Editing Kohen (section)

== Name ==
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'' ({{script|Phnx|𐤊𐤄𐤍}}). The cognate [[Arabic]] word {{lang|ar|كاهن|rtl=yes}} (''kāhin'') means "priest".<ref>[https://www.almaany.com/en/dict/ar-en/%D9%83%D8%A7%D9%87%D9%86/ كاهن in English]</ref>

The [[noun]] ''kohen'' is used in the [[Hebrew Bible|Bible]] to refer to [[priest]]s, whether Jewish or pagan (such as the ''kohanim'' of [[Baal]] or [[Dagon]]),<ref>Verses that use the term to refer to non-Aaronides include: {{Bibleverse|Genesis|14:18|HE}}, {{Bibleverse-nb|Genesis|41:45,50|HE}}, {{Bibleverse-nb|Genesis|46:20|HE}}, {{Bibleverse-nb|Genesis|47:22,26|HE}}; {{Bibleverse|Exodus|2:16|HE}}, {{Bibleverse-nb|Exodus|3:1|HE}},{{Bibleverse-nb|Exodus|18:1|HE}}; {{Bibleverse|Judges|17:5,10,12,13|HE}}; {{Bibleverse-nb|Judges|18:4-30|HE}}; {{Bibleverse|1 Samuel|5:5|HE}}, {{Bibleverse-nb|1 Samuel|6:2|HE}}; {{Bibleverse|1 Kings|12:31-32|HE}}, {{Bibleverse-nb|1 Kings|13:2,33|HE}}; {{Bibleverse|2 Kings|10:11,19|HE}}, {{Bibleverse-nb|2 Kings|17:32|HE}}; {{Bibleverse|Jeremiah|48:7|HE}}, {{Bibleverse-nb|Jeremiah|49:3|HE}}; {{Bibleverse|Amos|7:10|HE}}; {{Bibleverse|2 Chronicles|13:9|HE}}, {{Bibleverse-nb|2 Chronicles|23:17|HE}}, {{Bibleverse-nb|2 Chronicles|34:5|HE}}</ref> although Christian priests are referred to in modern Hebrew by the term ''komer'' ({{lang|he|כומר}}).<ref>[https://www.morfix.co.il/%D7%9B%D7%95%D7%9E%D7%A8 מילון מורפיקס: פירוש כומר בעברית]</ref> ''Kohanim'' can also refer to the Jewish nation as a whole, as in {{bibleverse|Exodus|19:6|HE}}, 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",<ref>{{Alhatorah|2 Kings|10:11|Targum Yonatan}}</ref> "master",<ref>{{Alhatorah|Amos|7:10|Targum Yonatan}}</ref> and "servant".<ref>{{Alhatorah|Jeremiah|48:7|Targum Yonatan}}</ref> Other interpretations include "minister" ([[Mekhilta of Rabbi Ishmael|Mechilta]] to [[Yitro|Parshah Jethro]], Exodus 18:1–20:23).