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Leviticus 14:20 — Word Study

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WLCוְהֶעֱלָ֧ה הַכֹּהֵ֛ן אֶת־ הָעֹלָ֥ה וְאֶת־ הַמִּנְחָ֖ה הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חָה וְכִפֶּ֥ר עָלָ֛יו הַכֹּהֵ֖ן וְטָהֵֽר׃ ס

BSAand offerʻâlâh [it]ʻôlâh on the altarmizbêach [place of sacrifice] withʼêth the grain offeringminchâh [meal offering, gift to God] to make atonementkâphar [cover, reconcile] for himʻal and he will be cleanṭâhêr [pure, ceremonially cleansed]

Word
Listen & take awayLeviticus 14
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 20 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (ve.ta.Her) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Leviticus 14:20quick helps
In a sentenceThe priest offers a burnt offering and grain offering on the altar to atone for the individual, resulting in their ceremonial cleansing.
Who is speakingThe priest, acting on behalf of the individual seeking atonement.
Where we areInstructions for the purification ritual in Leviticus.
The hard wordכִּפֶּ֥ר
Take awayAtonement is made through sacrificial offerings, leading to purity.
5 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them › clause verbעָלָה The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — Leviticus 14:20

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — The Purification Ritualgenerated

19Then the priest is to sacrifice the sin offering and make atonement for the one to be cleansed from his uncleanness. After that, the priest shall slaughter the burnt offering
20and offer it on the altar, with the grain offering, to make atonement for him, and he will be clean.
21If, however, the person is poor and cannot afford these offerings, he is to take one male lamb as a guilt offering to be waved to make atonement for him, along with a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering, a log of olive oil,
22and two turtledoves or two young pigeons, whichever he can afford, one to be a sin offering and the other a burnt offering.

Leviticus 14:20 outlines the ritual for purifying someone from uncleanness, emphasizing the role of the priest in making atonement through specific offerings. This process illustrates the importance of ritual purity in the community and the means by which individuals could restore their standing before God. The context of this verse is part of a larger set of laws concerning cleanliness and sacrifices, as seen in the preceding and following verses.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Leviticus 14:10On the eighth day he is to bring two unblemished male lambs, an unblemished ewe lamb a year old, a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with olive oil, and one log of olive oil.
2Ephesians 5:2and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

And the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the meat offering upon the altar: and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and he shall be clean.Leviticus 14:10 Ephesians 5:2

The Key Word כִּפֶּ֥ר, ki.PERgenerated

The Hebrew word כִּפֶּ֥ר (kaphar) means 'to cover' and is used in the context of atonement, indicating a reconciliation or pacification. It is derived from a root that conveys the idea of covering something, which can include both literal and figurative meanings. In this verse, it signifies the priest's action of making amends for the individual through sacrificial offerings.

The parsing indicates that it is a verb in the Piel stem, which often conveys an intensive or causative action. This suggests that the act of atonement is not merely passive but involves an active role in restoring the relationship between the individual and God.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb of the sentence is כִּפֶּ֥ר, he will make atonement, which governs the structure of the verse. The sentence includes a series of noun phrases detailing the offerings and the altar, showing the sequence of actions taken by the priest.

The structure emphasizes the priest's role and the actions required for atonement, with the offerings and the altar being central to the process of purification.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the word used for כִּפֶּ֥ר is ἐχιλάσεται, which suggests a similar concept of atonement or covering. This choice indicates a continuity of meaning between the Hebrew and Greek texts, focusing on the act of reconciliation with God through sacrifice.

The translation reflects the understanding of atonement as not only a covering but also a means of restoring the relationship with God, consistent with the sacrificial system described in the Hebrew Bible.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Leviticus 14:20 describes how a priest makes atonement for someone who has been made unclean. The priest offers a burnt offering and a grain offering on the altar, which leads to the person's cleansing. This process is essential for restoring the individual's purity and standing in the community.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to make atonement?

To make atonement means to reconcile or cover the wrongs of an individual through a sacrificial offering, restoring their relationship with God.

Why is the priest important in this process?

The priest acts as a mediator between God and the individual, performing the necessary rituals to ensure that atonement is made correctly.

What is the significance of the burnt offering?

The burnt offering symbolizes complete surrender to God and is a means of expressing devotion and seeking forgiveness.

How does this ritual relate to modern concepts of purity?

The ritual emphasizes the importance of being clean and pure before God, a concept that continues to hold significance in both Jewish and Christian traditions.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What does it mean for me to seek atonement in my own life?
  2. How can I better understand the role of sacrifice in my relationship with God?
  3. In what ways can I support others in their journey toward spiritual cleansing?
  4. How does the concept of purity influence my daily actions and decisions?

Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Leviticus 14:20 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the meat offering upon the altar,.... The meat offering which belonged to that, and went along with it, even one tenth deal of fine flour mingled

Read John Gill on Leviticus 14 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And on the eighth day he shall take two he lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish, and three tenth deals of fine flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and one log of oil.

Read Robert Jamieson on Leviticus 14 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Leviticus 14:20 And the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the meat offering upon the altar: and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and he shall be clean.Ver. 20. And the meat offering.] The meat offering annexed to the burnt offering shows, saith one, either that Christians grow marvellously in this life, after they have full assurance of pardon of sin: or else that Christ will be their eternal food in heaven. Bifield, on 1 Peter 1:22.

Read John Trapp on Leviticus 14 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(20) Shall offer the burnt offering.—With the offering of the burnt offering, accompanied by the meat offering mentioned in Leviticus 14:10, concluded the second and last stage of the purification of the leper, which completely restored him to the privileges of the sanctuary.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Leviticus 14 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

THE OF THE LEPER, Leviticus 14:1-32.Our position that the treatment of the leprosy was founded on ceremonial, rather than sanitary, grounds, is confirmed by the minute ritual required for the

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Leviticus 14 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

and offer it on the altar, with the grain offering, to make atonement for him, and he will be clean.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

then the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the meal offering on the altar. The priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be clean.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

and offer it on the altar, with the grain offering, to make atonement for him, and he will be clean.

NETBNew English Translation2006

and the priest is to offer the burnt offering and the grain offering on the altar. So the priest is to make atonement for him and he will be clean.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the meat offering upon the altar: and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and he shall be clean.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

and the priest shall offer the burnt-offering and the meal-offering upon the altar: and the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be clean.

RVARevised Version, American1894

and the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the meal offering upon the altar: and the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be clean.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And the priest shall offer the burnt-offering, and the meat-offering upon the altar: and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and he shall be clean.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

So the Priest shall offer ye burnt offring and the meat offring vpon ye altar and the Priest shall make an atonement for him: so he shalbe cleane.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And the priest shall offer the burnt-offering and the oblation upon the altar; and the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be clean.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

and the priest hath caused the burnt-offering to ascend, also the present, on the altar, and the priest hath made atonement for him, and he hath been clean.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

and the priest has caused the burnt-offering to ascend, also the present, on the altar, and the priest has made atonement for him, and he has been clean.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And the priest shall offer the burnt-offering and the meat-offering upon the altar; and the priest shall [thus] make an atonement for him, and he shall be clean.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Then the priest will offer the burnt offering and the grain offering on the altar. The priest will make atonement for the person, and then he will be clean.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And put it on the altar with the libations thereof, and the man shall be rightly cleansed.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

and offer it on the altar, together with the grain offering, to make them right, and they will be clean.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And the priest is to have the burned offering and the meal offering burned on the altar; and the priest will take away his sin and he will be clean.

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

וְandclauseverbהֶעֱלָ֧הhe.will.offer.upnoun phrase · subjectהַtheכֹּהֵ֛ןpriestnoun phrase · objectnoun phraseאֶת(et)noun phraseהָthe.burntעֹלָ֥הofferingוְandnoun phraseאֶת(et)noun phraseהַthe.grainמִּנְחָ֖הofferingnoun phrase · prepositionalהַtonoun phraseמִּזְבֵּ֑חָtheהaltarוְandclauseverbכִפֶּ֥רhe.will.make.atonementprepositional phrase · prepositionalעָלָ֛יonוhimnoun phrase · subjectהַtheכֹּהֵ֖ןpriestוְandclauseverbטָהֵֽרhe.will.be.clean

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text aligns closely with the Septuagint in wording, with 10 of the 11 words matched. The Samaritan Pentateuch differs in three words, indicating a variation in the phrasing but not in the overall meaning of the verse. The Dead Sea Scrolls show partial restoration, with some words supplied by an editor, highlighting the text's preservation and transmission.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

וְהֶעֱלָ֧ה הַכֹּהֵ֛ן אֶת־ הָעֹלָ֥ה וְאֶת־ הַמִּנְחָ֖ה הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חָה וְכִפֶּ֥ר עָלָ֛יו הַכֹּהֵ֖ן וְטָהֵֽר׃ ס

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְהֶעֱלָ֧הἀνοίσειהַכֹּהֵ֛ןἱερεὺςהָעֹלָ֥הὁλοκαύτωμαוְאֶת־καὶהַמִּנְחָ֖הθυσίανהַמִּזְבֵּ֑חָהθυσιαστήριονוְכִפֶּ֥רἐχιλάσεταιעָלָ֛יוαὐτοῦהַכֹּהֵ֖ןἱερεύςוְטָהֵֽר׃ סκαθαρισθήσεται

10 of the 11 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Samaritan Pentateuchthe Torah as the Samaritan community kept it

והעלה הכהן את העלה ואת המנחה המזבחה לפני יהוה וכפר עליו הכהן וטהר

3 words differ from the Masoretic Text: ל (to), פני (face), יהוה (YHWH)

Dead Sea Scrolls — 11Q1a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[והעלה] [הכהנ] [את] [העלה] [ואת] [המנחה] [המזבח׳ה] [וכפר] עלי הכהנ [וטהר]

nothing on the leather here — 2 partly restored, 9 supplied entire by an editor.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Leviticus 14:20עָלָהand he willand he will offעָלָהכֹּהֵןthe priestthe priestכֹּהֵןאֵתthe object the object markאֵתעֹלָהthe burnt othe burnt offerעֹלָהאֵתand the objand the object אֵתמִנְחָהthe grain othe grain offerמִנְחָהמִזְבֵּחַthe altar tthe altar towarמִזְבֵּחַכִּפֶּרand he willand he will makכִּפֶּרעַלon himon himעַלכֹּהֵןthe priestthe priestכֹּהֵןטָהֵרand he willand he will be טָהֵראוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתכָּהַןto ministeto ministerכָּהַןזָבַחto sacrifito sacrificeזָבַחעָלָהto ascend:to ascend: riseעָלָהעָ֫וֶלinjusticeinjusticeעָ֫וֶלעַלheightheightעַלעֹלָהburnt offeburnt offeringעֹלָהאֶלְעָזָרEleazarEleazarאֶלְעָזָרצָדוֹקZadokZadokצָדוֹקמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁיְאֹרstreamstreamיְאֹרשֶׁ֫לֶםpeace offepeace offeringשֶׁ֫לֶםתָּמִידcontinuallcontinuallyתָּמִידסֹ֫לֶתfine flourfine flourסֹ֫לֶתבָּלַלto mixto mixבָּלַלקָטַרto offer: to offer: burnקָטַרבַּ֫עַדabout/throabout/through/fבַּ֫עַדטָהֵרbe purebe pureטָהֵר
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Leviticus 14:20

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

and he will offer up the priest the object marker the burnt offering and the object marker the grain offering the altar towards and he will make atonement on him the priest and he will be clean
וְהֶעֱלָ֧הve.he.'e.Lah and he will offer up H5927 Verb · Hiphil · sequential perfect third person masculine singular
890× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To ascend means to go up or rise, like the smoke from an altar going up to God, as described in many Bible passages, including Leviticus and Psalms.
Tyndale gloss
to ascend: rise
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עָלָה (alah) means 'to ascend' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including going up, climbing, and rising in various contexts such as personal, natural, and spiritual. It can refer to actions involving people, animals, vegetation, and even thoughts, and includes nuances of being exalted or offering sacrifices. The word is built from a primitive root and appears in various grammatical forms, indicating different aspects of ascent or elevation.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָלָה 890 vb. go up, ascend, climb

Qal

of persons, go up, ascend, in local relations

go up, in personal relations

of animals, go or come up

of vegetation, spring up, grow, shoot forth

of natural phenom., go up, rise

of inanimate things, instead of passive construction

of thoughts

come up before God, arrogance

go up, extend, of boundary

excel

Niph.

be brought up

be taken up

pass., be taken up, away

reflex., take oneself away from, get up from

reflex.: take oneself away

be exalted, of God

Hiph.

bring up persons

in personal relations

bring up animals

cause to ascend

mentally

offer a present; bring up tithe to

exalt

cause to ascend (in flame), offer sacrifice

Hoph.

be carried away

be taken up into, inserted in

be offered

Hithp. lift oneself

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5927 עָלָה go up, ascend, climb .. of persons, go up, ascend, in local relations

. go up, in personal relations

. of animals, go or come up

. of vegetation, spring up, grow, shoot forth

. of natural phenom., go up, rise

. of inanimate things, instead of passive construction

. of thoughts

. come up before God, arrogance

. go up, extend, of boundary

. excel

. . . be brought up

. be taken up

. . pass., be taken up, away

. reflex., take oneself away from, get up from

. reflex.: take oneself away

. be exalted, of God

. . bring up persons

. in personal relations

. bring up animals

. cause to ascend

. mentally

. offer a present; bring up tithe to

. exalt

. cause to ascend (in flame), offer sacrifice

. . be carried away

. be taken up into, inserted in

. be offered

. lift oneself

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5927 `alah aw-law'

a primitive root; to ascend, intransitively (be high) or

actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary

and secondary, literal and figurative (as follow):--arise

(up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break (the day) (up),

bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, + shew, climb

(up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart,

exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make to) go (away, up);

grow (over) increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light,

(make) up, X mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, + perfect,

prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore, (make to) rise

(up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring

(up), stir up, take away (up), work.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָלָה (a.lah) — to ascend: rise.

: rise/go

1) to go up, ascend, climb

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go up, ascend

1a2) to meet, visit, follow, depart, withdraw, retreat

1a3) to go up, come up (of animals)

1a4) to spring up, grow, shoot forth (of vegetation)

1a5) to go up, go up over, rise (of natural phenomenon)

1a6) to come up (before God)

1a7) to go up, go up over, extend (of boundary)

1a8) to excel, be superior to

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be taken up, be brought up, be taken away

1b2) to take oneself away

1b3) to be exalted

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to bring up, cause to ascend or climb, cause to go up

1c2) to bring up, bring against, take away

1c3) to bring up, draw up, train

1c4) to cause to ascend

1c5) to rouse, stir up (mentally)

1c6) to offer, bring up (of gifts)

1c7) to exalt

1c8) to cause to ascend, offer

1d) (Hophal)

1d1) to be carried away, be led up

1d2) to be taken up into, be inserted in

1d3) to be offered

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Hiphil-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · sequential perfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vhq3ms
and he will offer up the priest the object marker the burnt offering and the object marker the grain offering the altar towards and he will make atonement on him the priest and he will be clean
הַכֹּהֵ֛ןha.ko.Hen the priest H3548 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
750× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, a priest is a person who serves God and leads others in worship, like the Levitical priests in Exodus. They were responsible for making sacrifices and following God's laws. This term is also used to describe Jesus as a priest-king.
Tyndale gloss
priest
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֹּהֵן (kohen) means 'priest' and is derived from the active participle of a related root. It encompasses various types of priests, including Levitical, Aaronic, and even pagan priests, as well as chief rulers or principal officers. The term is used in contexts referring to both Jewish and non-Jewish priestly roles.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּהֵן 750 n.m. priest

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3548 כֹּהֵן priest

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3548 kohen ko-hane'

active participle of 3547; literally, one officiating, a

priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a

layman):--chief ruler, X own, priest, prince, principal

officer.

see HEBREW for 03547

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּהֵן (ko.hen) — priest.

1) priest, principal officer or chief ruler

1a) priest-king (Melchizedek, Messiah)

1b) pagan priests

1c) priests of Jehovah

1d) Levitical priests

1e) Zadokite priests

1f) Aaronic priests

1g) the high priest

Aramaic equivalent: ka.hen (כָּהֵן "priest" H3549)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTd/Ncmsa — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

prest (kohen, "priest," "prince," "minister"; hiereus archiereus; for hiereus megas, of Heb 10:21, see Thayer's Lexicon, under the word hiereus:

I. NATURE OF THE PRIESTLY OFFICE

1. Implies Divine Choice

2. Implies Representation

3. Implies Offering Sacrifice

4. Implies Intercession

II. THE TWO GREAT PRIESTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, MELCHIZEDEK AND AARON

III. PRIESTLY FUNCTIONS AND CHARACTER

1. A Strictly Religious Order

2. Priestism Denied

3. The High Priest's Qualifications

4. Symbolism of Aaron's Rod

IV. CONSECRATION OF AARON AND HIS SONS (EXODUS 29; LEVITICUS 8)

1. Symbolism of Consecration

2. Type and Archetype

LITERATURE

A priest is one who is duly authorized to minister in sacred things, particularly to offer sacrifices at the altar, and who acts as mediator between men and God. In the New Testament the term is applied to priests of the Gentiles…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Priest

The Heb. kohen, Gr. hierus, Lat. sacerdos, always denote one who offers sacrifices.

At first every man was his own priest, and presented his own sacrifices before God. Afterwards that office devolved on the head of the family, as in the cases of Noah (Gen. 8:20), Abraham (12:7; 13:4), Isaac (26:25), Jacob (31:54), and Job (Job 1:5).

The name first occurs as applied to Melchizedek (Gen. 14:18). Under the Levitical arrangements the office of the priesthood was limited to the tribe of Levi, and to only one family of that tribe, the family of Aaron. Certain laws respecting the qualifications of priests are given in Lev. 21:16-23. There are ordinances also regarding the…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

The English word is derived from the Greek presbyter , signifying an "elder" (Heb. cohen). Origin. --The idea of a priesthood connects itself in all its forms, pure or corrupted, with the consciousness, more or less distinct of sin. Men feel that they have broken a law. The power above them is holier than they are, and they dare not approach it. They crave for the intervention of some one of whom they can think as likely to be more acceptable than themselves. He must offer up their prayers, thanksgivings, sacrifices. He becomes their representative in "things pertaining unto God." He may become also (though this does not always follow) the representative of God to man. The functions of the priest and prophet may exist in the same person. No trace of a hereditary or caste priesthood meets us in the worship of the patriarchal age. Once and once only does the word cohen meet us as…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

One who officiated in the public worship of God, especially in making expiation for sin, being "ordained for men in things pertaining to God, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins." In the Old Testament, the priesthood was not annexed to a certain family till after the promulgation of the law by Moses. Before that time, the firstborn of each family, the fathers, the princes, the kings, were priests in their own cities and in their own houses. Cain and Abel, Noah, Abraham, and Job, Abimelech and Laban, Isaac and Jacob offered personally their own sacrifices. In the solemnity of the covenant made by the Lord with his people, at the foot of Mount Sinai, Moses performed the office of mediator, and young men were chosen from among Israel to perform the office of priests, Ex 24:5. But after the Lord had chosen the tribe of Levi to…

and he will offer up the priest the object marker the burnt offering and the object marker the grain offering the altar towards and he will make atonement on him the priest and he will be clean
אֶת־'et- the object marker H853 Particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | DirObjM — Particle
HTo
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he will offer up the priest the object marker the burnt offering and the object marker the grain offering the altar towards and he will make atonement on him the priest and he will be clean
הָעֹלָ֥הha.'o.Lah the burnt offering H5930 Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
287× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a step or stairs, often used to describe the ascent to the altar for a burnt offering. In the Bible, it can also mean a holocaust or sacrifice, like in Leviticus.
Tyndale gloss
burnt offering
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עֹלָה (olah) refers to both a whole burnt-offering and an ascent or stairway. It is derived from a feminine active participle of the root meaning to go up. The term is used in contexts related to sacrifices, particularly in the Old Testament, where it signifies offerings that ascend in smoke. The entries consistently highlight its dual meaning without significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֹלָה 286 n.f. whole burnt-offering

base

[עֹלָה] n.f. ascent, stairway, Ez 40:26 Kt

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5930a עֹלָה whole burnt-offering H5930b עֹלָה ascent, stairway

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5930 `olah o-law'

or mowlah {o-law'}; feminine active participle of 5927; a

step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); usually a

holocaust (as going up in smoke):--ascent, burnt offering

(sacrifice), go up to. See also 5766.

see HEBREW for 05927

see HEBREW for 05766

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֹלָה (o.lah) — burnt offering.

whole burnt offering

Aramaic equivalent: a.lah (עֲלָת "burnt offering" H5928)

עֹלָה (o.lah) — ascent.

ascent, stairway, steps

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-fs — Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
HTd/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Burnt offering

Hebrew olah; i.e., “ascending,” the whole being consumed by fire, and regarded as ascending to God while being consumed. Part of every offering was burnt in the sacred fire, but this was wholly burnt, a “whole burnt offering.” It was the most frequent form of sacrifice, and apparently the only one mentioned in the book of Genesis. Such were the sacrifices offered by Abel (Gen. 4:3, 4, here called minhah; i.e., “a gift”), Noah (Gen. 8:20), Abraham (Gen. 22:2, 7, 8, 13), and by the Hebrews in Egypt (Ex. 10:25).

The law of Moses afterwards prescribed the occasions and the manner in which burnt sacrifices were to be offered. There were “the continual…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

The word is applied to the offering which was wholly consumed by fire on the altar, and the whole of which, except the refuse ashes "ascended" in the smoke to God. The meaning of the whole burnt offering was that which is the original idea of all sacrifice, the offering by the sacrificer of himself, soul and body, to God--the submission of his will to the will of the Lord. The ceremonies of the burnt offering are given in detail in the book of Leviticus. [SACRIFICE]

Nave's Topical Bible

→ See OFFERINGS, BURNT

and he will offer up the priest the object marker the burnt offering and the object marker the grain offering the altar towards and he will make atonement on him the priest and he will be clean
וְאֶת־ve.'Et and the object marker H853 Conjunction · particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/To — Conjunction · particle
HC/To
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he will offer up the priest the object marker the burnt offering and the object marker the grain offering the altar towards and he will make atonement on him the priest and he will be clean
הַמִּנְחָ֖הha.min.Chah the grain offering H4503 Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
211× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for offering refers to a gift or donation, often given to God as a sacrifice. In Leviticus 2:1, it describes a grain offering. It can also mean tribute or present.
Amplified meaning
meal offering, gift to God
Tyndale gloss
offering
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִנְחָה (minchah) refers to a gift or offering, particularly in a religious context. It encompasses a range of meanings including tribute, voluntary offerings, and specifically bloodless sacrifices, often grain offerings. The term is derived from a root meaning to apportion or bestow, indicating a donation or present, especially to God.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִנְחָה 153 n.f. gift, tribute, offering

gift, present

tribute

offering made to God, of any kind, whether grain or animals

grain offering

grain-offering, always with this meaning in P

vbs. of offering are

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4503 מִנְחָה gift, tribute, offering

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4503 minchah min-khaw'

from an unused root meaning to apportion, i.e. bestow; a

donation; euphemistically, tribute; specifically a sacrificial

offering (usually bloodless and voluntary):--gift, oblation,

(meat) offering, present, sacrifice.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִנְחָה (min.chah) — offering.

: offering/sacrifice

1) gift, tribute, offering, present, oblation, sacrifice, meat offering

1a) gift, present

1b) tribute

1c) offering (to God)

1d) grain offering

מִנְחָה (min.chah) — offering: gift.

: gift

1) gift, tribute, offering, present, oblation, sacrifice, meat offering

1a) gift, present

1b) tribute

1c) offering (to God)

1d) grain offering

מִנְחָה (min.chah) — offering: tribute.

: tribute

1) gift, tribute, offering, present, oblation, sacrifice, meat offering

1a) gift, present

1b) tribute

1c) offering (to God)

1d) grain offering

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-fs — Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
HTd/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Offering

An oblation, dedicated to God. Thus Cain consecrated to God of the first-fruits of the earth, and Abel of the firstlings of the flock (Gen. 4:3, 4). Under the Levitical system different kinds of offerings are specified, and laws laid down as to their presentation. These are described under their distinctive names.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

In the Hebrew, an offering, minchah, is distinguished from a sacrifice, zebah, as being bloodless. In our version, however, the word offering is often used for a sacrifice, as in the case of peace offerings, sin offerings, etc. Of the proper offerings, that is, the unbloody offerings, some accompanied the sacrifices, as flour, wine, salt; others were not connected with any sacrifices. Like the sacrifices, some, as the first fruits and tenths, were obligatory; other were voluntary offerings of devotion. Various sorts of offerings are enumerated in the books of Moses. Among these are,

1. Fine flour, or meal;

2. Cakes baked in an oven;

3. Cakes baked on a plate or shallow pan;

4. Cakes cooked in deep vessel by frying in oil, (English version, "frying pan," though some understand here a gridiron or a plate with holes;)

and he will offer up the priest the object marker the burnt offering and the object marker the grain offering the altar towards and he will make atonement on him the priest and he will be clean
הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חָהha.miz.Be.chah the altar towards H4196 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute · suffix
401× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
An altar is a place of sacrifice, where offerings are made to God, as seen in the Bible's description of the tabernacle and temple. It was a central part of Israel's worship. The altar played a key role in the priestly rituals.
Amplified meaning
place of sacrifice
Tyndale gloss
altar
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִזְבֵּחַ (mizbeach) means 'altar' in Hebrew. It is derived from the root word meaning to slay or kill, indicating its use in sacrificial contexts. The term is consistently used throughout the Old Testament to refer to places of sacrifice and worship.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִזְבֵּחַ 401 n.m. altar

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4196 מִזְבֵּחַ altar

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4196 mizbeach miz-bay'-akh

from 2076; an altar:--altar.

see HEBREW for 02076

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִזְבֵּחַ (miz.be.ach) — altar.

altar

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-ms | Suff — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute · suffix
HTd/Ncmsa/Sd
and he will offer up the priest the object marker the burnt offering and the object marker the grain offering the altar towards and he will make atonement on him the priest and he will be clean
וְכִפֶּ֥רve.khi.Per and he will make atonement H3722 Verb · Piel · sequential perfect third person masculine singular
102× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To cover means to coat or cover something, like when the ark was covered with pitch to protect it. This word is also used figuratively to describe making amends or forgiving someone, like in a sacrifice or atonement.
Amplified meaning
cover, reconcile
Tyndale gloss
to atone
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word כִּפֶּר (kaphar) is built from a root meaning 'to cover.' It encompasses a range of meanings including to atone, pacify, and make propitiation, often in a legal or ritual context. The word also appears in a more literal sense, such as covering with pitch. There is a distinction between its uses in different grammatical forms, indicating various nuances in meaning.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּפֶּר vb. Pi. etc. denom. cover over (fig.), pacify, make propitiation

Pi.

cover over, pacify, propitiate

cover over, atone for sin, without sacrifice

cover over, atone for sin and persons by legal rites

Pu. be covered over, atoned for

Hithp. the iniquity of the house of Eli shall not be covered by peace-offering or minchah

Niph. and the blood shall be covered for them

base

כָּפַר vb. denom. Gn 6:14 and thou shalt pitch it with pitch (P).

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3722a כִּפֶּר vb. denom. cover over (fig.), pacify, make propitiation H3722b כָּפַר vb. denom. and thou shalt pitch it with pitch

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3722 kaphar kaw-far'

a primitive root; to cover (specifically with bitumen);

figuratively, to expiate or condone, to placate or cancel:--

appease, make (an atonement, cleanse, disannul, forgive, be

merciful, pacify, pardon, purge (away), put off, (make)

reconcile(-liation).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כִּפֶּר (ki.pher) — to atone.

1) to cover, purge, make an atonement, make reconciliation

1a) (Piel)

1a1) to cover over, pacify, propitiate

1a2) to cover over, atone for sin, make atonement for

1a3) to cover over, atone for sin and persons by legal rites

1b) (Pual)

1b1) to be covered over

1b2) to be atoned for

1c) (Hithpael) to be covered

כָּפַר (ka.phar) — to cover.

(Qal) to coat or cover with pitch

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Piel-3ms — Verb · Piel · sequential perfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vpq3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

a-ton'-ment: Translates kaphar; chaTa'; ratsah, the last employed only of human relations (1Sa 29:4); translates the following Greek stems hilas-, simple and compounded with various prepositions; allag- in composition only, but with numerous prepositions and even two at a time, e. g. Mt 5:24; lip- rarely (Da 9:24).

I. Terms Employed.

1. Hebrew and Greek Words:

The root meanings of the Hebrew words, taking them in the order cited above, are, to "cover," hence expiate, condone, cancel, placate; to "offer," or "receive a sin offering," hence, make atonement, appease, propitiate; "effect reconciliation," i. e. by some conduct, or course of action. Of the Greek words the meanings, in order, are "to be," or "cause to be, friendly"; "to…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Atonement

This word does not occur in the Authorized Version of the New Testament except in Rom. 5:11, where in the Revised Version the word “reconciliation” is used. In the Old Testament it is of frequent occurrence.

The meaning of the word is simply at-one-ment, i.e., the state of being at one or being reconciled, so that atonement is reconciliation. Thus it is used to denote the effect which flows from the death of Christ.

But the word is also used to denote that by which this reconciliation is brought about, viz., the death of Christ itself; and when so used it means satisfaction, and in this sense to make an atonement for one is to make satisfaction for his offences (Ex. 32:30; Lev. 4:26; 5:16;

→ For tabernacle and furniture Le 16:15-20,33

→ In consummation of the Levites Nu 8:21

→ For those defiled by the dead Nu 6:11

→ Made for houses Le 14:53

→ For sin, see below

→ By meat offerings Le 5:11-13

→ By jewels Nu 31:50

→ By money Ex 30:12-16; Le 5:15,16; 2Ki 12:16

→ By incense Nu 16:46-50

→ By animals, see below

and he will offer up the priest the object marker the burnt offering and the object marker the grain offering the altar towards and he will make atonement on him the priest and he will be clean
עָלָ֛יו'a.Lav on him H5921 Preposition · suffix
5,774× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Tyndale gloss
upon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

עַל, עָ֑ל

subst. height

As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed

of clothing, etc., which any one wears

With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears

. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5921 `al al

properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the

singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a

particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always

in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great

variety of applications (as follow):--above, according

to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because

of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both

and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in

(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,

through(-out), to, touching, X with.

see HEBREW for 05920

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַל (al) — upon.

prep

1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards

1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)

1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)

1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)

1e) over (of suspension or extension)

1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)

1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)

1h) to (as a dative)

[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.

conj

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he will offer up the priest the object marker the burnt offering and the object marker the grain offering the altar towards and he will make atonement on him the priest and he will be clean
הַכֹּהֵ֖ןha.ko.Hen the priest H3548 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
750× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, a priest is a person who serves God and leads others in worship, like the Levitical priests in Exodus. They were responsible for making sacrifices and following God's laws. This term is also used to describe Jesus as a priest-king.
Tyndale gloss
priest
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֹּהֵן (kohen) means 'priest' and is derived from the active participle of a related root. It encompasses various types of priests, including Levitical, Aaronic, and even pagan priests, as well as chief rulers or principal officers. The term is used in contexts referring to both Jewish and non-Jewish priestly roles.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּהֵן 750 n.m. priest

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3548 כֹּהֵן priest

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3548 kohen ko-hane'

active participle of 3547; literally, one officiating, a

priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a

layman):--chief ruler, X own, priest, prince, principal

officer.

see HEBREW for 03547

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּהֵן (ko.hen) — priest.

1) priest, principal officer or chief ruler

1a) priest-king (Melchizedek, Messiah)

1b) pagan priests

1c) priests of Jehovah

1d) Levitical priests

1e) Zadokite priests

1f) Aaronic priests

1g) the high priest

Aramaic equivalent: ka.hen (כָּהֵן "priest" H3549)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTd/Ncmsa — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

prest (kohen, "priest," "prince," "minister"; hiereus archiereus; for hiereus megas, of Heb 10:21, see Thayer's Lexicon, under the word hiereus:

I. NATURE OF THE PRIESTLY OFFICE

1. Implies Divine Choice

2. Implies Representation

3. Implies Offering Sacrifice

4. Implies Intercession

II. THE TWO GREAT PRIESTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, MELCHIZEDEK AND AARON

III. PRIESTLY FUNCTIONS AND CHARACTER

1. A Strictly Religious Order

2. Priestism Denied

3. The High Priest's Qualifications

4. Symbolism of Aaron's Rod

IV. CONSECRATION OF AARON AND HIS SONS (EXODUS 29; LEVITICUS 8)

1. Symbolism of Consecration

2. Type and Archetype

LITERATURE

A priest is one who is duly authorized to minister in sacred things, particularly to offer sacrifices at the altar, and who acts as mediator between men and God. In the New Testament the term is applied to priests of the Gentiles…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Priest

The Heb. kohen, Gr. hierus, Lat. sacerdos, always denote one who offers sacrifices.

At first every man was his own priest, and presented his own sacrifices before God. Afterwards that office devolved on the head of the family, as in the cases of Noah (Gen. 8:20), Abraham (12:7; 13:4), Isaac (26:25), Jacob (31:54), and Job (Job 1:5).

The name first occurs as applied to Melchizedek (Gen. 14:18). Under the Levitical arrangements the office of the priesthood was limited to the tribe of Levi, and to only one family of that tribe, the family of Aaron. Certain laws respecting the qualifications of priests are given in Lev. 21:16-23. There are ordinances also regarding the…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

The English word is derived from the Greek presbyter , signifying an "elder" (Heb. cohen). Origin. --The idea of a priesthood connects itself in all its forms, pure or corrupted, with the consciousness, more or less distinct of sin. Men feel that they have broken a law. The power above them is holier than they are, and they dare not approach it. They crave for the intervention of some one of whom they can think as likely to be more acceptable than themselves. He must offer up their prayers, thanksgivings, sacrifices. He becomes their representative in "things pertaining unto God." He may become also (though this does not always follow) the representative of God to man. The functions of the priest and prophet may exist in the same person. No trace of a hereditary or caste priesthood meets us in the worship of the patriarchal age. Once and once only does the word cohen meet us as…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

One who officiated in the public worship of God, especially in making expiation for sin, being "ordained for men in things pertaining to God, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins." In the Old Testament, the priesthood was not annexed to a certain family till after the promulgation of the law by Moses. Before that time, the firstborn of each family, the fathers, the princes, the kings, were priests in their own cities and in their own houses. Cain and Abel, Noah, Abraham, and Job, Abimelech and Laban, Isaac and Jacob offered personally their own sacrifices. In the solemnity of the covenant made by the Lord with his people, at the foot of Mount Sinai, Moses performed the office of mediator, and young men were chosen from among Israel to perform the office of priests, Ex 24:5. But after the Lord had chosen the tribe of Levi to…

and he will offer up the priest the object marker the burnt offering and the object marker the grain offering the altar towards and he will make atonement on him the priest and he will be clean
וְטָהֵֽר׃ סve.ta.Her and he will be clean H2891 Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person masculine singular
94× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to be pure, either physically, morally, or ceremonially. It appears in Leviticus for purification rituals and in Psalm 51 where David asks God to purify his heart. This concept is central to Jewish and Christian ideas of cleanliness and holiness.
Amplified meaning
pure, ceremonially cleansed
Tyndale gloss
be pure
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

טָהֵר (taher) means to be clean or pure, covering physical, ceremonial, and moral aspects of purity. It can refer to being free from disease, ceremonially clean, or morally innocent. The verb has various forms, including Qal (to be clean), Piel (to cleanse), and Hithpael (to purify oneself). Brown-Driver-Briggs notes a specific instance of miraculous cleansing related to leprosy.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

טָהֵר vb. be clean, pure

Qal

be clean, i.e. (miraculously) freed from leprosy by washing in the Jordan

be clean ceremonially

be clean morally

Pi.

cleanse, purify

pronounce clean, ceremonially

perform the ceremony of cleansing

Pu. a land not cleansed

Hithp.

purify oneself

present oneself for purification

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2891 טָהֵר be clean, pure

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2891 taher taw-hare'

a primitive root; properly, to be bright; i.e. (by

implication) to be pure (physical sound, clear, unadulterated;

Levitically, uncontaminated; morally, innocent or holy):--be

(make, make self, pronounce) clean, cleanse (self), purge,

purify(-ier, self).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

טָהֵר (ta.her) — be pure.

1) to be clean, be pure

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be clean (physically-of disease)

1a2) to be clean ceremonially

1a3) to purify, be clean morally, made clean

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to cleanse, purify

1b1a) physically

1b1b) ceremonially

1b1c) morally

1b2) to pronounce clean

1b3) to perform the ceremony of cleansing

1c) (Pual) to be cleansed, be pronounced clean

1d) (Hithpael)

1d1) to purify oneself

1d1a) ceremonially

1d1b) morally

1d2) to present oneself for purification

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqq3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

klen (Anglo-Saxon cloene, "clear," "pure"): Rendering four Hebrew roots: bar, etc., "purify," "select," "make shining"; zakh, etc., "bright," "clean" "pure"; naqi, "free from," "exempt"; Taher, "clean," "pure," "empty," "bright" (?) the principal root, rendered "clean" 80 times (the King James Version); occurring in all its forms in various renderings about 200 times; also one Greek root, katharos, etc., akin to castus, "chaste," "free from admixture or adhesion of anything that soils, adulterates, corrupts" (Thayer's Lexicon). The physical, ritual, ethical, spiritual, figurative uses continually overlap, especially the last four.

1. Physical:

The physical use is infrequent: "Wash .... with snow water, and make my hands never so clean" (zakhakh, Job 9:30; figurative also); "clean provender" (hamits, the Revised Version (British and…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Clean

The various forms of uncleanness according to the Mosaic law are enumerated in Lev. 11-15; Num. 19. The division of animals into clean and unclean was probably founded on the practice of sacrifice. It existed before the Flood (Gen. 7:2). The regulations regarding such animals are recorded in Lev. 11 and Deut. 14:1-21.

The Hebrews were prohibited from using as food certain animal substances, such as (1) blood; (2) the fat covering the intestines, termed the caul; (3) the fat on the intestines, called the mesentery; (4) the fat of the kidneys; and (5) the fat tail of certain sheep (Ex. 29:13, 22; Lev. 3:4-9; 9:19; 17:10; 19:26).

Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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