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קֳהָתִי

𐤒𐤄𐤕𐤉

Qŏhâthîy

H6956 noun

SILEX Entry

Root קהת descendant of Qehath, pertaining to the clan of Qehath

Definition

A member of the clan descended from Qehath (Kohath), the son of Levi; refers specifically to individuals or the collective subgroup of Levites whose ancestry traces to Qehath. In biblical context, the term designates an ethnic and functional subdivision within the Levite tribe, often with cultic or sanctuary-related responsibilities.

Semantic Range

descendant of Qehath, member of the Kohathite clan, Kohathite Levite subgroup, collective designation for the clan or group

Root / Etymology

Patronymic form derived from קְהָת (Qehath), the personal name of a son of Levi. The suffix -ִי (-î) forms ethnics or gentilic adjectives, signifying 'belonging to' or 'descendant of Qehath.' Root of קְהָת is uncertain; the meaning of the name itself is obscure, likely of ancient, perhaps non-Hebrew origin.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The term קֳהָתִי (Qohathi) is used throughout the Hebrew Bible to specify members of the Qehathite clan, one of the three main family groups among the Levites (see also Gershonites and Merarites). In the Torah, especially in the books of Numbers and Chronicles, the Qehathites are responsible for transporting and caring for certain sacred objects of the tabernacle, with particular restrictions: only Aaronite priests (the descendants of Aaron, another Levite subdivision) could handle the holiest objects directly, while Qehathites carried them after they were prepared. The term maintains ethnic, genealogical, and ritual significance across the pre-exilic and post-exilic periods. Standard English translations render the term as 'Kohathite(s)'—an accurate transliteration, though it can obscure the underlying function and status ascribed to this subgroup in Israelite society. The term never applies anachronistically to later religious or ethnic communities beyond the biblical Levite framework.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

patronymically from קְהָת; a Kohathite (collectively) or descendants of Kehath; Kohathites.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

קהת (q-h-t) — descendant of Qehath, belonging to the clan of Qehath

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6955 קְהָת to Qehath

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6956-01 הַ/קְּהָתִֽי haqehati HTd/Ngmsa the Kohathite the Qehathite clansman 12
H6956-02 הַ/קְּהָתִ֔ים haqehatim HTd/Ngmpa the Kohathites the Qehath-clansmen 3

Occurrences in Scripture

15 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6956-01 Numbers 3:27 הַ/קְּהָתִֽי haqehati HTd/Ngmsa the Kohathite the Qehathite clansman
H6956-01 Numbers 3:30 הַ/קְּהָתִ֑י haqehati HTd/Ngmsa of the Kohathites the Qehathite clansman
H6956-01 Numbers 4:18 הַ/קְּהָתִ֑י haqehati HTd/Ngmsa the Kohathite the Qehathite clansman
H6956-01 Numbers 4:34 הַ/קְּהָתִ֑י haqehati HTd/Ngmsa the-Kohathite the Qehathite clansman
H6956-01 Numbers 4:37 הַ/קְּהָתִ֔י haqehati HTd/Ngmsa the-Kohathite the Qehathite clansman
H6956-02 Numbers 10:21 הַ/קְּהָתִ֔ים haqehatim HTd/Ngmpa the Kohathites the Qehath-clansmen
H6956-01 Numbers 26:57 הַ/קְּהָתִ֑י haqehati HTd/Ngmsa the Kohathite the Qehathite clansman
H6956-01 Joshua 21:4 הַ/קְּהָתִ֑י haqehati HTd/Ngmsa of the Kohathites the Qehathite clansman
H6956-01 Joshua 21:10 הַ/קְּהָתִ֖י haqehati HTd/Ngmsa the Kohathite the Qehathite clansman
H6956-01 1 Chronicles 6:18 הַ/קְּהָתִ֔י haqehati HTd/Ngmsa the-Kohathite the Qehathite clansman
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