What does כָּהַן (kāhan) mean in the Bible?
כָּהַן (kāhan): Mediating sacred space between God and people; literal priestly function deepens into metaphor of assuming consecrated role.
Hebrew · H3547
כָּהַן
To officiate as a priest; figuratively, to put on regalia
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כָּהַןH3547
Pronunciationkāhan
What does כָּהַן (kāhan) mean in the Bible?
כָּהַן (kāhan): Mediating sacred space between God and people; literal priestly function deepens into metaphor of assuming consecrated role.
Full entry for כָּהַן (H3547) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H3547?
The BSB source-word alignment has 23 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include to serve Me as priests (5), to serve as priests (4), as priests (2), served as priests (2), so that they may serve Me as priests (2).
Where does כָּהַן (kāhan) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 28:1. Its strongest book concentrations include Exodus (12), 1 Chronicles (2), Leviticus (2), Numbers (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itto serve Me as priests5×Exodus 28:1, Exodus 29:1, Exodus 29:44, Exodus 30:30
to serve as priests4×Exodus 31:10, Exodus 35:19, Exodus 39:41, Numbers 3:3
as priests2×Leviticus 7:35, 2 Chronicles 11:14
served as priests2×Numbers 3:4, 1 Chronicles 24:2
so that they may serve Me as priests2×Exodus 28:4, Exodus 28:41
as My priests1×Hosea 4:6
served as priest1×1 Chronicles 6:10
so that he may serve Me as a priest1×Exodus 40:13
so that he may serve Me as priest1×Exodus 28:3
so that they may also serve Me as priests1×Exodus 40:15
succeeded him as priest1×Deuteronomy 10:6
to succeed1×Leviticus 16:32
wears a priestly1×Isaiah 61:10
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 28:1לְכַהֲנוֹ־toto serve Me as priestsPreposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singularExodus 28:3לְכַהֲנוֹ־toso that he may serve Me as priestPreposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singularExodus 28:4לְכַהֲנוֹ־toso that they may serve Me as priestsPreposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singularExodus 28:41וְכִהֲנ֥וּtoso that they may serve Me as priestsConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralExodus 29:1לְכַהֵ֣ןtoto serve Me as priestsPreposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive constructExodus 29:44לְכַהֵ֥ןtoto serve Me as priestsPreposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive constructExodus 30:30לְכַהֵ֥ןtoto serve Me as priestsPreposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive constructExodus 31:10לְכַהֵֽן׃toto serve as priestsPreposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive constructExodus 35:19לְכַהֵֽן׃toto serve as priestsPreposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive constructExodus 39:41לְכַהֵֽן׃toto serve as priestsPreposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowExodus 28:1
Aligned rows23
Books represented9
Exodus12Leviticus2Numbers2Deuteronomy11 Chronicles22 Chronicles1Isaiah1Ezekiel1Hosea1
Source forms
לְכַהֵֽן׃4xlə·ḵa·hênExodus 31:10, Exodus 35:19, Exodus 39:41, Numbers 3:3
לְכַהֲנוֹ־3xlə·ḵa·hă·nōw-Exodus 28:1, Exodus 28:3, Exodus 28:4
לְכַהֵ֣ן2xlə·ḵa·hênExodus 29:1, Ezekiel 44:13
לְכַהֵ֥ן2xlə·ḵa·hênExodus 29:44, Exodus 30:30
לְכַהֵ֖ן2xlə·ḵa·hênLeviticus 7:35, Leviticus 16:32
וַיְכַהֵ֤ן1xway·ḵa·hênNumbers 3:4
וַיְכַהֵ֛ן1xway·ḵa·hênDeuteronomy 10:6
וַֽיְכַהֲנ֔וּ1xway·ḵa·hă·nū1 Chronicles 24:2
Parsing patterns
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct10xExodus 29:1, Exodus 29:44, Exodus 30:30, Exodus 31:10
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular3xExodus 28:1, Exodus 28:3, Exodus 28:4
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural2xExodus 28:41, Exodus 40:15
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular2xNumbers 3:4, Deuteronomy 10:6
Preposition-m | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct2x2 Chronicles 11:14, Hosea 4:6
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular1xExodus 40:13
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural1x1 Chronicles 24:2
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular1xIsaiah 61:10
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Mediating sacred space between God and people; literal priestly function deepens into metaphor of assuming consecrated role.
Source Gloss
to officiate as a priest; figuratively, to put on regalia
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Mediating sacred space between God and people; literal priestly function deepens into metaphor of assuming consecrated role.
to officiate as a priest; figuratively, to put on regalia BDB: act as priest Usage: deck, be (do the office of a, execute the, minister in the) priest('s office).
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups1Aligned forms2
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action2×
Perfect1Chr 5:361×
ImperfectIsa 61:101×
Word Origins
כָּהַן is built from this root: