kōhēn

Semantic range

1. 1one who officiates at an altar
2. 2a royal minister or official (occasionally)
3. 3the priestly line of Aaron

The priest's function in Israel is threefold: to offer sacrifice, to teach torah, and to discern between holy and common, clean and unclean (Leviticus 10:10–11). The role is mediatorial — a kōhēn stands between.

Exodus 19:6 makes the astonishing offer that the whole nation could be "a kingdom of priests," which 1 Peter 2:9 applies to the Church and which the Restoration takes literally in extending priesthood ordination broadly and in the temple's endowment of all covenant members. The Aaronic Priesthood restored on 15 May 1829 is this office (D&C 13; Joseph Smith—History 1:68–72).

See also

• מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶקmalkî-ṣedeq
• קָדוֹשׁqādôš
• ἱερεύςhiereus