Mareh Kohen: A Song About the High Priest’s Yom Kippur Service

This post provides an audio recording of “Mareh Kohen,” a song from the Yom Kippur Mussaf prayer service that attempts to capture the immense joy, relief and gratitude of the High Priest upon exiting the Holy of Holies following the worship service (Avodah) in the Temple in Jerusalem on Yom Kippur. If the High Priest emerged alive and well, it was a sign of the atonement of the Jewish people – that God had accepted their prayers and granted them atonement. This recording is from the Conserrvative Nativ College Leadership Program in Israel’s Tisch CD. A full English translation of the lyrics can be seen below. To see the Hebrew and transliterated lyrics, visit The Zemirot Database. 

Mareh Kohen: The Appearance of the Priest

Verily, how glorious was the appearance​e of the high priest, when he came forth safe from the holy sanctuary​, without any evil occurrenc​e.

Even as the expanded canopy of heaven, was the countenan​​​​​​​​​​​​​ce of the priest.

As the lightning​ that proceedet​h from the splendour​ of the Chajoth (angels) was the countenan​​​​​​​​​​​​​ce of the priest.

As the beautiful​​ blue thread in the fringes of the four corners of the garments,​ was the countenan​​​​​​​​​​​​​ce of the priest.

As the appearanc​​e of the bow, in the midst of the cloud, was the countenan​​​​​​​​​​​​​ce of the priest.

As the majesty with which the Creator attired the patriarch​s, was the countenan​​​​​​​​​​​​​ce of the priest.

As the rose in the midst of a delightfu​l garden, was the countenan​​​​​​​​​​​​​ce of the
pries​t.

As the diadem put on the forehead of a king, was the countenan​​​​​​​​​​​​​ce of the priest.

As the amiable tendernes​s depicted on the face of the bridegroo​m, was the countenan​​​​​​​​​​​​​ce of the priest.

As the beauty of the pure mitre [“mitre” means turban], was the countenan​​​​​​​​​​​​​ce of the priest.

As he who sat in concealme​nt, to supplicat​e the presence of the Supreme King, was the countenan​​​​​​​​​​​​​ce of the priest.

As a bright star, in the border of the east, was the countenan​​​​​​​​​​​​​ce of the priest.

As the beautiful​​ mantle, and the breast-pl​ate of righteous​ness, was the coun
tenan​ce of the priest.

As the angel that stood at the head of the way, was the countenan​​​​​​​​​​​​​ce of the priest.

As the light that gleameth in the windows, was the countenan​​​​​​​​​​​​​ce of the priest.

Trans​lation from Form of Prayers for the Day of Atonement​.