Strong's Lexicon
kohen: Priest
Original Word:כֹּהֵן
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:kohen
Pronunciation:koh-HEN
Phonetic Spelling:(ko-hane')
Definition:Priest
Meaning:one officiating, a priest, an acting priest
Word Origin:Derived from an unused root meaning "to mediate" or "to officiate."
Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: -G2409 (hiereus): Refers to a priest, particularly in the context of the New Testament.
-G749 (archiereus): Refers to the high priest.
Usage:The term "kohen" primarily refers to a priest, an individual who performs religious rites and mediates between God and the people. In the Old Testament, kohanim (plural of kohen) were responsible for conducting sacrifices, maintaining the sanctuary, and teaching the Law. The role of the kohen was central to the religious life of Israel, serving as a bridge between the divine and the human.
Cultural and Historical Background:In ancient Israel, the priesthood was established by God through Moses, with Aaron and his descendants designated as the priestly line (Exodus 28:1). The kohanim were part of the tribe of Levi, but not all Levites were priests. The high priest held a unique position, entering the Holy of Holies once a year on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) to make atonement for the sins of the people (Leviticus 16). The priesthood was hereditary, and strict regulations governed the conduct and duties of the kohanim.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom an unused word
Definitionpriest
NASB Translationchief ministers (1), priest (425), priest and the priests (2), priest's (9), priestly (2), priests (301), priests' (5).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
750 (Late Hebrew ; Aramaic , ,
,
; Ethiopic
all
id.; on Phoenician and Arabic see above); —
Genesis 14:18 439t.; plural
Exodus 19:6 272t.; construct
1 Samuel 5:5 13t.; suffix
Lamentations 1:19 22t. suffixes —
priest-king: e.g. MelchizedekGenesis 14:18 (E ?), comparePsalm 110:4 (the Messianic priest-king like Melchizedek);Zechariah 6:13 (Messianic priest and king); IsraelExodus 19:6 (E)a kingdom of priests (priests and kings at once in their relation to the nations); compareIsaiah 61:6 (of Israel ministering as a priest); ora chieftain (exercising priestly functions)Exodus 2:16;Exodus 3:1;Exodus 18:1 (all J E); so also probably the sons of David2 Samuel 8:18, his grandson1 Kings 4:5, and Ira the Jairite2 Samuel 20:26, who as princes performed priestly functions. With these we may class theExodus 19:22,24 (J).
priests of other religions than's: PotipheraGenesis 41:45,50 (E),Genesis 46:20 (P); EgyptianGenesis 47:22 (twice in verse);Genesis 47:26 (J);1 Samuel 5:5; Philistine1 Samuel 6:2;his priests: e.g. of Baal2 Kings 10:19 #NAME?2 Kings 10:11; of ChemoshJeremiah 48:7; of MalcamJeremiah 49:3; Mattan was2 Kings 11:18 2Chronicles 23:17;Zephaniah 1:4; Josiah burned the bones of the priests of the Baalim and Asherim 2Chronicles 34:5.
priests of special orders in Israel:
Judges 17:5; but so soon as he could secure Jonathan ben Gershom, a descendant of Moses (see VBJudges 18:30), he consecrated him,Judges 17:10,12,13;Judges 18:4,19;Judges 18:6;Judges 18:17;Judges 18:18;Judges 18:20;Judges 18:24;Judges 18:27. He was captured by the Danites, and he and his line became priests at Dan until the Exile,Judges 18:19;Judges 18:19;Judges 18:30.
1 Kings 12:31 of those not , aspriests of (the)high places1 Kings 12:32;1 Kings 13:2,33 (twice in verse) = 2Chronicles 11:15; Amaziah (of this class) wasAmos 7:10; see also 2Chronicles 13:9; called by Chronicler2 Chronicles 13:9; yet Hosea rebukes them as priests ofHosea 4:4,9;Hosea 5:1;Hosea 6:9; at the Exile they were deported by the Assyrians2 Kings 17:27,28.
to worship the God of the land2 Kings 17:32.
priests in Israel who bore the ark and the trumpetsJoshua 3:13,14,15,17;Joshua 4:3,9,10,17,18 (twice in verse);Joshua 6:4 (twice in verse);Joshua 6:6 (twice in verse);Joshua 6:8,9,12,13,16 (all J E),1 Kings 8:3,6,10,11; Eli was1 Samuel 1:9;1 Samuel 2:11;1 Samuel 14:3; and his sons1 Samuel 1:3; a1 Samuel 2:13 mentions the ministering priest and the1 Samuel 2:13,14,15 (twice in verse), Ahijah was in time of Saul1 Samuel 14:19 (twice in verse);1 Samuel 14:36; Abimelech at Nob, a priestly center,1 Samuel 21:2;1 Samuel 21:3;1 Samuel 21:5;1 Samuel 21:6;1 Samuel 21:7;1 Samuel 21:10;1 Samuel 22:11; where were many1 Samuel 22:17 (twice in verse);1 Samuel 22:21, all slain by Saul except Abiathar son of Ahimelech1 Samuel 22:11,18 (twice in verse);1 Samuel 22:19, who became1 Samuel 23:9;1 Samuel 30:7;1 Kings 1:7,19,25,42;1 Kings 2:22,26; Zadok later was2 Samuel 15:27;1 Kings 1:8,26,32,34,38,39,44,45;1 Kings 2:35;1 Kings 3:2;1 Chronicles 16:39;1 Chronicles 24:6: so that the two were2 Samuel 8:17 =1 Chronicles 18:16 (read2 Samuel 8:17 We Dr, and correct1 Chronicles 18:16 accordingly)2 Samuel 15:35 (twice in verse);2 Samuel 17:15;2 Samuel 19:12;2 Samuel 20:25;1 Kings 4:4; Solomon removed Abiathar1 Kings 2:27 and Zadok was anointed according to1 Chronicles 29:22; compare prediction of rejection of house of Eli and selection of1 Samuel 2:28,35; Jehoiada led the revolution against Athaliah2 Kings 11:9 (twice in verse);2 Kings 11:10,15 (twice in verse);2 Kings 11:18;2 Kings 12:3;2 Kings 12:8;2 Kings 12:10 2Chronicles 22:11; 23:8 (twice in verse); 2Chronicles 23:9,14 (twice in verse); 2Chronicles 24:2,20,25, perhaps alsoJeremiah 29:26; sustaining him in his reforms2 Kings 12:5;2 Kings 12:6;2 Kings 12:7;2 Kings 12:8;2 Kings 12:9;2 Kings 12:10;2 Kings 12:17; Uriah was in the reign of Ahaz2 Kings 16:10,11 (twice in verse);2 Kings 16:15,16;Isaiah 8:2; Hilkiah of Josiah2 Kings 22:10,12,14;2 Kings 23:24; 2Chronicles 34:14,18. Other individual priests are named, e.g.: Pashhur of JehoiachinJeremiah 20:1; Zephaniah of ZedekiahJeremiah 21:1;Jeremiah 29:25,26,29;Jeremiah 37:3; is Ezekiel's titleEzekiel 1:3. Priests are classed with officials of state: prophets and priests2 Kings 23:2;Isaiah 28:7;Jeremiah 5:31;Jeremiah 6:13;Jeremiah 8:10;Jeremiah 14:18;Jeremiah 23:11,33,34;Jeremiah 26:7,8,11,16;Jeremiah 29:1;Lamentations 2:20;Lamentations 4:13; priests and eldersLamentations 1:19;Lamentations 4:16; king and priestLamentations 2:6; kings, priests, and prophetsJeremiah 13:13; kings, princes, and priestsJeremiah 1:18; princes, eunuchs, and priestsJeremiah 34:19; priest, sage, and prophetJeremiah 18:18; chiefs, priests, and prophetsMicah 3:11; prophets, priests, and eldersEzekiel 7:26; kings, princes, priests, and prophetsJeremiah 2:26;Jeremiah 4:9;Jeremiah 8:1;Jeremiah 32:32; princes, judges, prophets, and priestsZephaniah 3:4; seeming to exclude any other officials. Apparently in the same Generic senseJeremiah 1:1;Jeremiah 2:8;Jeremiah 27:16;Jeremiah 28:1,5;Jeremiah 29:25;Jeremiah 31:14;Isaiah 24:2;Job 12:19;Lamentations 1:4;Ezekiel 22:26;Psalm 78:64.Moses and Aaron among his priestsPsalm 99:6 includes Moses (against P). Zion's priests clothed with righteousness and salvationPsalm 132:9;Psalm 132:16 2Chronicles 6:41, probably here also.
Levitical priestsDeuteronomy 17:9,18;Deuteronomy 18:1;Deuteronomy 24:8;Deuteronomy 27:9;Joshua 3:3;Joshua 8:33 (all D),Jeremiah 33:18 (inverted),Jeremiah 33:21 (neither in ), 2 Chronicles 5:5 (=1 Kings 8:4: Chronicler retains original Deuteronomic reading),Ezekiel 43:19;Ezekiel 44:15 (compare
);Deuteronomy 21:5;Deuteronomy 31:9;Isaiah 66:21take for priests, for Levites (of the nations in Messianic age). Doubtless of same class are:Deuteronomy 18:3;Deuteronomy 19:17;Joshua 3:6,8;Joshua 4:11 (D); and , the priest officiating on a particular occasionDeuteronomy 18:3;Deuteronomy 20:2; or holding a particular dignityDeuteronomy 17:12;Deuteronomy 26:3,4. The of the other cities of Judah, , who were not allowed to minister in Jerusalem2 Kings 23:8 (twice in verse);2 Kings 23:9,20, may be an attempt to enforce an exclusion from the priesthood of all but Levitical priests.
Zadokite priests: Ezekiel distinguishes among those of the seed of Zadok, ; all but the latter excluded by him from priesthoodEzekiel 40:46;Ezekiel 43:19;Ezekiel 44:15;Ezekiel 48:11; the priests of his code being all ZadokitesEzekiel 40:45,46;Ezekiel 42:13,14;Ezekiel 43:24,27;Ezekiel 44:21,22,30 (twice in verse);Ezekiel 44:31;Ezekiel 45:4,19;Ezekiel 46:2,19,20;Ezekiel 48:10,13.
Aaronic priests. In H. it is taken for granted that a priest is of the seed of Aaron; the plural is never used; is used for any priestLeviticus 21:9;Leviticus 22:10,11,12,13; for AaronLeviticus 21:21, and for the official priest (acting for the priesthood, almost collective)Leviticus 17:5,6;Leviticus 22:14;Leviticus 23:10,11,20 (twice in verse);Leviticus 27:8 (3 t. in verse);Leviticus 27:11,12 (twice in verse);Leviticus 27:14 (twice in verse);Leviticus 27:18,21,23. The priests of P areLeviticus 1:5,8,11;Leviticus 2:2;Leviticus 3:2;Leviticus 21:1;Numbers 3:3;Numbers 10:8;Joshua 21:19; so in Chronicles 2Chronicles 13:9,10; 26:18; 29:21; 31:19; 35:14 (twice in verse); is used of Aaron 22 t., Eleazar 29 t., PhinehasJoshua 22:30 and elsewhere; 180 t. of ministering priests, or Generic of the priests;Leviticus 6:22;Leviticus 7:6;Leviticus 13:2;Leviticus 16:33;Joshua 4:16;Leviticus 6:16. Chronicles distinguishes1 Chronicles 13:2;1 Chronicles 15:11,14;1 Chronicles 23:2;1 Chronicles 24:6,31;1 Chronicles 28:13,21; 2Chronicles 8:15; 11:13; 13:9,10; 23:4; 24:5; 29:4; 30:15,25; 31:2 (twice in verse); 2Chronicles 31:4,9; 34:30; 35:8,18 (the variants without 2Chronicles 23:18; 30:27 are due to copyists' errors),Ezra 1:5;Ezra 2:70;Ezra 3:8,12;Ezra 6:20;Ezra 7:7;Ezra 8:29,30;Ezra 9:1;Nehemiah 7:72;Nehemiah 8:13;Nehemiah 11:3;Nehemiah 12:1,30,44 (twice in verse);Nehemiah 13:30; 2Chronicles 19:8; 30:21; priests, Levites, and others1 Chronicles 9:2;Ezra 10:5;Nehemiah 10:1;Nehemiah 10:29;Nehemiah 10:35;Nehemiah 11:20; antith. toEzra 8:15;Nehemiah 10:39; in Chronicles 67 t. has the same reference, as alsoEzra 9:7;Nehemiah 9:32,34;Ezra 2:63 =Nehemiah 7:65; 2Chronicles 26:17;His (God's)priests2Chronicles 13:12;teaching priest2Chronicles 15:3; is used of Jehoiada in time of David1 Chronicles 27:5, and Azariah in the reign of Uzziah 2Chronicles 26:17. In the literature of the restoration is used of Ezra,Ezra 7:11;Ezra 10:10,16;Nehemiah 8:2,9;Nehemiah 12:26; UriahEzra 8:33; EliashibNehemiah 13:4; ShelemiahNehemiah 13:13;Joel 1:9,13;Joel 2:17;Haggai 2:11,12,13;Zechariah 7:5;Malachi 1:6;Malachi 2:1; priests and prophetsZechariah 7:3;Malachi 2:7.
the high priest: is frequently used (see
) . The adjective first appears of Jehoiada2 Kings 12:11, then of Hilkiah2 Kings 22:4,8;2 Kings 23:4; 2Chronicles 34:9; after the exile, of JoshuaHaggai 1:1,12,14;Haggai 2:2,4;Zechariah 3:1,8;Zechariah 6:11, and EliashibNehemiah 3:1,20;Nehemiah 13:28. But P uses it of Aaron and his eldest descendants who are anointed with holy oilLeviticus 21:10 (H; ),Numbers 35:25,28 (twice in verse);Joshua 20:6, and soLeviticus 4:3,5,16;Leviticus 6:15, compareLeviticus 16:32. is used of Seraiah2 Kings 25:18 =Jeremiah 52:24; and, in Chronicler, of Amariah 2Chronicles 19:11, Jehoiada 2 Chronicles 24:11, Azariah 2 Chronicles 26:20; 31:10; of Aaron,Ezra 7:5. (We also supposes in2 Samuel 15:27 to be a corruption of , which he regards as post-exilic insertion. The test is corrupt [see DrSm. 1.c.]; but this correction is improbable. Lists of high priests occur1 Chronicles 5:30-41;1 Chronicles 6:35-38.) A priest of second rank () appears in2 Kings 23:4 (construct plural incorrect),2 Kings 25:18 =Jeremiah 52:24;2 Kings 19:2 =Isaiah 37:2;Jeremiah 19:1; 2Chronicles 36:14;Ezra 8:24,29;Ezra 10:5;Nehemiah 12:7.
[] (see Biblical Hebrew ); — emphaticEzra 7:12,21; plural emphatic -Ezra 6:9,16,18;Ezra 7:16,24; suffix (of Israel) -Ezra 7:13.
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
chief ruler, own, priest, prince, principal officer
Active participle ofkahan; literally, one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman) -- chief ruler, X own, priest, prince, principal officer.
see HEBREWkahan
Forms and Transliterations
בְּֽכֹהֲנָ֗יו בְּכֹהֲנֵ֥י בַּכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים בַּכֹּהֲנִ֑ים בַּכֹּהֲנִ֖ים בכהני בכהניו בכהנים הַ֠כֹּהֲנִים הַ֠כֹּהֵן הַֽכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ הַֽכֹּהֲנִ֑ים הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים הַכֹּֽהֲנִ֑ים הַכֹּֽהֲנִ֔ים הַכֹּֽהֲנִ֛ים הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ הַכֹּהֲנִ֑ים הַכֹּהֲנִ֔ים הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים הַכֹּהֲנִ֗ים הַכֹּהֲנִ֛ים הַכֹּהֲנִ֜ים הַכֹּהֲנִ֡ים הַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים הַכֹּהֲנִ֤ים הַכֹּהֲנִ֥ים הַכֹּהֲנִ֧ים הַכֹּהֲנִ֨ים הַכֹּהֲנִֽים׃ הַכֹּהֲנִים֒ הַכֹּהֲנִים֙ הַכֹּהֲנִים֩ הַכֹּהֲנִים֮ הַכֹּהֵ֑ן הַכֹּהֵ֔ן הַכֹּהֵ֖ן הַכֹּהֵ֗ן הַכֹּהֵ֛ן הַכֹּהֵ֜ן הַכֹּהֵ֡ן הַכֹּהֵ֣ן הַכֹּהֵ֣ן ׀ הַכֹּהֵ֤ן הַכֹּהֵ֥ן הַכֹּהֵ֥ן ׀ הַכֹּהֵ֧ן הַכֹּהֵ֨ן הַכֹּהֵֽן׃ הַכֹּהֵן֒ הַכֹּהֵן֙ הַכֹּהֵן֮ הכהן הכהן׃ הכהנים הכהנים׃ וְֽ֭כֹהֲנֶיהָ וְהַ֨כֹּהֵ֔ן וְהַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים וְהַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֗ים וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֛ים וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֞ים וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֡ים וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֨ים וְהַכֹּהֲנִים֙ וְהַכֹּהֵ֗ן וְהַכֹּהֵ֣ן וְהַכֹּהֵ֨ן וְהַכֹּהֵן֙ וְהַכֹּהֵן֩ וְכֹ֨הֲנִ֜ים וְכֹהֲנֵיהֶ֖ם וְכֹהֲנֶ֙יהָ֙ וְכֹהֲנָ֑יו וְכֹהֲנָ֛יו וְכֹהֵ֗ן וְכֹהֵֽן׃ וְלַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים וְלַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים וְלַכֹּהֲנִ֜ים וְלַכֹּהֲנִים֙ וּבַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים וּלְכֹהֲנֵ֛ינוּ וּלְכֹהֵ֑ן וּלְכֹהֵ֥ן וּלְכֹהֵן֒ ובכהנים והכהן והכהנים וכהן וכהן׃ וכהניה וכהניהם וכהניו וכהנים ולכהן ולכהנים ולכהנינו כַּכֹּהֵ֑ן כַּכֹּהֵ֔ן כֹּ֭הֲנָיו כֹּֽהֲנִ֔ים כֹּֽהֲנִ֖ים כֹּֽהֲנִים֙ כֹּהֲנִ֑ים כֹּהֲנִ֖ים כֹּהֲנִ֣ים כֹּהֲנִ֥ים כֹּהֲנִ֧ים ׀ כֹּהֲנִֽים׃ כֹּהֲנִים֙ כֹּהֲנֵ֣י כֹּהֲנֵ֣ינוּ כֹּהֲנֵ֤י כֹּהֲנֵ֥י כֹּהֲנֵ֨י כֹּהֲנֵֽינוּ׃ כֹּהֲנֵיהֶ֖ם כֹּהֲנֶ֑יהָ כֹּהֲנֶ֖יהָ כֹּהֲנֶ֙יהָ֙ כֹּהֲנֶ֜יהָ כֹּהֲנֶ֜יךָ כֹּהֲנֶ֥יךָ כֹּהֲנַ֥י כֹּהֲנָ֥יו כֹּהֲנָיו֩ כֹּהֵ֑ן כֹּהֵ֔ן כֹּהֵ֖ן כֹּהֵ֛ן כֹּהֵ֣ן כֹּהֵ֥ן כֹּהֵ֧ן ׀ כֹּהֵן֩ כֹֽהֲנִ֗ים כֹהֲנִ֖ים כֹהֲנִ֡ים כֹהֲנִים֙ כֹהֲנֵ֜ינוּ כֹהֲנֵ֨י כֹהֵ֔ן כֹהֵ֖ן כֹהֵ֗ן כֹהֵ֤ן כֹהֵ֥ן כֹהֵ֨ן כֹהֵֽן׃ כֹהֵן֙ כֹהֵן֩ כהן כהן׃ כהני כהניה כהניהם כהניו כהניך כהנים כהנים׃ כהנינו כהנינו׃ ככהן לְכֹהֲנֶ֖יהָ לְכֹהֵ֑ן לְכֹהֵ֔ן לְכֹהֵֽן׃ לַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים לַכֹּ֨הֲנִ֜ים לַכֹּֽהֲנִים֒ לַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ לַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים לַכֹּהֲנִ֜ים לַכֹּהֲנִ֞ים לַכֹּהֲנִ֤ים לַכֹּהֲנִ֥ים לַכֹּהֲנִ֧ים לַכֹּהֲנִ֨ים לַכֹּהֲנִים֙ לַכֹּהֵ֑ן לַכֹּהֵ֔ן לַכֹּהֵ֖ן לַכֹּהֵ֗ן לַכֹּהֵ֛ן לַכֹּהֵֽן׃ לכהן לכהן׃ לכהניה לכהנים מִכֹּהֵ֔ן מִכֹּהֵ֖ן מִכֹּהֵ֗ן מֵֽהַכֹּהֲנִֽים׃ מֵהַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ מֵהַכֹּהֲנִ֗ים מֵהַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים מהכהנים מהכהנים׃ מכהן bak·kō·hă·nîm bakkohaNim bakkōhănîm bə·ḵō·hă·nāw bə·ḵō·hă·nê bechohaNav bechohaNei bəḵōhănāw bəḵōhănê chohaNei chohaNeinu chohaNim choHen hak·kō·hă·nîm hak·kō·hên hakkohaNim hakkōhănîm hakkoHen hakkōhên kak·kō·hên kakkoHen kakkōhên kō·hă·nāw kō·hă·nay kō·hă·nê ḵō·hă·nê kō·hă·ne·hā kō·hă·nê·hem kō·hă·ne·ḵā kō·hă·nê·nū ḵō·hă·nê·nū kō·hă·nîm ḵō·hă·nîm kō·hên ḵō·hên kohaNai kohaNav kōhănāw kōhănay kōhănê ḵōhănê kōhănehā kōhănêhem kohaNei kohaNeicha kohaNeiha kohaneiHem kohaNeinu kōhăneḵā kōhănênū ḵōhănênū kohaNim kōhănîm ḵōhănîm koHen kōhên ḵōhên lak·kō·hă·nîm lak·kō·hên lakkohaNim lakkōhănîm lakkoHen lakkōhên lə·ḵō·hă·ne·hā lə·ḵō·hên lechohaNeiha lechoHen ləḵōhănehā ləḵōhên mê·hak·kō·hă·nîm mehakkohaNim mêhakkōhănîm mik·kō·hên mikkoHen mikkōhên ū·ḇak·kō·hă·nîm ū·lə·ḵō·hă·nê·nū ū·lə·ḵō·hên ūḇakkōhănîm ulechohaNeinu ulechoHen ūləḵōhănênū ūləḵōhên uvakKohaNim vechohaNav Vechohaneiha vechohaneiHem veChohaNim vechoHen vehakkohaNim vehakkoHen velakKohaNim wə·hak·kō·hă·nîm wə·hak·kō·hên wə·ḵō·hă·nāw wə·ḵō·hă·ne·hā wə·ḵō·hă·nê·hem wə·ḵō·hă·nîm wə·ḵō·hên wə·lak·kō·hă·nîm wəhakkōhănîm wəhakkōhên wəḵōhănāw wəḵōhănehā wəḵōhănêhem wəḵōhănîm wəḵōhên wəlakkōhănîm
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