Greek word · G2405

ἱερατεία

hierateia

priesthood

Priesthood, priestly office or service; the function and rights of the priests.

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἱερατεία (WH, -ία), -ας, ἡ

(ἱερατεύω), [in LXX for כָּהַן pi., כְּהֻנָּה (Exodus 29:9, al.), exc. Hosea 3:4 (אֵפוֹד)* ;]

priesthood, office of priest: Luke 1:9, Hebrews 7:5.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Luke 1:9

Range of meaning

Priesthood, priestly office or service; the function and rights of the priests.

Against the English

KJV/WEB 'the priest's office' and BSB/YLT 'the priesthood' both work. 'Priesthood' here means the hereditary Aaronic institution with its rules, not a general religious leadership.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used in the Greek Old Testament for the Aaronic priesthood as a lasting possession (Exod 29:9; 40:15; Num 18:7). In the New Testament only here and Hebrews 7:5.

Similar words

Where it appears

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 1:9 ἱερατείας priesthood

    he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

    Here: The priestly service or office as an institution, the body of rules and duties of the hereditary priests descended from Aaron. It does not mean a group of clergy in the later church sense.

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 7:5 ἱερατείαν priestly office

    Now the law commands the sons of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their brothers—though they too are descended from Abraham.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.