Kohen

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A member of a hereditary priestly class in Judaism, traditionally responsible for performing rituals and blessings
2. An individual from a lineage within the Jewish faith, often assigned specific religious duties and privileges
3. A descendant of Aaron in Jewish tradition, tasked with sacred functions in ancient and modern worship contexts

Etymology: "Kohen" is a Hebrew noun meaning "priest," and its core sense is simple: a man who serves in the sacred functions of the Temple and, in traditional Judaism, a male member of the priestly line descended from Aaron, the brother of Moses. The word is a transliteration of the Hebrew כֹּהֵן, and it appears in English in both this spelling and as "cohen," the two being alternative renderings of the same term. The word's meaning in Hebrew is what makes it notable in English usage. It traces back to the Hebrew Bible, where the kohanim held hereditary duties in the Tabernacle and later the Temple in Jerusalem, including offering sacrifices and blessing the people. Although the Temple was destroyed in 70 CE, the status of the kohanim has persisted in Jewish tradition, and the term remains in use today for those who claim priestly descent and retain certain ceremonial roles, such as the priestly blessing in synagogue services.

Synonyms: priest, Jewish priest, Levite, temple priest, sacrificial priest

Antonyms: layperson, commoner, non-priest