ἱερεύς

Matthew 8:4 ἱερεῖ priest

Then Jesus instructed him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift prescribed by Moses, as a testimony to them.”

Here: A hereditary priest of Aaron's line, the only person the Law of Moses authorised to pronounce someone with this disease clean.

Matthew 12:4 ἱερεῦσιν priests

He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for them to eat, but only for the priests.

Here: The priests descended from Aaron. Leviticus 24:9 gives the bread to "Aaron and his sons" to eat in a holy place.

Matthew 12:5 ἱερεῖς priests

Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and yet are innocent?

Here: The Aaronic priests serving their shifts in Jerusalem. They pick up v. 4's 'only for the priests', where David ate bread that only priests could eat.

Mark 1:44 ἱερεῖ priest

“See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”

Here: A Jewish priest descended from Aaron. Only a priest could formally declare a person clean (Lev 13:6, 13; 14:7) and so restore them to community and temple life.

Mark 2:26 ἱερεῖς, priests,

During the high priesthood of Abiathar, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which was lawful only for the priests. And he gave some to his companions as well.”

Here: The priests, Aaron's descendants, who alone could eat this bread, and only in a holy place (Lev 24:9). David was from the tribe of Judah, not a priest.

Luke 1:5 ἱερεύς a priest

In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and whose wife Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron.

Here: A hereditary priest descended from Aaron, qualified to serve at the altar in the Jerusalem temple. He is not a 'pastor' or local religious leader.

Luke 5:14 ἱερεῖ priest

“Do not tell anyone,” Jesus instructed him. “But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”

Here: A member of Israel's hereditary priesthood, descended from Aaron. Under the Torah only a priest could inspect skin disease and declare someone clean.

Luke 6:4 ἱερεῖς; priests?

He entered the house of God, took the consecrated bread and gave it to his companions, and ate what is lawful only for the priests to eat.”

Luke 10:31 ἱερεύς a priest

Now by chance a priest was going down the same road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

Luke 17:14 ἱερεῦσιν. priests.

When Jesus saw them, He said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were on their way, they were cleansed.

Here: The hereditary priests descended from Aaron. Under Leviticus 13–14 they were the only people who could officially declare someone with a skin disease clean. The word is plural, where Luke 5:14 has 'the priest' in the singular.

John 1:19 ἱερεῖς priests

And this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?”

Here: Priests descended from Aaron who served at the Jerusalem temple and were experts in sacrifice and purity. They were suitable investigators of a man performing water rites.

Acts 4:1 ἱερεῖς priests

While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them,

Here: Hereditary priests of Aaron's line serving at the temple. It was the hour of the afternoon sacrifice and prayer (3:1), so a division of priests was on duty. Some manuscripts read 'chief priests.'

Acts 6:7 ἱερέων priests

So the word of God continued to spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly, and a great number of priests became obedient to the faith.

Here: The ordinary priests of the temple who served in rotating divisions. They are a different group from the 'chief priests', the ruling families who had opposed the apostles (4:1; 5:17).

Acts 14:13 ἱερεὺς the priest

The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates, hoping to offer a sacrifice along with the crowds.

Hebrews 5:6 ἱερεὺς a priest

And in another passage God says: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

Here: A sacrificing priest: someone authorised to approach God's presence, offer sacrifice and stand between God and people. In context it explains the 'high priest' of verse 5.

Hebrews 7:1 ἱερεὺς priest

This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

Here: His second title: a recognised mediator between God and people who offers to God and pronounces blessing from God. This is the word the whole chapter turns on.

Hebrews 7:3 ἱερεὺς a priest

Without father or mother or genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God, he remains a priest for all time.

Here: 'Priest': one who stands between God and people, offers sacrifice and blesses. Genesis 14:18 calls Melchizedek 'priest of God Most High'.

Hebrews 7:11 ἱερέα priest

Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on this basis the people received the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear—one in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron?

Here: A cultic mediator who offers sacrifice and approaches God for the people.

Hebrews 7:14 ἱερέων priests

For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, a tribe as to which Moses said nothing about priests.

Here: Men who offer sacrifice at the altar and come near to God for the people. Under the Torah this belonged only to Aaron's family within Levi.

Hebrews 7:15 ἱερεὺς a priest

And this point is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears,

Hebrews 7:17 ἱερεὺς a priest

For it is testified: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

Here: A sacrificing priest: someone appointed to approach God for others and offer gifts and sacrifices (Heb 5:1). The word refers to temple service, not general religious leadership.

Hebrews 7:21 ἱερεὺς a priest

but Jesus became a priest with an oath by the One who said to Him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’”

Here: A priest of sacrifice who stands between God and people, offers sacrifice and intercedes. This is the role Hebrews sets beside the Levitical priests.

Hebrews 7:23 ἱερεῖς priests

Now there have been many other priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office.

Hebrews 8:4 ἱερεὺς a priest

Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer gifts according to the law.

Hebrews 9:6 ἱερεῖς priests

When everything had been prepared in this way, the priests entered regularly into the first room to perform their sacred duties.

Hebrews 10:11 ἱερεὺς priest

Day after day every priest stands to minister and to offer again and again the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.

Here: A priest of Israel's sanctuary from Aaron's line, set apart to handle offerings at the altar. Not a church minister. Some manuscripts read 'high priest' here (see variants).

Hebrews 10:21 ἱερέα a priest

and since we have a great priest over the house of God,

Here: A priest is someone appointed to stand between God and the people, to offer sacrifice and to go into the holy place for them. Here it means Jesus, whose once-for-all offering of himself Hebrews has just described (10:10–14). The word is in the accusative case because it is the object of the 'having' carried over from v.19.

Revelation 1:6 ἱερεῖς priests

who has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and power forever and ever! Amen.

Here: "Priests" stands alongside "kingdom" and explains it. This kingdom is made up of priests. Each member has the priest's privilege of coming near to God and serving him in worship. The plural holds both ideas together: one realm made up of many priests.

Revelation 5:10 ἱερεῖς, priests,

You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign upon the earth.”

Here: The temple servants who stand near God, offer worship and sacrifice, and stand between God and others. The whole multinational people now has the access and the service once limited to Aaron's line.

Revelation 20:6 ἱερεῖς priests

Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

Here: Those allowed near God's presence to serve and worship him. This fulfils the promise of Exod 19:6, repeated in Rev 1:6 and 5:10.