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Concept
Kohen
Summary
Kohen (, kōhēn, koˈ(h)en, "priest", pl. , kōhănīm, koˈ(h)anim, "priests") is the Hebrew word for "priest", used in reference to the Aaronic priesthood, also called Aaronites or Aaronides. They are traditionally believed and halakhically required to be of direct patrilineal descent from the biblical Aaron (also Aharon), brother of Moses, and thus belong to the Tribe of Levi.
During the existence of the Temple in Jerusalem (and previously the Tabernacle), kohanim performed the Temple sacrificial offerings, which were only permitted to be offered by them. Today, kohanim retain a lesser though distinct status within Rabbinic and Karaite Judaism, including certain honors and restrictions.
In the Samaritan community, the kohanim have remained the primary religious leaders. Ethiopian Jewish religious leaders are sometimes called kahen, a form of the same word, but the position is not hereditary and their duties are more like those of rabbis than kohanim in most Jewish communities.
The word kohen originally derives from a Semitic root common at least to the Central Semitic languages. In the ancient polytheistic religion of Phoenicia, the word for priest was khn (). The cognate Arabic word كاهن (kāhin) means either "priest" or "soothsayer".
The noun kohen is used in the Bible to refer to priests, whether Jewish or pagan (such as the kohanim of Baal or Dagon), although Christian priests are referred to in modern Hebrew by the term komer (). Kohanim can also refer to the Jewish nation as a whole, as in , where the whole of Israel is addressed as a "priestly kingdom (or: kingdom of priests) and a holy nation".
In Targum Yonatan, interpretive translations of the word kohen include "friend", "master", and "servant". Other intepretations include "minister" (Mechilta to Parshah Jethro, Exodus 18:1–20:23).
Priestly covenant
The early books of the Bible mention several pagan priests, such as Potipherah, the other priests of Egypt, and Jethro.
The non-Jewish priest Melchitzedek, however, is described as worshipping the same God as Abraham.
Official source
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