Lexical Summary
archiereus: High Priest
Original Word: ἀρχιερεύς
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: archiereus
Pronunciation: ar-khee-er-YOOS
Phonetic Spelling: (ar-khee-er-yuce')
KJV: chief (high) priest, chief of the priests
NASB: chief priests, high priest, high priests, chief priest, high priesthood, high priest's
Word Origin: [from G746 (ἀρχή - beginning) and G2409 (ἱερεύς - priest)]
1. the high-priest
2. (literally) of the Jews
3. (typically) Christ
4. (by extension) a chief priest
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
high priest, chief priest.
From arche and hiereus; the high-priest (literally, of the Jews, typically, Christ); by extension a chief priest -- chief (high) priest, chief of the priests.
see GREEK arche
see GREEK hiereus
HELPS Word-studies
749 arxiereús (from 746 /arxḗ, "chief, pre-eminent one" and 2409 /hiereús, "a priest") – a chief-priest, i.e. a leader among priests.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
archó and
hiereusDefinitionhigh priest
NASB Translationchief priest (1), chief priests (64), high priest (53), high priest's (1), high priesthood (1), high priests (2).
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 749: ἀρχιερεύςἀρχιερεύς,
ἀρχιερέως,
ὁ,
chief priest, high priest.
1. He who above all others was honored with the title of priest, the chief of the priests, הַגָדול כֹּהֵן (Leviticus 21:10; Numbers 35:25 (later הָרֹאשׁ כֹּהֵן, 2 Kings 25:18; 2 Chronicles 19:11, etc.)): Matthew 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 (Leviticus 16; Hebrews 9:7, 25), and to preside over the Sanhedrin, or supreme Council, when convened for judicial deliberations (Matthew 26:3; Acts 22:5; Acts 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 Matthew 2:4; Matthew 16:21; Matthew 26:3; Matthew 27:41; Mark 8:31; Mark 14:1; Mark 15:1; Luke 19:47; Luke 22:52, 66; Luke 23:4; Luke 24:20; John 7:32; John 11:57; John 18:35; Acts 4:23; Acts 5:24; Acts 9:14, 21; Acts 22:30; Acts 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. 1 Chronicles 24:3; 2 Chronicles 36:14; Ezra 10:5; Nehemiah 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, Nehemiah 12:7, or φυλαρχοι τῶν ἱερέων, Esra apocr. (1 Esdr.)
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:
Topical Lexicon
Definition and Scopeἀρχιερεύς designates the high priest of Israel and, by extension, any individual occupying that office in the New Testament era. The term appears 123 times across the Gospels, Acts, and Hebrews, underscoring the centrality of the high-priestly figure both historically and theologically.
Old Testament Foundations
The office was instituted in Exodus 28–29, where Aaron was set apart to mediate between the LORD and the nation. Only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place, and only on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16). His garments, ephod, breastpiece, and golden plate inscribed “Holy to the LORD,” symbolized representation of the tribes before God. Throughout Israel’s history the high priest safeguarded the Urim and Thummim (Numbers 27:21), oversaw temple worship (2 Chronicles 24:11), and occasionally guided national reform (2 Kings 22:4).
Second Temple Context
By the first century the high-priesthood, though rooted in Mosaic law, had become entangled with political power. The Romans confirmed appointments (John 11:49; Josephus, Ant. 20.10). Families such as Annas and Caiaphas held sway, and multiple former high priests retained the title (Luke 3:2).
Presence in the Gospel Narratives
1. Custodians of religious authority: The high priests (plural ἀρχιερεῖς) appear as chief leaders of the Sanhedrin, often linked with the scribes and elders (Matthew 26:3; Mark 11:27).
2. Opposition to Jesus: From early plotting (Mark 3:6) to the final trial, the office stands as the institutional face of resistance. Caiaphas’s pronouncement, “It is better for you that one man die for the people” (John 11:50), reveals both political calculation and unwitting prophecy (John 11:51).
3. Judicial role in the Passion: The night proceedings at Caiaphas’s house (Matthew 26:57–68) climax in the tearing of his robes and the charge of blasphemy (Matthew 26:65), leading to delivery to Pilate (John 18:28).
High Priestly Ministry in Acts
After the resurrection, the same leadership continues to oppose the apostles:
• Acts 4:6 – Annas and Caiaphas interrogate Peter and John.
• Acts 5:17–33 – The high priest imprisons the apostles yet is thwarted by angelic deliverance.
• Acts 9:1–2 – Letters from the high priest authorize Saul’s persecution.
Nevertheless, some priests later “became obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7).
Christ, the True High Priest
Hebrews develops the most sustained theology of ἀρχιερεύς:
• Superiority of His person – “Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, set your focus on Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession” (Hebrews 3:1).
• Sympathy and sinlessness – “For we do not have a high priest unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet was without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).
• Divine appointment – “Christ did not take upon Himself the glory of becoming a high priest, but He was called by God” (Hebrews 5:5).
• Eternal and effectual ministry – “But because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood” (Hebrews 7:24).
• Heavenly sanctuary – “Now we have a High Priest who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven” (Hebrews 8:1).
• Once-for-all sacrifice – “He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:12).
Typology and Fulfillment
Every earthly high priest pointed forward to the Messiah:
• Access – The torn veil at Jesus’ death (Matthew 27:51) signals open access through His flesh (Hebrews 10:19–20).
• Atonement – The annual blood of goats is surpassed by the once-for-all offering of the Son (Hebrews 9:25-26).
• Intercession – Ongoing advocacy flows from His exaltation (Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34).
Practical Implications for Believers
1. Confidence – “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence” (Hebrews 4:16).
2. Perseverance – “Let us hold firmly to the hope we profess” (Hebrews 10:23).
3. Holiness – The call to be “a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9) rests on participation in Christ’s high-priestly holiness (Hebrews 12:14).
Eschatological Outlook
The imagery of the high priest culminates in the consummation when Christ, having completed purification, appears “a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation” (Hebrews 9:28). His final blessing mirrors the Aaronic benediction yet surpasses it in eternal scope (Revelation 21:3-4).
Summary
ἀρχιερεύς traces a redemptive arc: from the Aaronic mediator, through the politically charged high priests of Jesus’ day, to the exalted High Priest who secures eternal access for all who believe. The term anchors the continuity of Scripture while highlighting the decisive transition from shadow to substance in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Forms and Transliterations
αρχειρείς αρχιερεα αρχιερέα ἀρχιερέα αρχιερει αρχιερεί ἀρχιερεῖ αρχιερεις αρχιερείς ἀρχιερεῖς αρχιερευς αρχιερεύς ἀρχιερεύς ἀρχιερεὺς αρχιερεύσι αρχιερευσιν αρχιερεύσιν ἀρχιερεῦσιν αρχιερεων αρχιερέων ἀρχιερέων ἀῥχιερέων αρχιερεως αρχιερέως ἀρχιερέως αρχιεταίρος αρχιευνούχον αρχιευνούχος αρχιευνούχου αρχιευνούχω αρχιμάγειρον αρχιμάγειρος αρχιμαγείρου αρχιμαγείρω αρχιοινοχοϊαν αρχιοινοχόον αρχιοινοχόος αρχιοινοχόου αρχιοινοχόω αρχιπατριώται ἱερεῖς archierea archieréa archierei archiereî archiereis archiereîs archiereon archiereōn archieréon archieréōn archiereos archiereōs archieréos archieréōs archiereus archiereús archiereùs archiereusin archiereûsin arhchiereon arhchiereōn arhchieréon arhchieréōn hiereis hiereîs iereis
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