כְּהֻנָּה
ke.hun.nah (H3550)
priesthood
AI Word Study
The Hebrew term כְּהֻנָּה (ke.hun.nah) is translated as "priesthood" and falls within the semantic domain of Worship & Ritual. This indicates its primary connection to the sacred and ritual aspects of ancient Israelite life. The 14 occurrences of this term in the Bible suggest it is an important concept, though not a dominant one. Analyzing the term's definition, we find that "priesthood" refers to the institution, office, or community of priests, who served as mediators between the people and God. The range of usage for this term is likely restricted to contexts involving Israel's worship, rituals, and sacrificial practices. Its significance lies in its representation of Israel's divine-human interface, highlighting the crucial role of priests in maintaining proper relations with the divine. The limited number of occurrences also implies that the concept of priesthood was not a central theme in the biblical text. Nevertheless, its role in facilitating communication between God and humans underscores the term's importance in the context of ancient Israelite worship and spirituality.
AI synthesis uses only provided lexicon data -- never training knowledge.
You shall clothe them with belts, Aaron and his sons, and bind headbands on them. They shall have the priesthood by a perpetual statute. You shall consecrate Aaron and his sons.
You shall anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may minister to me in the priest’s office. Their anointing shall be to them for an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.”
You shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall keep their priesthood, but the stranger who comes near shall be put to death.”
and that he has brought you near, and all your brothers the sons of Levi with you? Do you seek the priesthood also?
Yahweh said to Aaron, “You and your sons and your fathers’ house with you shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary; and you and your sons with you shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood.
You and your sons with you shall keep your priesthood for everything of the altar, and for that within the veil. You shall serve. I give you the service of the priesthood as a gift. The stranger who comes near shall be put to death.”
It shall be to him, and to his offspring after him, the covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was jealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel.’ ”
However, the Levites have no portion among you; for the priesthood of Yahweh is their inheritance. Gad, Reuben, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance east of the Jordan, which Moses the servant of Yahweh gave them.”
It will happen that everyone who is left in your house will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread, and will say, “Please put me into one of the priests’ offices, that I may eat a morsel of bread.” ’ ”
These sought their place among those who were registered by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they deemed disqualified and removed from the priesthood.
These searched for their genealogical records, but couldn’t find them. Therefore they were deemed disqualified and removed from the priesthood.
Remember them, my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.