Lexical Summary kehunnah: Priesthood Original Word: כְּהֻנָּה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance priesthood, priest's office From kahan; priesthood -- priesthood, priest's office. see HEBREW kahan NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as kohen Definition priesthood NASB Translation priest's offices (1), priesthood (13). Brown-Driver-Briggs כְּהֻנָּה noun feminine priesthood; — absolute ׳כ Exodus 29:9 5t.; construct כְּהֻנַּת Numbers 25:13 2t.; suffix כְּהֻנַּתְכֶם Numbers 18:1,7 (twice in verse); כְּהֻנָּתָם Numbers 3:10; plural כְּהֻנּוֺת 1 Samuel 2:36. — כהנת יהוה priesthood of ׳י, the portion of the Levites Joshua 18:7 (D); plural priest's offices 1 Samuel 2:36; elsewhere Exodus 29:9; Exodus 40:15; Numbers 3:10; Numbers 16:10; Numbers 18:1,7 (twice in verse); Numbers 25:13 (all P), Ezra 2:62 = Nehemiah 7:64; Nehemiah 13:29 (twice in verse). Topical Lexicon Definition and Scope The term describes the divinely instituted office, privileges, and responsibilities of those set apart to draw near to God on behalf of Israel. It appears in contexts that emphasize both the inherited right of the house of Aaron and the sacred ministry attached to that right. Institution in Israel At Sinai the office was formally conferred: “The priesthood shall be theirs by a perpetual statute” (Exodus 29:9). Subsequent anointing confirmed the ordinance: “Their anointing will qualify them for a permanent priesthood throughout their generations” (Exodus 40:15). Thus the priesthood did not originate in human initiative but in covenant decree. Continuity of the Aaronic Line Numbers 3:10 assigns Aaron and his sons to “tend to their priesthood,” marking it as hereditary. Any outsider who presumed to serve was threatened with death, underscoring the priesthood’s exclusivity. Later, the covenant of peace given to Phinehas made the line “a covenant of a perpetual priesthood” (Numbers 25:13). Joshua echoes that the Levites’ very inheritance was “the priesthood of the LORD” (Joshua 18:7). Sacred Responsibilities The office carried weighty duties: Because these tasks touched the holy things, the priests were warned: “Anyone else who approaches shall be put to death” (Numbers 18:7). Guardianship and Holiness Priests bore “the iniquity associated with [the] priesthood” (Numbers 18:1). Failure invited judgment, as seen in Korah’s rebellion: “Now you are seeking the priesthood as well” (Numbers 16:10). The calamity that befell Eli’s house illustrates the same principle; his descendants would beg for “one of the priestly offices” just to have bread (1 Samuel 2:36). Perpetual Covenant The priesthood is repeatedly called “perpetual.” Yet its perpetuity is contingent on covenant faithfulness, not mechanical succession. Nehemiah prayed, “Remember them, O my God, for defiling the priesthood” (Nehemiah 13:29), showing that unfaithfulness imperils the very covenant meant to endure. Threats to the Priesthood Sin, foreign alliances, and genealogical uncertainty endangered priestly legitimacy. Post-exilic leaders excluded men “from the priesthood as unclean” when records were lacking (Ezra 2:62; Nehemiah 7:64). Nehemiah also confronted intermarriage that “defiled the priesthood” (Nehemiah 13:29). Restoration after Exile Re-establishing valid priestly lines was essential to temple worship. Ezra’s reforms demonstrate Scripture’s concern that only authorized descendants serve, preserving both holiness and covenant continuity. Foreshadowing and Fulfillment Hebrews later affirms that the Aaronic system pointed forward to a greater, final Priest. Yet the Old Testament’s emphasis on a holy, mediating order undergirds the New Testament message: a mediated approach to God is necessary, and God Himself provides the mediator. Practical Ministry Implications 1. God appoints His servants; self-appointment invites judgment. Forms and Transliterations הַכְּהֻנָּ֔ה הַכְּהֻנָּ֖ה הַכְּהֻנָּֽה׃ הַכְּהֻנּ֖וֹת הכהנה הכהנה׃ הכהנות כְּהֻנַּ֣ת כְּהֻנַּתְכֶ֔ם כְּהֻנַּתְכֶ֜ם כְּהֻנַּתְכֶֽם׃ כְּהֻנָּ֖ה כְּהֻנָּֽה׃ כְּהֻנָּתָ֑ם כְהֻנַּ֥ת כהנה כהנה׃ כהנת כהנתכם כהנתכם׃ כהנתם לִכְהֻנַּ֥ת לכהנת chehunNat hak·kə·hun·nāh hak·kə·hun·nō·wṯ hakkehunNah hakkəhunnāh hakkehunNot hakkəhunnōwṯ kə·hun·nā·ṯām kə·hun·nāh kə·hun·naṯ ḵə·hun·naṯ kə·hun·naṯ·ḵem kehunNah kəhunnāh kehunNat kəhunnaṯ ḵəhunnaṯ kehunnaTam kəhunnāṯām kehunnatChem kəhunnaṯḵem lichhunNat liḵ·hun·naṯ liḵhunnaṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 29:9 HEB: וְהָיְתָ֥ה לָהֶ֛ם כְּהֻנָּ֖ה לְחֻקַּ֣ת עוֹלָ֑ם NAS: on them, and they shall have the priesthood by a perpetual KJV: the bonnets on them: and the priest's office shall be theirs for a perpetual INT: shall have like the priesthood statute A perpetual Exodus 40:15 Numbers 3:10 Numbers 16:10 Numbers 18:1 Numbers 18:7 Numbers 18:7 Numbers 25:13 Joshua 18:7 1 Samuel 2:36 Ezra 2:62 Nehemiah 7:64 Nehemiah 13:29 Nehemiah 13:29 14 Occurrences |
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