Dictionary:כֹּהֵן/0
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כֹּהֵן
Part of Speech | Noun |
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Occurrences | |
Possible Meanings |
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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.