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3547-03 לְ/כַהֵ֣ן lekhahen HR/Vpc to serve as priests to perform priestly service 10
H3547-02 לְ/כַהֲנ/וֹ lekhahano HR/Vpc/Sp3ms to-priest-him to serve as priest for him 3
H3547-06 וַ/יְכַהֵ֤ן vayekhahen HC/Vpw3ms and ministered and he served as priest 2
H3547-07 וְ/כִהֲנ֥וּ vekhihanu HC/Vpq3cp and they shall serve as priests and they served as priests 2
H3547-04 מִ/כַּהֵ֣ן mikahen HR/Vpc from being priest from serving as priest 2
H3547-01 כִּהֵ֔ן kihen HVpp3ms served as priest he performed priestly service 1
H3547-05 וַֽ/יְכַהֲנ֔וּ vayekhahanu HC/Vpw3mp and served as priests and they performed priestly service 1
H3547-09 יְכַהֵ֣ן yekhahen HVpi3ms decketh himself he will serve as priest 1
H3547-08 וְ/כִהֵ֥ן vekhihen HC/Vpq3ms and he shall serve as priest and he served as priest 1

Occurrences in Scripture

23 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3547-02 Exodus 28:1 לְ/כַהֲנ/וֹ lekhahano HR/Vpc/Sp3ms to serve as priest to serve as priest for him
H3547-02 Exodus 28:3 לְ/כַהֲנ/וֹ lekhahano HR/Vpc/Sp3ms to-priest-him to serve as priest for him
H3547-02 Exodus 28:4 לְ/כַהֲנ/וֹ lekhahano HR/Vpc/Sp3ms to serve as priests to serve as priest for him
H3547-07 Exodus 28:41 וְ/כִהֲנ֥וּ vekhihanu HC/Vpq3cp and they shall serve as priests and they served as priests
H3547-03 Exodus 29:1 לְ/כַהֵ֣ן lekhahen HR/Vpc to serve as priests to perform priestly service
H3547-03 Exodus 29:44 לְ/כַהֵ֥ן lekhahen HR/Vpc to-serve-as-priest to perform priestly service
H3547-03 Exodus 30:30 לְ/כַהֵ֥ן lekhahen HR/Vpc to serve as priests to perform priestly service
H3547-03 Exodus 31:10 לְ/כַהֵֽן lekhahen HR/Vpc to minister as priests to perform priestly service
H3547-03 Exodus 35:19 לְ/כַהֵֽן lekhahen HR/Vpc to serve as priests to perform priestly service
H3547-03 Exodus 39:41 לְ/כַהֵֽן lekhahen HR/Vpc to priest to perform priestly service
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