ἱερ-εύς G2409
priest — one who performs sacred rites and offers sacrifices, especially Jewish temple priests and Christ as high priest
Hiereus appears 31 times in the New Testament, spanning the Levitical priesthood, Jesus' interactions with the temple cult, and the christological reinterpretation of priesthood in Hebrews. In the Gospels, Jesus sends healed lepers to show themselves to the priest for ritual certification (Matt 8:4; Mark 1:44; Luke 17:14), and the parable of the Good Samaritan casts a priest passing by on the other side as a pointed critique (Luke 10:31). Luke introduces the priest Zechariah, father of John the Baptist, serving his division in the temple (Luke 1:5). Acts 6:7 notes a great company of priests becoming obedient to the faith. Hebrews applies the title to Christ as a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek (Heb 5:6; 7:11-21), superseding the Aaronic line. Spanish 'sacerdote,' French 'pretre/sacrificateur,' and German 'Priester' all render the cultic office consistently.
Senses
1. priest — A cultic officiant who performs sacred rites and offers sacrifices. In the Gospels, refers to Jewish temple priests who certify healing (Matt 8:4; Luke 17:14), with the Good Samaritan parable naming one who passes by (Luke 10:31). Zechariah serves as a priest of the division of Abijah (Luke 1:5). Hebrews redefines the office christologically: Jesus is priest forever after Melchizedek's order (Heb 5:6; 7:11-21), rendering the Aaronic priesthood obsolete. 31×
AR["-الكَهَنَةِ", "الكَهَنَةُ", "كاهِنٌ", "كاهِنُ", "كاهِنِ", "كَاهِن", "كَاهِنًا", "كَاهِنٌ", "كَاهِنُ", "كَهَنَةً", "كَهَنَةَ", "كَهَنَةِ"]·ben["পুরোহিত", "যাজক", "যাজককে", "যাজকদের", "যাজকরা"]·DE["Priester"]·EN["a-priest", "priest", "priests"]·FR["prêtre", "sacrificateur"]·heb["כֹּהֲנִים", "כֹּהֵן", "כֹּהֵן-"]·HI["पुजारी", "यजक", "यजकोन-को", "याजक", "याजक,", "याजक-को", "याजकों", "याजकों-को।"]·ID["Imam", "imam", "imam-imam", "itu", "para-imam"]·IT["sacerdote"]·jav["Imam", "imam", "imam.", "para-imam"]·KO["제사장", "제사장-이", "제사장들", "제사장들-과", "제사장들에게", "제사장들에게만", "제사장들이", "제사장에게", "제사장으로", "제사장을", "제사장이", "제사장이라", "제사장이시니"]·PT["sacerdote", "sacerdotes"]·RU["Священника", "жрец", "священник", "священникам", "священники", "священников", "священником", "священнику", "священнику,"]·ES["sacerdote", "sacerdotes", "un-sacerdote"]·SW["kuhani", "kuhani,", "makuhani"]·TR["-", "kahine", "kahini", "kahinin", "kahinler", "kahinlere", "kahinsın", "kâhin", "kâhine", "kâhini", "kâhinlere"]·urd["کاہن", "کاہنوں-کو"]
Related Senses
H3548 1. priest, cultic officiant (750×)G5547 1. Christ, Messiah, Anointed One (540×)H5030 1. Prophet, divine spokesperson (317×)H5930a 1. burnt offering (sacrifice) (286×)H3881 1. Levites (priestly class) (283×)G4396 1. prophet, spokesperson of God (146×)H6944 1. sanctuary, holy place (129×)G0749 1. high priest, chief priest (123×)H6944 2. holiness, sacredness (abstract quality) (123×)G5330 1. Pharisee (99×)G4336 1. pray to God (86×)H6944 3. holy things, sacred offerings (plural) (86×)H3722a 1. make ritual atonement (Piel) (85×)H6912 1. bury (Qal active) (82×)H6419 1. pray (Hitpael) (80×)H6944 4. holiness (with possessive pronoun) (77×)H6942 1. sanctify, consecrate (Piel factitive) (76×)H2930a 1. Qal: be/become unclean (75×)H7819a 1. slaughter an animal (Qal active) (72×)H1486 1. lot (object cast for decisions) (71×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἱερ-εύς [ῐ], έως, Ionic dialect -ῆος, Refs 2nd c.BC+:—Ionic dialect nominative ἱρεύς Refs 8th c.BC+: Doric dialect ἱᾰρεύς Refs; accusative plural τὸς ἱαρές Refs:— also ἱέρεως (Attic dialect and proparoxytone accusative to Refs 4th c.BC+; genitive ἱέρεω Refs 3rd c.BC+; dative ἵρεῳ Refs 5th c.BC+; accusative ἱέρεω Refs 2nd c.BC+: ἱερής Refs 4th c.BC+ ἱαρής Refs 4th c.BC+: (ἱερός):—priest,…