3547. kahan

Lexicon

kahan: To minister as a priest, to officiate

Original Word: כָּהַן
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: kahan
Pronunciation: kah-han'
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-han')
Definition: To minister as a priest, to officiate
Meaning: to officiate as a, priest, to put on regalia

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

deck, be do the office of a, execute the, minister in the priest's office

A primitive root, apparently meaning to mediate in religious services; but used only as denominative from kohen; to officiate as a priest; figuratively, to put on regalia -- deck, be (do the office of a, execute the, minister in the) priest('s office).

see HEBREW kohen

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
denominative verb from kohen
Definition
to act as a priest
NASB Translation
carry on their priesthood (1), decks (1), minister as a priest (1), minister as priest (3), minister as priests (6), ministered as priest (1), priest (1), serve as a priest (1), serve as priest (1), serve as priests (2), serve me as priests (1), served as the priest (1), served as priests (2), serving as priests (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

II. [כָּהַן] verb only

Pi`el denominative act as priest; — Perfect כִּהֵן Exodus 40:13; 1 Chronicles 5:36; 3masculine plural כִּהֲנוּ Exodus 28:41; Exodus 40:15; Imperfect3masculine singular יְכַהֵן Numbers 3:4 2t.; plural יְכַהֲנוּ 1 Chronicles 24:2; Infinitive construct כַּהֵן Exodus 29:1 11t.; suffix כַּהֲנוֺ Exodus 28:1,3,4. —

1 minister as a priest, absolute Exodus 31:10; Exodus 35:19; Exodus 39:41; Leviticus 16:32; Numbers 3:3,4 (all P); לִי ׳כ minister to me (׳י) Exodus 28:1,3,4,41; Exodus 29:1,44; Exodus 30:30; Exodus 40:13,15 (all P), Ezekiel 44:13; Hosea 4:6; ליהוה ׳כ Leviticus 7:35 (P), 1 Chronicles 5:36; 1 Chronicles 24:2; 2Chronicles 11:14 (always of Aaron and his sons, except Ezekiel 44:13; 2Chronicles 11:14, where Levites are forbidden to minister; and Hosea 4:6 of Israel, whose national priesthood is taken away).

2 be or become priest Deuteronomy 10:6 (E ?).

3 play the priest: כֶּחָתָן יְכַהֵן מְּאֵר Isaiah 61:10 as a bridegroom (that) priests it with his turban, decks himself with a splendid turban such as the priests wore.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G80 (adelphos): While not directly related to priesthood, this term for "brother" can be used in a broader sense of community and fellowship, which is integral to the priestly role.
• G749 (archiereus): Refers to the high priest, the chief religious official in the Jewish Temple.
• G2405 (hiereus): A general term for a priest, one who performs sacred rites.
• G2406 (hierateia): The office or function of a priest.
• G2407 (hierateuo): To officiate as a priest, similar to the Hebrew כָּהַן.
• G2409 (hieros): Sacred, holy, often used in the context of priestly duties.
• G2420 (hiereus): Another term for a priest, emphasizing the sacred nature of the role.
• G3008 (leitourgos): A minister or servant, often used in a religious context.
• G4060 (peritithemi): To put on, as in putting on priestly garments or regalia.

Usage: The verb כָּהַן (kāhan) is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe the act of serving or officiating as a priest. It encompasses the duties and responsibilities associated with the priestly office, including performing sacrifices, conducting religious ceremonies, and wearing priestly garments.

Context: The Hebrew verb כָּהַן (kāhan) is primarily associated with the role and functions of a priest in the religious life of ancient Israel. The priestly office was central to the worship and sacrificial system established in the Mosaic Law. Priests were responsible for mediating between God and the people, offering sacrifices, and maintaining the sanctity of the Tabernacle and later the Temple.

The verb appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, often in relation to the Levitical priesthood. For example, in Exodus 28:1, God commands Moses to bring Aaron and his sons near to serve as priests: "Have Aaron your brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, so they may serve Me as priests."

In 1 Samuel 2:28, God reminds Eli of the priestly duties given to his family: "And I chose your father out of all the tribes of Israel to be My priest, to offer sacrifices on My altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in My presence."

The role of the priest was not only ceremonial but also instructional, as priests were tasked with teaching the Law to the people (Leviticus 10:11). The priestly office was hereditary, passed down through the line of Aaron, and was marked by specific garments and rituals that signified their consecration and service to God.

Forms and Transliterations

וְכִהֲנ֖וּ וְכִהֲנ֥וּ וְכִהֵ֥ן וַֽיְכַהֲנ֔וּ וַיְכַהֵ֛ן וַיְכַהֵ֤ן ויכהן ויכהנו וכהן וכהנו יְכַהֵ֣ן יכהן כִּהֵ֔ן כהן לְכַהֲנוֹ־ לְכַהֵ֖ן לְכַהֵ֣ן לְכַהֵ֥ן לְכַהֵֽן׃ לכהן לכהן׃ לכהנו־ מִכַּהֵ֖ן מִכַּהֵ֣ן מכהן ki·hên kiHen kihên lə·ḵa·hă·nōw- lə·ḵa·hên lechahanov lechaHen ləḵahănōw- ləḵahên mik·ka·hên mikkaHen mikkahên vaychahaNu vaychaHen vechihaNu vechiHen way·ḵa·hă·nū way·ḵa·hên wayḵahănū wayḵahên wə·ḵi·hă·nū wə·ḵi·hên wəḵihănū wəḵihên yə·ḵa·hên yechaHen yəḵahên

Englishman's Concordance

Exodus 28:1
HEB: בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְכַהֲנוֹ־ לִ֑י אַהֲרֹ֕ן
NAS: of Israel, to minister as priest to Me -- Aaron,
KJV: of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, [even] Aaron,
INT: the sons of Israel to minister Aaron Nadab

Exodus 28:3
HEB: אַהֲרֹ֛ן לְקַדְּשׁ֖וֹ לְכַהֲנוֹ־ לִֽי׃
NAS: to consecrate him, that he may minister as priest to Me.
KJV: to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.
INT: Aaron's to consecrate may minister

Exodus 28:4
HEB: אָחִ֛יךָ וּלְבָנָ֖יו לְכַהֲנוֹ־ לִֽי׃
NAS: and his sons, that he may minister as priest to Me.
KJV: and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.
INT: your brother and his sons may minister

Exodus 28:41
HEB: וְקִדַּשְׁתָּ֥ אֹתָ֖ם וְכִהֲנ֥וּ לִֽי׃
NAS: them and consecrate them, that they may serve Me as priests.
KJV: them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office.
INT: them and consecrate may serve

Exodus 29:1
HEB: לְקַדֵּ֥שׁ אֹתָ֖ם לְכַהֵ֣ן לִ֑י לְ֠קַח
NAS: to them to consecrate them to minister as priests to Me: take
KJV: unto them to hallow them, to minister unto me in the priest's office: Take
INT: shall do to consecrate to minister take bull

Exodus 29:44
HEB: בָּנָ֛יו אֲקַדֵּ֖שׁ לְכַהֵ֥ן לִֽי׃
NAS: and his sons to minister as priests to Me.
KJV: and his sons, to minister to me in the priest's office.
INT: and his sons consecrate to minister

Exodus 30:30
HEB: וְקִדַּשְׁתָּ֥ אֹתָ֖ם לְכַהֵ֥ן לִֽי׃
NAS: and consecrate them, that they may minister as priests to Me.
KJV: and consecrate them, that [they] may minister unto me in the priest's office.
INT: shall anoint and consecrate may minister

Exodus 31:10
HEB: בִּגְדֵ֥י בָנָ֖יו לְכַהֵֽן׃
NAS: of his sons, [with which] to carry on their priesthood;
KJV: of his sons, to minister in the priest's office,
INT: and the garments of his sons carry

Exodus 35:19
HEB: בִּגְדֵ֥י בָנָ֖יו לְכַהֵֽן׃
NAS: of his sons, to minister as priests.'
KJV: of his sons, to minister in the priest's office.
INT: and the garments of his sons to minister

Exodus 39:41
HEB: בִּגְדֵ֥י בָנָ֖יו לְכַהֵֽן׃
NAS: of his sons, to minister as priests.
KJV: garments, to minister in the priest's office.
INT: and the garments of his sons to minister

Exodus 40:13
HEB: וְקִדַּשְׁתָּ֥ אֹת֖וֹ וְכִהֵ֥ן לִֽי׃
NAS: him and consecrate him, that he may minister as a priest to Me.
KJV: him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.
INT: and anoint and consecrate may minister

Exodus 40:15
HEB: אֶת־ אֲבִיהֶ֔ם וְכִהֲנ֖וּ לִ֑י וְ֠הָיְתָה
NAS: their father, that they may minister as priests to Me; and their anointing
KJV: their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: for their anointing
INT: have anointed their father may minister will qualify will qualify

Leviticus 7:35
HEB: הִקְרִ֣יב אֹתָ֔ם לְכַהֵ֖ן לַיהוָֽה׃
NAS: when he presented them to serve as priests to the LORD.
KJV: them to minister unto the LORD in the priest's office;
INT: day presented to serve to the LORD

Leviticus 16:32
HEB: אֶת־ יָד֔וֹ לְכַהֵ֖ן תַּ֣חַת אָבִ֑יו
NAS: and ordained to serve as priest in his father's
KJV: and whom he shall consecrate to minister in the priest's office in his father's
INT: accomplish able to serve place his father's

Numbers 3:3
HEB: מִלֵּ֥א יָדָ֖ם לְכַהֵֽן׃
NAS: whom he ordained to serve as priests.
KJV: whom he consecrated to minister in the priest's office.
INT: accomplish able to serve

Numbers 3:4
HEB: הָי֣וּ לָהֶ֑ם וַיְכַהֵ֤ן אֶלְעָזָר֙ וְאִ֣יתָמָ֔ר
NAS: and Ithamar served as priests in the lifetime
KJV: and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office in the sight
INT: no had served Eleazar and Ithamar

Deuteronomy 10:6
HEB: וַיִּקָּבֵ֣ר שָׁ֔ם וַיְכַהֵ֛ן אֶלְעָזָ֥ר בְּנ֖וֹ
NAS: his son ministered as priest in his place.
KJV: his son ministered in the priest's office in his stead.
INT: was buried and there ministered and Eleazar his son

1 Chronicles 6:10
HEB: ה֚וּא אֲשֶׁ֣ר כִּהֵ֔ן בַּבַּ֕יִת אֲשֶׁר־
NAS: (it was he who served as the priest in the house
KJV: Azariah, (he [it is] that executed the priest's office in the temple
INT: he who served the house which

1 Chronicles 24:2
HEB: הָי֣וּ לָהֶ֑ם וַֽיְכַהֲנ֔וּ אֶלְעָזָ֖ר וְאִיתָמָֽר׃
NAS: and Ithamar served as priests.
KJV: and Ithamar executed the priest's office.
INT: and had like served Eleazar and Ithamar

2 Chronicles 11:14
HEB: יָֽרָבְעָם֙ וּבָנָ֔יו מִכַּהֵ֖ן לַיהוָֽה׃
NAS: had excluded them from serving as priests to the LORD.
KJV: had cast them off from executing the priest's office unto the LORD:
INT: Jeroboam and his sons serving to the LORD

Isaiah 61:10
HEB: יְעָטָ֑נִי כֶּֽחָתָן֙ יְכַהֵ֣ן פְּאֵ֔ר וְכַכַּלָּ֖ה
NAS: As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
KJV: as a bridegroom decketh [himself] with ornaments,
INT: covered A bridegroom decks A garland A bride

Ezekiel 44:13
HEB: יִגְּשׁ֤וּ אֵלַי֙ לְכַהֵ֣ן לִ֔י וְלָגֶ֙שֶׁת֙
NAS: near to Me to serve as a priest to Me, nor
KJV: And they shall not come near unto me, to do the office of a priest unto me, nor to come near
INT: come to me serve near unto

Hosea 4:6
HEB: מָאַ֗סְתָּ וְאֶמְאָֽסְאךָ֙ מִכַּהֵ֣ן לִ֔י וַתִּשְׁכַּח֙
NAS: I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten
KJV: I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten
INT: have rejected will reject my priest have forgotten the law

23 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 3547
23 Occurrences

ki·hên — 1 Occ.
lə·ḵa·hă·nōw- — 3 Occ.
lə·ḵa·hên — 10 Occ.
mik·ka·hên — 2 Occ.
way·ḵa·hă·nū — 1 Occ.
way·ḵa·hên — 2 Occ.
wə·ḵi·hă·nū — 2 Occ.
wə·ḵi·hên — 1 Occ.
yə·ḵa·hên — 1 Occ.