Strong's Lexicon
G749 — ἀρχιερεύς
Greek entry for Bible study and original-language reference.
Definition / Gloss
| Strong's Number: | G749 |
|---|---|
| Word: | ἀρχιερεύς |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Etymology: | from G746 and G2409 |
| Language: | Greek |
| Occurrences: | 122 |
| Transliteration: | archiereus |
| Phonetic Spelling/Pronunciation: | ar-khee-er-yuce' |
| Meaning: | 1. the high-priest 2. (literally) of the Jews 3. (typically) Christ 4. (by extension) a chief priest |
| KJV Renderings: | chief (high) priest, chief of the priests |
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Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ἀρχιερεύς, ἀρχιερέως, ὁ, chief priest, high priest.
1. He who above all others was honored with the title of priest, the chief of the priests, äÇâÈãåì ëÉÌäÅï (Lev 21:10; Num 35:25 (later äÈøÉàùÑ ëÉÌäÅï, 2Ki 25:18; 2Ch 19:11, etc.)): Mat 26:3, and often in the Gospels, the Acts, and the Epistle to the Heb. It was lawful for him to perform the common duties of the priesthood; but his chief duty was, once a year on the day of atonement, to enter the Holy of holies (from which the other priests were excluded) and offer sacrifice for his own sins and the sins of the people (Lev 16:1-34; Heb 9:7; Heb 9:25), and to preside over the Sanhedrin, or supreme Council, when convened for judicial deliberations (Mat 26:3; Act 22:5; Act 23:2). According to the Mosaic law no one could aspire to the high priesthood unless he were of the tribe of Aaron, and descended moreover from a high priestly family; and he on whom the office was conferred held it till death. But from the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, when the kings of the Seleucidae and afterward the Herodian princes and the Romans arrogated to themselves the power of appointing the high priests, the office neither remained vested in the pontifical family nor was conferred on anyone for life; but it became venal, and could be transferred from one to another according to the will of civil or military rulers. Hence, it came to pass, that during the one hundred and seven years intervening between Herod the Great and the destruction of the holy city, twenty-eight persons held the pontifical dignity (Josephus, Antiquities 20, 10; see Αννας). Cf. Winers RWB under the word Hoherpriester; Oehler in Herzog vi., pp. 198ff; (BB. DD., see under the words, High Priest, Priest, etc. The names of the 28 (27?) above alluded to are given, together with a brief notice of each, in an article by Schürer in the Studien und Kritiken for 1872, pp. 597-607).
2. The plural ἀρχιερεῖς, which occurs often in the Gospels and Acts, as Mat 2:4; Mat 16:21; Mat 26:3; Mat 27:41; Mar 8:31; Mar 14:1; Mar 15:1; Luk 19:47; Luk 22:52; Luk 22:66; Luk 23:4; Luk 24:20; Joh 7:32; Joh 11:57; Joh 18:35; Act 4:23; Act 5:24; Act 9:14; Act 9:21; Act 22:30; Act 23:14, etc., and in Josephus, comprises, in addition to the one actually holding the high priestly office, both those who had previously discharged it and although deposed continued to have great power in the State (Josephus, Vita38; b. j. 2, 12, 6; 4, 3, 7; 9; 4, 4, 3; see Αννας above), as well as the members of the families from which high priests were created, provided they had much influence in public affairs (Josephus, b. j. 6, 2, 2). See on this point the learned discussion by Schürer, Die ἀρχιερεῖς im N. T, in the Studien und Kritiken for 1872, p. 593ff and in his Neutest. Zeitgesch. § 23 iii., p. 407ff (Prof. Schürer, besides reviewing the opinions of the more recent writers, contends that in no instance where indubitable reference to the heads of the twenty-four classes is made (neither in the Sept. 1Ch 24:3; 2Ch 36:14; Ezr 10:5; Neh 12:7; nor in Josephus, Antiquities 7, 14, 7) are they called ἀρχιερεῖς; that the nearest approximations to this term are periphrases such as ἄρχοντες τῶν ἱερέων, Neh 12:7, or φυλαρχοι τῶν ἱερέων, Esra apocr. (1 Esdr.) (94); Josephus, Antiquities 11, 5, 4; and that the word ἀρχιερεῖς was restricted in its application to those who actually held, or had held, the high priestly office, together with the members of the few prominent families from which the high priests still continued to be selected, cf. Act 4:6; Josephus, b. j. 4, 3, 6.)
3. In the Epistle to the Hebrews Christ is called ’high priest,’ because by undergoing a bloody death he offered himself as an expiatory sacrifice to God, and has entered the heavenly sanctuary where he continually intercedes on our behalf: ; cf. Winzer, De sacerdotis officio, quod Christo tribuitur in the Epistle to the Hebrews (three Programs), Leips. 1825f; Riehm, Lehrbegriff des Hebräerbriefes, ii., pp. 431-488. In Greek writings the word is used by Herodotus 2 ((37), 142) 143 and 151; Plato, legg. 12, p. 947 a.; Polybius 23, 1, 2; 32, 22, 5; Plutarch, Numa c. 9, others; (often in Inscriptions); once (viz., Lev 4:3) in the Sept., where ἱερεύς μέγας is usual, in the O. T. Apocrypha, 1Es 5:40 1Es 9:40, and often in the books of Maccabees.
Other Resources
Englishman's Greek Concordance
ἀρχιερεύς (chief (high) priest)
Matthew 2:4
- KJV: And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together he demanded of them where Christ should be born
- GK: και συναγαγών πάντας τούς αρχιερείς και γραμματείς του λαού επυνθάνετο παρ΄ αυτών που ο Χριστός γεννάται
Matthew 16:21
- KJV: From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples how that he must go unto Jerusalem and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and be raised again the third day
- GK: από τότε ήρξατο ο Ιησούς δεικνύειν τοις μαθηταίς αυτού ότι δει αυτόν απελθείν εις Ιεροσόλυμα και πολλά παθείν από των πρεσβυτέρων και αρχιερέων και γραμματέων και αποκτανθήναι και τη τρίτη ημέρα εγερθήναι
Matthew 20:18
- KJV: Behold we go up to Jerusalem and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes and they shall condemn him to death
- GK: ιδού αναβαίνομεν εις Ιεροσόλυμα και ο υιός του ανθρώπου παραδοθήσεται τοις αρχιερεύσι και γραμματεύσι και κατακρινούσιν αυτόν θανάτω
Matthew 21:15
- KJV: And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did and the children crying in the temple and saying Hosanna to the Son of David they were sore displeased
- GK: ιδόντες δε οι αρχιερείς και οι γραμματείς τα θαυμάσια α εποίησε και τους παίδας κράζοντας εν τω ιερώ και λέγοντας ωσαννά τω υιώ Δαβίδ ηγανάκτησαν
Matthew 21:23
- KJV: And when he was come into the temple the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching and said By what authority doest thou these things and who gave thee this authority
- GK: και ελθόντι αυτώ εις το ιερόν προσήλθον αυτώ διδάσκοντι οι αρχιερείς και οι πρεσβύτεροι του λαού λέγοντες εν ποία εξουσία ταύτα ποιείς και τις σοι έδωκεν την εξουσίαν ταύτην
Matthew 21:45
- KJV: And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables they perceived that he spake of them
- GK: και ακούσαντες οι αρχιερείς και οι Φαρισαίοι τας παραβολάς αυτού έγνωσαν ότι περί αυτών λέγει
Matthew 26:3
- KJV: Then assembled together the chief priests and the scribes and the elders of the people unto the palace of the high priest who was called Caiaphas
- GK: τότε συνήχθησαν οι αρχιερείς και οι γραμματείς και οι πρεσβύτεροι του λαού εις την αυλήν του αρχιερέως του λεγομένου Καϊάφα
Matthew 26:14
- KJV: Then one of the twelve called Judas Iscariot went unto the chief priests
- GK: τότε πορευθείς εις των δώδεκα ο λεγόμενος Ιούδας Ισκαριώτης προς τους αρχιερείς
Matthew 26:47
- KJV: And while he yet spake lo Judas one of the twelve came and with him a great multitude with swords and staves from the chief priests and elders of the people
- GK: και έτι αυτού λαλούντος ιδού Ιούδας εις των δώδεκα ήλθε και μετ΄ αυτού όχλος πολύς μετά μαχαιρών και ξύλων από των αρχιερέων και πρεσβυτέρων του λαού
Matthew 26:51
- KJV: And behold one of them which were with Jesus stretched out hand and drew his sword and struck a servant of the high priest’s and smote off his ear
- GK: και ιδού εις των μετά Ιησού εκτείνας την χείρα απέσπασεν την μάχαιραν αυτού και πατάξας τον δούλον του αρχιερέως αφείλεν αυτού το ωτίον
Matthew 26:57
- KJV: And they that had laid hold on Jesus led away to Caiaphas the high priest where the scribes and the elders were assembled
- GK: οι δε κρατήσαντες τον Ιησούν απήγαγον προς Καϊάφαν τον αρχιερέα όπου οι γραμματείς και οι πρεσβύτεροι συνήχθησαν
Matthew 26:58
- KJV: But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest’s palace and went in and sat with the servants to see the end
- GK: ο δε Πέτρος ηκολούθει αυτώ από μακρόθεν έως της αυλής του αρχιερέως και εισελθών έσω εκάθητο μετά των υπηρετών ιδείν το τέλος
Matthew 26:59
- KJV: Now the chief priests and elders and all the council sought false witness against Jesus to put him to death
- GK: οι δε αρχιερείς και οι πρεσβύτεροι και το συνέδριον όλον εζήτουν ψευδομαρτυρίαν κατά του Ιησού όπως θανατώσωσιν αυτόν
Matthew 26:62
- KJV: And the high priest arose and said unto him Answerest thou nothing what these witness against thee
- GK: και αναστάς ο αρχιερεύς είπεν αυτώ ουδέν αποκρίνη τι ούτοί σου καταμαρτυρούσιν
Matthew 26:63
- KJV: But Jesus held his peace And the high priest answered and said unto him I adjure thee by the living God that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ the Son of God
- GK: ο δε Ιησούς εσιώπα και αποκριθείς ο αρχιερεύς είπεν αυτώ εξορκίζω σε κατά του θεού του ζώντος ίνα ημίν είπης ει συ ει ο Χριστός ο υιός του θεού
Matthew 26:65
- KJV: Then the high priest rent his clothes saying He hath spoken blasphemy what further need have we of witnesses behold now ye have heard his blasphemy
- GK: τότε ο αρχιερεύς διέρρηξε τα ιμάτια αυτού λέγων ότι εβλασφήμησε τι έτι χρείαν έχομεν μαρτύρων ίδε νυν ηκούσατε την βλασφημίαν αυτού
Matthew 27:1
- KJV: When the morning was come all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death
- GK: πρωϊας δε γενομένης συμβούλιον έλαβον πάντες οι αρχιερείς και οι πρεσβύτεροι του λαού κατά του Ιησού ωστε θανατώσαι αυτόν
Matthew 27:3
- KJV: Then Judas which had betrayed him when he saw that he was condemned repented himself and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders
- GK: τότε ιδών Ιούδας ο παραδιδούς αυτόν ότι κατεκρίθη μεταμεληθείς απέστρεψε τα τριάκοντα αργύρια τοις αρχιερεύσι και τοις πρεσβυτέροις
Matthew 27:6
- KJV: And the chief priests took the silver pieces and said It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury because it is the price of blood
- GK: οι δε αρχιερείς λαβόντες τα αργύρια είπον ουκ έξεστι βαλείν αυτά εις τον κορβανάν επεί τιμή αίματός εστι
Matthew 27:12
- KJV: And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders he answered nothing
- GK: και εν τω κατηγορείσθαι αυτόν υπό των αρχιερέων και των πρεσβυτέρων ουδέν απεκρίνατο
Matthew 27:20
- KJV: But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas and destroy Jesus
- GK: οι δε αρχιερείς και οι πρεσβύτεροι έπεισαν τους όχλους ίνα αιτήσωνται τον Βαραββάν τον δε Ιησούν απολέσωσιν
Matthew 27:41
- KJV: Likewise also the chief priests mocking with the scribes and elders said
- GK: ομοίως δε και οι αρχιερείς εμπαίζοντες μετά των γραμματέων και πρεσβυτέρων έλεγον
Matthew 27:62
- KJV: Now the next day that followed the day of the preparation the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate
- GK: τη δε επαύριον ήτις εστί μετά την παρασκευήν συνήχθησαν οι αρχιερείς και οι Φαρισαίοι προς Πιλάτον
Matthew 28:11
- KJV: Now when they were going behold some of the watch came into the city and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done
- GK: πορευομένων δε αυτών ιδού τινές της κουστωδίας ελθόντες εις την πόλιν απήγγειλαν τοις αρχιερεύσιν άπαντα τα γενόμενα
Mark 2:26
- KJV: How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest and did eat the shewbread which is not lawful to eat but for the priests and gave also to them which were with him
- GK: πως εισήλθεν εις τον οίκον του θεού επί Αβιάθαρ του αρχιερέως και τους άρτους της προθέσεως έφαγεν ους ουκ έξεστι φαγείν ει τοις ιερεύσι και έδωκε και τοις συν αυτώ ούσι
Mark 8:31
- KJV: And he began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things and be rejected of the elders and the chief priests and scribes and be killed and after three days rise again
- GK: και ήρξατο διδάσκειν αυτούς ότι δει τον υιόν του ανθρώπου πολλά παθείν και αποδοκιμασθήναι από των πρεσβυτέρων και αρχιερέων και γραμματέων και αποκτανθήναι και μετά τρεις ημέρας αναστήναι
Mark 10:33
- KJV: Behold we go up to Jerusalem and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests and unto the scribes and they shall condemn him to death and shall deliver him to the Gentiles
- GK: ότι ιδού αναβαίνομεν εις Ιεροσόλυμα και ο υιός του ανθρώπου παραδοθήσεται τοις αρχιερεύσι και τοις γραμματεύσι και κατακρινούσιν αυτόν θανάτω και παραδώσουσιν αυτόν τοις έθνεσι
Mark 11:18
- KJV: And the scribes and chief priests heard and sought how they might destroy him for they feared him because all the people was astonished at his doctrine
- GK: και ήκουσαν οι γραμματείς και οι αρχιερείς και εζήτουν πως αυτόν απολέσωσιν εφοβούντο γαρ αυτόν ότι πας ο όχλος εξεπλήσσετο επί τη διδαχή αυτού
Mark 11:27
- KJV: And they come again to Jerusalem and as he was walking in the temple there come to him the chief priests and the scribes and the elders
- GK: και έρχονται πάλιν εις Ιεροσόλυμα και εν τω ιερώ περιπατούντος αυτού έρχονται προς αυτόν οι αρχιερείς και οι γραμματείς και οι πρεσβύτεροι
Mark 14:1
- KJV: After two days was the passover and of unleavened bread and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft and put to death
- GK: ην δε το πάσχα και τα άζυμα μετά δύο ημέρας και εζήτουν οι αρχιερείς και οι γραμματείς πως αυτόν εν δόλω κρατήσαντες αποκτείνωσιν