2409. hiereus

Lexicon

hiereus: Priest

Original Word: ἱερεύς
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: hiereus
Pronunciation: hee-er-YOOS
Phonetic Spelling: (hee-er-yooce')
Definition: Priest
Meaning: a priest, one who offers sacrifice to a god (in Jewish and pagan religions; of Christians only met.).

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

priest, high priest.

From hieros; a priest (literally or figuratively) -- (high) priest.

see GREEK hieros

HELPS Word-studies

2409 hiereús (from 2413 /hierós, "sacred because belonging to the Temple") – a priest. 2409 /hiereús ("priest") is used in the NT:

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from hieros
Definition
a priest
NASB Translation
priest (16), priests (15).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 2409: ἱερεύς

ἱερεύς, ἱερέως, ὁ (ἱερός) (from Homer down), Hebrew כֹּהֵן, a priest; one who offers sacrifices and in general is busied with sacred rites;

a. properly, of the priests of the Gentiles, Acts 14:13; of the priests of the Jews, Matthew 8:4; Matthew 12:4; Mark 1:44; (Mark 2:26); Luke 1:5; Luke 5:14; John 1:19; Heb. 7:( L T Tr WH), (); , etc.; of the high priest, Acts 5:24 R G (Exodus 35:18; 1 Kings 1:8; 1 Macc. 15:1; Josephus, Antiquities 6, 12, 1); and in the same sense Christ is called ἱερεύς in Hebrews 5:6 (from Psalm 109:4 (); Hebrews 7:17; also ἱερεύς μέγας, Hebrews 10:21 (see ἀρχιερεύς, 3) (others take the adjective here not as blending with ἱερεύς into a technical or official appellation, but as descriptive, great; cf. Hebrews 4:14).

b. metaphorically, of Christians, because, purified by the blood of Christ and brought into close contact with God, they devote their life to him alone (and to Christ): Revelation 1:6; Revelation 5:10; Revelation 20:6, cf. Revelation 1:5; Revelation 5:9.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek root ἱερός (hieros), meaning "sacred" or "holy."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • H3548: כֹּהֵן (kohen) • A priest, one who officiates in religious rites.
• H3547: כָּהַן (kahan) • To act as a priest, to minister in a priestly office.

These Hebrew terms are foundational to understanding the role and function of priests in the Old Testament, which provides the backdrop for the New Testament's use of ἱερεύς. The transition from the Old Covenant priesthood to the New Covenant understanding of priesthood is a significant theme in the New Testament writings.

Usage: The term ἱερεύς is used in the New Testament to refer to priests, both in the context of the Jewish priesthood and metaphorically in reference to believers as a "royal priesthood."

Context: The Greek term ἱερεύς (hiereus) is primarily used to denote a priest, an individual who is consecrated to perform sacred duties and offer sacrifices to God. In the New Testament, the term appears in various contexts, reflecting both the Jewish priesthood and the broader spiritual priesthood of believers.

In the Jewish context, ἱερεύς refers to the Levitical priests who served in the Temple, performing rituals and sacrifices as prescribed by the Mosaic Law. For example, in the Gospel of Luke, Zechariah is described as a priest (ἱερεύς) serving in the Temple (Luke 1:8-9, BSB: "Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God...").

The term is also used in the Epistle to the Hebrews to contrast the Levitical priesthood with the eternal priesthood of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 7:23-24 (BSB) states, "Now there have been many other priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office. But because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood."

Additionally, ἱερεύς is employed metaphorically to describe the collective priesthood of all believers. In 1 Peter 2:9 (BSB), believers are called "a royal priesthood," emphasizing their role in offering spiritual sacrifices and proclaiming the excellencies of God.

The concept of priesthood in the New Testament thus transitions from a hereditary and ritualistic office to a spiritual and communal identity, centered on the person and work of Jesus Christ, the ultimate High Priest.

Forms and Transliterations

επτά ιερεα ιερέα ἱερέα ιερεέως ιερει ιερεί ἱερεῖ ιερεις ιερείς ἱερεῖς ιερευς ιερεύς ἱερεύς ἱερεὺς ιερεύσι ιερευσιν ιερεύσιν ἱερεῦσιν ιερεων ιερέων ἱερέων ιερέως hierea hieréa hierei hiereî hiereis hiereîs hiereon hiereōn hieréon hieréōn hiereus hiereús hiereùs hiereusin hiereûsin ierea ierei iereis iereon iereōn iereus iereusin

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 8:4 N-DMS
GRK: δεῖξον τῷ ἱερεῖ καὶ προσένεγκον
NAS: yourself to the priest and present
KJV: shew thyself to the priest, and offer
INT: show to the priest and offer

Matthew 12:4 N-DMP
GRK: μὴ τοῖς ἱερεῦσιν μόνοις
NAS: for those with him, but for the priests alone?
KJV: but only for the priests?
INT: not for the priests only

Matthew 12:5 N-NMP
GRK: σάββασιν οἱ ἱερεῖς ἐν τῷ
NAS: that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple
KJV: on the sabbath days the priests in
INT: Sabbath the priests in the

Mark 1:44 N-DMS
GRK: δεῖξον τῷ ἱερεῖ καὶ προσένεγκε
NAS: yourself to the priest and offer
KJV: shew thyself to the priest, and offer
INT: show to the priest and offer

Mark 2:26 N-AMP
GRK: μὴ τοὺς ἱερεῖς καὶ ἔδωκεν
NAS: except the priests, and he also
KJV: to eat but for the priests, and gave
INT: not for the priests and he gave

Luke 1:5 N-NMS
GRK: τῆς Ἰουδαίας ἱερεύς τις ὀνόματι
NAS: of Judea, there was a priest named
KJV: a certain priest named
INT: of Judea a priest certain by name

Luke 5:14 N-DMS
GRK: σεαυτὸν τῷ ἱερεῖ καὶ προσένεγκε
NAS: yourself to the priest and make an offering
KJV: thyself to the priest, and
INT: yourself to the priest and offer

Luke 6:4 N-AMP
GRK: μόνους τοὺς ἱερεῖς
NAS: except the priests alone,
KJV: to eat but for the priests alone?
INT: only the priests

Luke 10:31 N-NMS
GRK: συγκυρίαν δὲ ἱερεύς τις κατέβαινεν
NAS: And by chance a priest was going down
KJV: a certain priest that
INT: chance now a priest certain went down

Luke 17:14 N-DMP
GRK: ἑαυτοὺς τοῖς ἱερεῦσιν καὶ ἐγένετο
NAS: yourselves to the priests. And as they were going,
KJV: yourselves unto the priests. And
INT: yourselves to the priests And it came to pass

John 1:19 N-AMP
GRK: ἐξ Ἰεροσολύμων ἱερεῖς καὶ Λευίτας
NAS: sent to him priests and Levites
KJV: the Jews sent priests and Levites
INT: from Jerusalem priests and Levites

Acts 4:1 N-NMP
GRK: αὐτοῖς οἱ ἱερεῖς καὶ ὁ
INT: upon them the priests and the

Acts 6:7 N-GMP
GRK: ὄχλος τῶν ἱερέων ὑπήκουον τῇ
NAS: many of the priests were becoming obedient
KJV: company of the priests were obedient
INT: multitude of the priests were obedient to the

Acts 14:13 N-NMS
GRK: ὅ τε ἱερεὺς τοῦ Διὸς
NAS: The priest of Zeus,
KJV: Then the priest of Jupiter, which
INT: and [the] priest of Zeus

Hebrews 5:6 N-NMS
GRK: λέγει Σὺ ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸν
NAS: in another [passage], YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER
KJV: [place], Thou [art] a priest for
INT: he says You [are] a priest to the

Hebrews 7:1 N-NMS
GRK: βασιλεὺς Σαλήμ ἱερεὺς τοῦ θεοῦ
NAS: of Salem, priest of the Most High
KJV: of Salem, priest of the most high
INT: King of Salem priest of God

Hebrews 7:3 N-NMS
GRK: θεοῦ μένει ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸ
NAS: he remains a priest perpetually.
KJV: of God; abideth a priest continually.
INT: of God abides a priest to

Hebrews 7:11 N-AMS
GRK: ἕτερον ἀνίστασθαι ἱερέα καὶ οὐ
NAS: [was there] for another priest to arise
KJV: [was there] that another priest should rise
INT: [for] another to arise priest and not

Hebrews 7:14 N-GMP
GRK: φυλὴν περὶ ἱερέων οὐδὲν Μωυσῆς
NAS: nothing concerning priests.
INT: tribe concerning priesthood nothing Moses

Hebrews 7:15 N-NMS
GRK: Μελχισεδὲκ ἀνίσταται ἱερεὺς ἕτερος
NAS: if another priest arises according
KJV: there ariseth another priest,
INT: of Melchizadek arises a priest different

Hebrews 7:17 N-NMS
GRK: ὅτι Σὺ ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸν
NAS: For it is attested [of Him], YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER
KJV: Thou [art] a priest for ever
INT: You [are] a priest for the

Hebrews 7:20 N-NMP
GRK: ὁρκωμοσίας εἰσὶν ἱερεῖς γεγονότες
INT: [the] swearing of an oath are priests become

Hebrews 7:21 N-NMS
GRK: μεταμεληθήσεται Σὺ ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸν
NAS: became priests without
KJV: (For those priests were
INT: will repent You [are] a priest for the

Hebrews 7:23 N-NMP
GRK: εἰσιν γεγονότες ἱερεῖς διὰ τὸ
NAS: The [former] priests, on the one hand,
KJV: many priests, because they were not suffered
INT: are have become priests on account of

Hebrews 8:4 N-NMS
GRK: ἂν ἦν ἱερεύς ὄντων τῶν
NAS: He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all,
KJV: be a priest, seeing that there are
INT: anyhow would he be a priest there being the

Strong's Greek 2409
31 Occurrences

ἱερέα — 2 Occ.
ἱερεῖ — 3 Occ.
ἱερεῖς — 11 Occ.
ἱερέων — 2 Occ.
ἱερεύς — 11 Occ.
ἱερεῦσιν — 2 Occ.