ἱερεύς (G2409) — Greek Lexicon

ἱερεύς

hiereús

G2409 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A person who performs sacred rituals or serves as an official intermediary in religious or cultic contexts; primarily, one who is appointed to offer sacrifices, maintain rites, and mediate between the divine and humans. In Hellenistic and Greco-Roman contexts, used for priests of various deities and cults; in the Septuagint and New Testament, refers to those charged with ritual duties in the Israelite (later Judean) temple cult, distinct from the High Priest (ἀρχιερεύς).

Semantic Range

priest (official in charge of rituals or sacrifices), officiant at religious ceremonies, temple functionary, metaphorically: mediator between humans and the divine

Root / Etymology

From the adjective ἱερός (sacred, holy), related to the root ἱερε-, indicating connection to the sacred or divine. The noun-form ἱερεύς is attested from Homeric Greek onward for priestly officials in various religious traditions.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Classically, ἱερεύς designates priests of any recognized cult in the Greek world—performers of sacrifices and overseers of rituals for gods or heroes. In the Hellenistic period, its semantic range expands to encompass priests of both non-Greek and Greek traditions, including Egyptian, Anatolian, and other religious systems. In the Septuagint, ἱερεύς nearly always translates Hebrew כֹּהֵן (kohen), denoting those who perform sacrificial services or serve Yahweh in the Jerusalem sanctuary. In the New Testament, ἱερεύς is the normal term for the hereditary priesthood of the Jerusalem temple, distinguishing regular temple priests from the singular ἀρχιερεύς (high priest). The term is rarely used metaphorically for individuals apart from formal sacerdotal office. English translations conventionally use 'priest,' but depending on tradition and context, the scope may differ from later ecclesiastical meanings. Unlike later Christian 'priesthood,' ἱερεύς in the NT typically lacks the connotation of presiding at Christian ritual functions. Other roles (e.g., elders or presbyters) are not called ἱερεῖς in original Greek sources. Use of 'priest' for Christian leaders (presbyters) is a post-biblical development.

Translation Consistency

primary "priest" 32 occurrences

ἱερεύς is most commonly and naturally rendered as “priest” in English Bibles and fits the SILEX sense (temple officiant, one who offers sacrifices and mediates in cultic contexts). It is succinct, widely understood, and matches the distribution in the source occurrences; less common alternatives (e.g., “officiant” or “temple functionary”) are more technical and less natural for general reading.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἱερός; a priest (literally or figuratively):--(high) priest.

Root Family

ἱερεύς (hiereus) — sacred official, ritual officiant, temple servant, mediator of sacrifices

Root ἱερε- sacred, set apart for divine service, priestly function

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G2409-03`	ἱερεῖς	iereis	`N NOM M PL`	priests	priests	priests	12
`G2409-05`	ἱερεύς	iereus	`N NOM M SG`	priest	priest	priest	11
`G2409-02`	ἱερεῖ	ierei	`N DAT M SG`	priest	to a priest	priest	3
`G2409-01`	ἱερέα	ierea	`N ACC M SG`	priest	a priest	a priest	2
`G2409-04`	ἱερέων	iereon	`N GEN M PL`	priests	of priests	priests	2
`G2409-06`	ἱερεῦσιν	iereusin	`N DAT M PL`	priests	to the priests	priests	2

Occurrences in Scripture

32 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G2409-02`	Matthew 8:4	ἱερεῖ	ierei	`N DAT M SG`	priest	to a priest	priest
`G2409-06`	Matthew 12:4	ἱερεῦσιν	iereusin	`N DAT M PL`	priests	to the priests	priests
`G2409-03`	Matthew 12:5	ἱερεῖς	iereis	`N NOM M PL`	priests	priests	priests
`G2409-02`	Mark 1:44	ἱερεῖ	ierei	`N DAT M SG`	priest	to a priest	priest
`G2409-03`	Mark 2:26	ἱερεῖς	iereis	`N ACC M PL`	priests	priests	priests
`G2409-05`	Luke 1:5	ἱερεύς	iereus	`N NOM M SG`	priest	priest	priest
`G2409-02`	Luke 5:14	ἱερεῖ	ierei	`N DAT M SG`	priest	to a priest	priest
`G2409-03`	Luke 6:4	ἱερεῖς	iereis	`N ACC M PL`	priests	priests	priests
`G2409-05`	Luke 10:31	ἱερεύς	iereus	`N NOM M SG`	priest	priest	priest
`G2409-06`	Luke 17:14	ἱερεῦσιν	iereusin	`N DAT M PL`	priests	to the priests	priests
`G2409-03`	John 1:19	ἱερεῖς	iereis	`N ACC M PL`	priests	priests	priests
`G2409-03`	John 8:4	ἱερεῖς	iereis	`N NOM M PL`	scribes	priests	priests
`G2409-03`	Acts 4:1	ἱερεῖς	iereis	`N NOM M PL`	priests	priests	priests
`G2409-04`	Acts 6:7	ἱερέων	iereon	`N GEN M PL`	priests	of priests	priests
`G2409-05`	Acts 14:13	ἱερεὺς	iereus	`N NOM M SG`	priest	priest	priest
`G2409-05`	Hebrews 5:6	ἱερεὺς	iereus	`N NOM M SG`	priest	priest	priest
`G2409-05`	Hebrews 7:1	ἱερεὺς	iereus	`N NOM M SG`	priest	priest	priest
`G2409-05`	Hebrews 7:3	ἱερεὺς	iereus	`N NOM M SG`	priest	priest	priest
`G2409-01`	Hebrews 7:11	ἱερέα	ierea	`N ACC M SG`	priest	a priest	a priest
`G2409-04`	Hebrews 7:14	ἱερέων	iereon	`N GEN M PL`	priests	of priests	priests
`G2409-05`	Hebrews 7:15	ἱερεὺς	iereus	`N NOM M SG`	priest	priest	priest
`G2409-05`	Hebrews 7:17	ἱερεὺς	iereus	`N NOM M SG`	priest	priest	priest
`G2409-03`	Hebrews 7:20	ἱερεῖς	iereis	`N NOM M PL`	priests	priests	priests
`G2409-05`	Hebrews 7:21	ἱερεὺς	iereus	`N NOM M SG`	are a priest	priest	priest
`G2409-03`	Hebrews 7:23	ἱερεῖς	iereis	`N NOM M PL`	priests	priests	priests
`G2409-05`	Hebrews 8:4	ἱερεύς	iereus	`N NOM M SG`	a priest	priest	priest
`G2409-03`	Hebrews 9:6	ἱερεῖς	iereis	`N NOM M PL`	priests	priests	priests
`G2409-05`	Hebrews 10:11	ἱερεὺς	iereus	`N NOM M SG`	priest	priest	priest
`G2409-01`	Hebrews 10:21	ἱερέα	ierea	`N ACC M SG`	priest	a priest	a priest
`G2409-03`	Revelation 1:6	ἱερεῖς	iereis	`N ACC M PL`	priests	priests	priests
`G2409-03`	Revelation 5:10	ἱερεῖς	iereis	`N ACC M PL`	priests	priests	priests
`G2409-03`	Revelation 20:6	ἱερεῖς	iereis	`N NOM M PL`	priests	priests	priests

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