ἱερεύς
hiereus
priest
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredBased on the given data, the word "ἱερεύς" or "hiereus" holds a crucial position in the Greek language of the New Testament. As a priest, "hiereus" refers to a person who serves in a ritual or spiritual capacity, acting as an intermediary between humans and the divine. The term appears 33 times throughout the Bible, highlighting its importance in various contexts. The frequency and occurrences of "hiereus" in the Bible suggest a multifaceted range of usage, encompassing various roles and responsibilities. It may refer to the Levitical priesthood in Leviticus, or to the high priest in the book of Hebrews. In other instances, "hiereus" could describe individuals who serve other deities, underscoring the significance of this term in the broader religious landscape of the ancient world. The presence of "hiereus" in 33 separate instances underscores its versatility and significance in different aspects of Jewish and early Christian traditions.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
33 total occurrences across the text
Jesus said to him, “See that you tell nobody, but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
Matthew 12:4how he entered into God’s house, and ate the show bread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for those who were with him, but only for the priests?
Matthew 12:5Or have you not read in the law, that on the Sabbath day, the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are guiltless?
Mark 1:44and said to him, “See you say nothing to anybody, but go show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing the things which Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.”
Mark 2:26How he entered into God’s house at the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the show bread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and gave also to those who were with him?”
Luke 1:5There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the priestly division of Abijah. He had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
Luke 5:14He commanded him to tell no one, “But go your way, and show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing according to what Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.”
Luke 6:4how he entered into God’s house, and took and ate the show bread, and gave also to those who were with him, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests alone?”
Luke 10:31By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
Luke 17:14When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” As they went, they were cleansed.
John 1:19This is John’s testimony, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
Acts 4:1As they spoke to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came to them,
Acts 5:24Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these words, they were very perplexed about them and what might become of this.
Acts 6:7The word of God increased and the number of the disciples greatly multiplied in Jerusalem. A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
Acts 14:13The priest of Jupiter, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and would have made a sacrifice along with the multitudes.
Hebrews 7:1For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
Hebrews 7:3without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God), remains a priest continually.
Hebrews 7:11Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people have received the law), what further need was there for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
Hebrews 7:14For it is evident that our Lord has sprung out of Judah, about which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.
Hebrews 7:15This is yet more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek there arises another priest,
Hebrews 7:17for it is testified, “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”
Hebrews 7:20Inasmuch as he was not made priest without the taking of an oath
Hebrews 7:21(for they indeed have been made priests without an oath), but he with an oath by him that says of him, “The Lord swore and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.’ ”
Hebrews 7:23Many, indeed, have been made priests, because they are hindered from continuing by death.
Hebrews 8:4For if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, seeing there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law,
Hebrews 8:4For if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, seeing there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law,
Hebrews 9:6Now these things having been thus prepared, the priests go in continually into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the services,
Hebrews 5:6As he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”
Hebrews 10:21and having a great priest over God’s house,
Hebrews 10:11Every priest indeed stands day by day serving and often offering the same sacrifices which can never take away sins,
Revelation 1:6and he made us to be a Kingdom, priests to his God and Father—to him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Revelation 5:10and made us kings and priests to our God, and we will reign on the earth.”
Revelation 20:6Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over these, the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with him one thousand years.