# H3548 - kohen **Strong's:** [H3548](https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h3548/) · BLB lookup **Pronunciation:** ko-hane' **Part of speech:** masculine noun (probably from H3547 *kahan*, "to act as priest") **Frequency:** ~750 occurrences in the Hebrew Bible, concentrated in the Pentateuch, Chronicles, Ezekiel, and the post-exilic books **LXX equivalent:** ἱερεύς (*hiereus*, "priest") ## Semantic range (Brown-Driver-Briggs) 1. **Priest**, the cultic functionary authorized to mediate between God and the worshipping community. Default OT sense. 2. **Chief minister, royal officer** (rare, derived), [2 Samuel 8:18](/codex/2-samuel-8-18/) (David's sons were *kōhanim*); [2 Samuel 20:26](/codex/2-samuel-20-26/); [1 Kings 4:5](/codex/1-kings-4-5/). The semantic shading suggests originally "officiant / one-who-mediates," with cultic specialization predominant but not exclusive. 3. **Priest of foreign deities**, used of pagan priests as well ([Genesis 41:45](/codex/genesis-41-45/), Potiphera, *kōhēn ʾOn*; [2 Kings 10:19](/codex/2-kings-10-19/), *kōhanē Baal*). ## Theological force, mediation between holiness and people The *kohen* is structurally **the appointed mediator** between the holy God and the unclean people. The priestly office concentrates several functions: 1. **Sacrificial mediation**, offering the sacrifices on behalf of the people ([Leviticus 1](/codex/leviticus-1/)-7) 2. **Atonement function**, performing the rites that produce *kaphar* (atonement / covering) for sin ([Leviticus 16](/codex/leviticus-16/); cf. [H3722 - kaphar](/codex/h3722-kaphar/)) 3. **Cultic instruction**, teaching the Torah; distinguishing holy from common, clean from unclean ([Leviticus 10:10-11](/codex/leviticus-10-10-11/); [Deuteronomy 17:9](/codex/deuteronomy-17-9/); 33:10; [Malachi 2:7](/codex/malachi-2-7/)) 4. **Oracular function**, bearing the Urim and Thummim, consulting God for the people ([Exodus 28:30](/codex/exodus-28-30/); [Numbers 27:21](/codex/numbers-27-21/)) 5. **Blessing function**, pronouncing the priestly benediction ([Numbers 6:23-27](/codex/numbers-6-23-27/)) 6. **Tabernacle / temple service**, maintaining the sacred space ([Numbers 18:5-7](/codex/numbers-18-5-7/)) The word is etymologically connected (likely) to *kun* / *kahan* roots conveying "to stand / be established," fitting the priest as one who *stands before* God on behalf of others ([Deuteronomy 10:8](/codex/deuteronomy-10-8/), *la-ʿamod liphnē YHWH ləšarəto*). ## Two priestly orders, Aaronic and Melchizedekian The OT presents two distinct priesthoods, both divinely instituted: ### The Aaronic priesthood (Levitical) - Established at Sinai ([Exodus 28](/codex/exodus-28/); [Leviticus 8](/codex/leviticus-8/)-9) - Restricted to the family of Aaron, of the tribe of Levi - Hereditary, passed by descent - Mortal, succeeded by son after son - Operates within the tabernacle / temple cult - Limited by the priests' own sin (must offer for self before for the people, [Lev 9:7](/codex/leviticus-9-7/); 16:6) - Enacts the Day of Atonement annually but cannot resolve sin definitively ([Heb 10:1-4](/codex/hebrews-10-1-4/)) ### The Melchizedekian priesthood - Established before Sinai, at the patriarchal stage ([Genesis 14:18-20](/codex/genesis-14-18-20/)) - Held by Melchizedek, "*kohen ʾel ʿelyon*" (priest of God Most High), king of Salem - Without recorded genealogy / descent / death ([Heb 7:3](/codex/hebrews-7-3/), exegeting the silence of Genesis) - Predates the Aaronic priesthood and (Hebrews argues) is greater than it ([Hebrews 7:4-10](/codex/hebrews-7-4-10/), Levi, in Abraham's loins, paid tithes to Melchizedek) - Re-prophesied for the Davidic king in [Psalms 110.4](/codex/psalms-110-4/): *ʾatāh kōhēn lə-ʿōlām ʿal-divrāti Malki-tsedeq*, "you are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek" The two-order distinction is the *fulcrum* of the Letter to the Hebrews. [Hebrews 5](/codex/hebrews-5/)-10 argues that Christ's priesthood is the *Melchizedekian* priesthood ([Heb 5:6](/codex/hebrews-5-6/), [10](/codex/hebrews-5-10/); 6:20; 7:11, 17, 21), eternal, non-hereditary, royal-priestly, superior to the Levitical, and that this priestly identity is grounded in [Psalms 110.4](/codex/psalms-110-4/) (the second-most-cited OT verse in the NT after [Psalms 110.1](/codex/psalms-110-1/), and the only OT text that explicitly predicates *kohen* of the Davidic Messianic king). ## Theological force, Christ as *kohen / hiereus* The NT's most extensive priestly Christology is in **Hebrews**. The argument: 1. **Christ is a priest**, not by Levitical descent (which He lacks: [Heb 7:13-14](/codex/hebrews-7-13-14/), "our Lord arose out of Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood") but by divine appointment "after the order of Melchizedek" ([Ps 110:4](/codex/psalms-110-4/) → [Heb 5:5-10](/codex/hebrews-5-5-10/); 7:17, 21). 2. **Christ's priesthood is superior on multiple counts**, - *Eternal* ([Heb 7:24](/codex/hebrews-7-24/), *aparabaton echei tēn hierōsynēn*, "He holds the priesthood permanently") vs. mortal Levites - *Singular* ([Heb 7:23-25](/codex/hebrews-7-23-25/)), He continues forever, so His intercession does not lapse - *Sinless* ([Heb 7:26-27](/codex/hebrews-7-26-27/)), does not need to offer for self; able to offer the perfect, sufficient sacrifice - *Effective* ([Heb 9:11-14](/codex/hebrews-9-11-14/); 10:11-14), the Levitical sacrifices were repeated annually because they could not perfect; Christ's one offering perfected forever those being sanctified 3. **Christ is the High Priest who is also the sacrifice**, He offers Himself once for all ([Heb 7:27](/codex/hebrews-7-27/); 9:12, 14, 26; 10:10, 14). The Aaronic high priest carried the blood of others into the holy place; Christ carries His own blood through the heavens into the heavenly sanctuary ([Heb 9:11-14](/codex/hebrews-9-11-14/), [24](/codex/hebrews-9-24/)). 4. **The Levitical priesthood is therefore structurally superseded**, [Hebrews 7:11](/codex/hebrews-7-11/) ("if perfection had been through the Levitical priesthood, what further need was there for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek?") and 7:18 ("there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness") teach the Levitical order's typological-superseding by the Melchizedekian. This priestly Christology is what the [Hebrews](/codex/hebrews/) book is for, and it is the framework in which several other NT data find their place: the rending of the temple veil ([Mark 15:38](/codex/mark-15-38/) par.); Jesus's "I will rebuild this temple" saying ([John 2:19](/codex/john-2-19/)); the pouring of blood and water from Christ's pierced side ([John 19:34](/codex/john-19-34/), with possible priestly-blood-of-cleansing resonances); Stephen's accusation ([Acts 7:51-53](/codex/acts-7-51-53/)) and the early Christians' apparent abandonment of temple sacrifice. ## Notable verses ### Aaronic priesthood, establishment - **[Exodus 28:1](/codex/exodus-28-1/), [3](/codex/exodus-28-3/)**, Aaron and sons set apart *lə-kahanō-li* ("to serve as priests to Me") - **[Leviticus 8](/codex/leviticus-8/)-9**, ordination of the priests - **[Leviticus 16](/codex/leviticus-16/)**, Day of Atonement; Aaron's role as high priest - **[Numbers 16](/codex/numbers-16/); 18**, Korah's rebellion vindicates the Aaronic monopoly; the priestly portion is established - **[Deuteronomy 17:9](/codex/deuteronomy-17-9/), [12](/codex/deuteronomy-17-12/)**, judicial role of the *kōhēn* - **[Deuteronomy 33:10](/codex/deuteronomy-33-10/)**, priestly teaching role: "they shall teach Your ordinances to Jacob" - **[Malachi 2:4-7](/codex/malachi-2-4-7/)**, the covenant with Levi; "the *kohen*'s lips should preserve knowledge" ### Melchizedekian priesthood - **[Genesis 14.18-20](/codex/genesis-14-18-20/)**, Melchizedek, *kohen ʾel ʿelyon*, blesses Abram, receives the tithe - **[Psalms 110.4](/codex/psalms-110-4/)**, the Davidic king is sworn-in as *kohen* forever after the order of Melchizedek - **[Hebrews 5:6](/codex/hebrews-5-6/), [10](/codex/hebrews-5-10/); [Hebrews 6:20](/codex/hebrews-6-20/); [Hebrews 7:1-22](/codex/hebrews-7-1-22/)**, Christ as Melchizedekian high priest ### "Kingdom of priests", corporate priesthood of Israel - **[Exodus 19:6](/codex/exodus-19-6/)**, *mamleket kohanim ve-goy qadosh*, "kingdom of priests and a holy nation" - **[Isaiah 61:6](/codex/isaiah-61-6/)**, "you will be called *kōhanē YHWH*" - **[1 Peter 2:9](/codex/1-peter-2-9/)**, *basileion hierateuma*, direct echo of [Exod 19:6](/codex/exodus-19-6/) in Greek for the church - **[Revelation 1:6](/codex/revelation-1-6/); 5:10; 20:6**, believers as *basileian, hiereis tō theō* ### Foreign / corrupt priesthoods - **[Genesis 41:45](/codex/genesis-41-45/), [50](/codex/genesis-41-50/); 46:20**, Potiphera, *kōhen ʾOn* (Egyptian priest) - **[2 Kings 10:19](/codex/2-kings-10-19/); 11:18; 23:5**, *kohanē Baal*, *kohanē ha-bamoth* (priests of the high places) - **[Hosea 4:4-9](/codex/hosea-4-4-9/)**, judgment on the corrupt priesthood - **[Malachi 1:6](/codex/malachi-1-6/), [2](/codex/malachi-1-2/):9**, sustained indictment of priestly failure ## Patristic / scholarly note The Letter to the Hebrews treatise on Christ's Melchizedekian priesthood is the densest priestly Christology in the NT. Patristic engagement with [Hebrews 7](/codex/hebrews-7/) is extensive: [Justin Martyr](/codex/justin-martyr/) (*Dialogue with Trypho* 33), Tertullian (*Against Marcion* 5.9), Origen (*Homilies on Genesis* 14), and especially **[Cyril of Alexandria](/codex/cyril-of-alexandria/)** (*Glaphyra in Genesim*) develop the Melchizedek typology toward eucharistic theology, the bread and wine Melchizedek brings ([Gen 14:18](/codex/genesis-14-18/)) is read as a typological anticipation of the Last Supper. (Whether this is exegetically warranted is contested; the [Gen 14](/codex/genesis-14/) text says only that Melchizedek "*brought out* bread and wine," with no clear sacrificial frame.) In Reformation theology, the Melchizedekian priesthood of Christ becomes central to the doctrine of the *priesthood of all believers*: because Christ's priesthood is unique and complete, no human ecclesial priesthood (Levitical *or* Christian) intervenes between believer and Christ. Luther's *De Captivitate Babylonica Ecclesiae* (1520) and Calvin's *Institutes* II.15.6 ("the priestly office of Christ") deploy Hebrews against the Roman Catholic sacramental priesthood. Modern Catholic theology (Vatican II, *Lumen Gentium*) accommodates this by distinguishing the *common priesthood* of the faithful ([1 Pet 2:9](/codex/1-peter-2-9/)) from the *ministerial priesthood* of the ordained, holding that the latter is itself derived from and oriented to Christ's unique high-priesthood. In modern scholarship, the figure of Melchizedek has attracted significant attention because of the Qumran 11Q13 (*11QMelchizedek*) text, in which Melchizedek is a heavenly figure who executes eschatological judgment and atonement. The Qumran data shows that pre-Christian Jewish exegesis was open to a *highly elevated* reading of Melchizedek, possibly even an angelic / divine being, which provides plausible Second Temple background for Hebrews's elevated Christology. See Joseph Fitzmyer, *The Genre and Date of 11QMelchizedek*, 1971; David Yeago, *Hebrews and Theological Interpretation*, 2000. ## Verses in this codex _See Obsidian's backlinks pane for every verse page linking here._ Top-cited references using *kohen*: [Genesis 14.18-20](/codex/genesis-14-18-20/), [Psalms 110.4](/codex/psalms-110-4/), [Exodus 19:6](/codex/exodus-19-6/) (when present). ## See also - G2409 - hiereus, *hiereus* (priest), LXX / NT Greek equivalent - [H3722 - kaphar](/codex/h3722-kaphar/), *kaphar* (to atone), what the *kohen* enacts - [H4899 - mashiach](/codex/h4899-mashiach/), *mashiach*, the Messianic king-priest combination - [Melchizedek](/codex/melchizedek/), the figure - [Aaronic Priesthood](/codex/levitical-priesthood/), the Levitical order - Priesthood of Christ, the doctrinal locus - [Hebrews 5](/codex/hebrews-5/)-10, [Genesis 14.18-20](/codex/genesis-14-18-20/), [Psalms 110.4](/codex/psalms-110-4/), locus classicus