Difference between revisions of "Dictionary:כֹּהֵן/0"
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(Original Author: Yehuda Novetsky, Rabbi Hillel Novetsky) |
(Original Author: Yehuda Novetsky, Rabbi Hillel Novetsky) |
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<li>Etymology? to serve, to be established, see Akkadian</li> | <li>Etymology? to serve, to be established, see Akkadian</li> | ||
<li>Which is the original meaning (did the semantic field expand or become narrower)? Did it start with a term for a religious functionary (most probably as a noun) and then get expanded to all functionaries? Or was it originally a more general meaning of serving or distinguishing (perhaps, most likely a verb), whose most common application became the religious priest?</li> | <li>Which is the original meaning (did the semantic field expand or become narrower)? Did it start with a term for a religious functionary (most probably as a noun) and then get expanded to all functionaries? Or was it originally a more general meaning of serving or distinguishing (perhaps, most likely a verb), whose most common application became the religious priest?</li> | ||
| − | <li>What is the narrow meaning of < | + | <li>What is the narrow meaning of <i>kohen</i> – one who serves God, one who is selected/distinguished from the people to serve God?</li> |
| − | <li>What is the expanded meaning of < | + | <li>What is the expanded meaning of <i>kohen</i> – one who serves (משרת), a dignitary (שר)?</li> |
<li>Exegetical tendencies – Ibn Ezra tries to read almost all of the cases as priest.</li> | <li>Exegetical tendencies – Ibn Ezra tries to read almost all of the cases as priest.</li> | ||
</ul> | </ul> | ||
| Line 80: | Line 80: | ||
<category>Disputed Cases | <category>Disputed Cases | ||
| − | <p>There are a number of cases where commentators disagree as to whether the term < | + | <p>There are a number of cases where commentators disagree as to whether the term <i>kohen</i> is a religious or secular title (in many of these the <i>kohen</i> is in the service of a king):</p> |
<subcategory><aht source="Bereshit41-45">Bereshit 41:45</aht> | <subcategory><aht source="Bereshit41-45">Bereshit 41:45</aht> | ||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
Version as of 17:18, 13 July 2014
כֹּהֵן
| Part of Speech | Noun |
|---|---|
| Occurrences | |
| Possible Meanings |
|
| Related Words | כהן |
Possible Meanings
1. Priest
- Biblical verses – The vast majority of the occurrences of both the noun כֹּהֵן and verb כהן refer to a priest who works in the service of either Hashem or an idolatrous god.
- Additional data –
2. Distinguished individual
- Biblical verses – In Shemuel II 8:18,1 כֹּהֵן does not speak of a priest, but rather of a different type of distinguished individual – see below for options. See also Yeshayahu 61:10 where the verb yekhahen does not mean to serve as a priest, but rather to be adorned or clothed (perhaps, like a priest).
- Additional data –
Commentators who adopt the position that a kohen does not always mean a priest, must further decide whether in these cases the term signifies a distinguished person or a person who serves:
- An important person – Rashi, Abarbanel, Hoil Moshe.
- A person who serves – R. Yonah ibn Janach, Ibn Ezra, Radak, Ramban.
Disputed Cases
There are a number of cases where commentators disagree as to whether the term kohen is a religious or secular title (in many of these the kohen is in the service of a king):
Bereshit 41:45
Bereshit 47:22
Shemot 2:16
See Yitro's religious identity for a full discussion.
- A priest for idolatry – R. Yehoshua in Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael.
- A priest for Hashem – Ibn Ezra
- A minister or important person – R. Elazar HaModai in Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael, Onkelos, Chizkuni.
- A religious and a political leader – Tanchuma, R. D"Z Hoffmann.
Shemot 19:22
Shemuel II 20:26
- A priest – Bavli Eiruvin.
- An officer and judge – Targum Yonatan, Rashi.
Melakhim I 4:5
- A priest – Targum Yonatan.
- An advisor of the king – Radak.
Melakhim II 10:11
- Priests for idolatry – Radak.
- Ahav's friends – Targum Yonatan.
