Greek word · G2420

ἱερωσύνη

hierōsynē

priesthood

Priesthood, the priestly office or institution. Used of the office and of the body of priests who hold it.

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 31, 2026

What it means

ἱερωσύνη, -ης, ἡ

(ἱερός), [in LXX: 1 Chronicles 29:22 (כָּהַן), I Est.5:38, Sirach 45:24, 1Ma.2:54 1Mac 3:49 1Mac 7:9 1Mac 7:21, 4Ma.5:35 4Mac 7:6 * ;]

priesthood: Hebrews 7:11-12, 24.†

(AS)

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

Range of meaning: Priesthood, the priestly office or institution. Used of the office and of the body of priests who hold it.
Against the English: 'Priesthood' is accurate. Modern readers may picture clergy in general. Here it means the hereditary temple institution of Israel: Aaron's descendants as priests, assisted by the wider tribe of Levi.
Used elsewhere in the period: LXX 1 Chr 29:22; Sirach 45:7, 24; 1 Macc 2:54; 3:49; 7:9, 21. Josephus uses it often for the high-priestly office (e.g., Antiquities 20). In the NT it occurs only in Hebrews (7:11, 12, 24).

Range of meaning: Priesthood: the office, rank or position of a priest, including its rights and duties. It is a near-synonym of hierateia ("priestly service", 7:5).
Against the English: All the major versions translate it "priesthood", and the rendering is accurate. Modern readers may picture a clergy class or a church office. In this context it means the Israelite office of the one who approaches God for others with sacrifice and intercession.
Used elsewhere in the period: Used in the Greek of 1 Maccabees 2:54 ("the covenant of everlasting priesthood" given to Phinehas), Sirach 45:24 and 4 Maccabees 5:35. It is frequent in Josephus for the high priestly office. In the New Testament it appears only in Hebrews 7:11, 12 and 24.

Hebrews · 3

Hebrews 7:11 ἱερωσύνης priesthood

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: The priestly office as an institution: the hereditary system of Aaron's sons serving at altar and sanctuary, with the Levites assisting.
Hebrews 7:12 ἱερωσύνης priesthood

For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed as well.
Hebrews 7:24 ἱερωσύνην· priesthood;

But because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood.

Here: The office of a priest: the role of standing between God and people, offering sacrifice and interceding. Hebrews uses the word only in this chapter (7:11, 12, 24), where it contrasts Levi's priesthood with Melchizedek's.

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