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ἀρχιερεύς

archiereús

G749 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ἀρχιερευ- to rule, to govern, to perform priestly function

Definition

Principal priest; one occupying the highest priestly office in a religious system, most frequently designating the person who holds authority over the cultic activities or serves as presiding official among priests. In the context of Second Temple Judaism, refers specifically to the chief priest who presided over the Jerusalem Temple. Can also refer, by extension, to leading members of the priestly aristocracy, especially in the plural, denoting senior priests with political or supervisory power.

Semantic Range

high priest, presiding priest, chief priest, principal priest, member of priestly aristocracy; in extended or metaphorical usage, ultimate mediator or representative priest

Root / Etymology

From ἀρχή (archē, 'beginning, ruler, authority') and ἱερεύς (hiereus, 'priest'), forming 'chief priest' or 'archpriest.' The formation is transparent in Greek; no influence from Semitic terms is evidenced in the morphology.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἀρχιερεύς is rarely attested. The construction becomes standard in Hellenistic Greek, particularly in the Septuagint (LXX) as an equivalent for the Hebrew כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל (kōhēn gadol, 'great priest', high priest) or to represent heads of priestly families. In the New Testament, ἀρχιερεύς designates both the one person holding the office of high priest and (in plural) the senior priestly elite in Jerusalem, who comprised part of the Sanhedrin. The singular can denote the official high priest of the period, while the plural sometimes includes former high priests and prominent leading priests. In the synoptic Gospels and Acts, the plural 'chief priests' reflects the complex reality of priestly leadership under Roman administration, where several men might be called 'high priests' by courtesy or through political appointment. English translations typically use 'high priest' for the singular and 'chief priests' for the plural, but this can obscure the collective and at times political character of the term in first-century Judea. The application of ἀρχιερεύς to Jesus in Hebrews draws an analogy with Israelite cultic office, extending the meaning beyond historical priesthoods.

Translation Consistency

primary "high priest" 44 occurrences

ἀρχιερεύς most commonly and precisely denotes the office of the Temple’s chief/principal priest. “High priest” is the standard, natural English equivalent in NT contexts, fits both singular and plural uses (the high priest / high priests), and avoids the ambiguity of the single word “chief.” It therefore yields the most consistent, clear rendering across all forms.

Alternatives (78 occurrences):
"high priests" (66x) "chief priest" (12x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἀρχή and ἱερεύς; the high-priest (literally, of the Jews, typically, Christ); by extension a chief priest:--chief (high) priest, chief of the priests.

Root Family

ἀρχιερεύς (archiereus) — chief priest, presiding priest, principal priest, ruling priest

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G749-03 ἀρχιερεῖς archiereis N ACC M PL chief priests principal priests high priests 50
G749-06 ἀρχιερεὺς archiereus N NOM M SG high priest chief priest high priest 28
G749-05 ἀρχιερέως archiereos N GEN M SG high priest of the chief priest of the high priest 16
G749-04 ἀρχιερέων archiereon N GEN M PL chief priests of chief priests of high priests 10
G749-01 ἀρχιερέα archierea N ACC M SG high priest chief priest chief priest 9
G749-07 ἀρχιερεῦσιν archiereusin N DAT M PL chief priests to the chief priests to the high priests 6
G749-02 ἀρχιερεῖ archierei N DAT M SG high priest to the chief priest chief priest 3

Occurrences in Scripture

122 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G749-03 Matthew 2:4 ἀρχιερεῖς archiereis N ACC M PL chief priests principal priests high priests
G749-04 Matthew 16:21 ἀρχιερέων archiereon N GEN M PL chief priests of chief priests of high priests
G749-07 Matthew 20:18 ἀρχιερεῦσιν archiereusin N DAT M PL chief priests to the chief priests to the high priests
G749-03 Matthew 21:15 ἀρχιερεῖς archiereis N NOM M PL chief priests principal priests high priests
G749-03 Matthew 21:23 ἀρχιερεῖς archiereis N NOM M PL chief priests principal priests high priests
G749-03 Matthew 21:45 ἀρχιερεῖς archiereis N NOM M PL chief priests principal priests high priests
G749-03 Matthew 26:3 ἀρχιερεῖς archiereis N NOM M PL chief priests principal priests high priests
G749-05 Matthew 26:3 ἀρχιερέως archiereos N GEN M SG high priest of the chief priest of the high priest
G749-03 Matthew 26:14 ἀρχιερεῖς archiereis N ACC M PL chief priests principal priests high priests
G749-04 Matthew 26:47 ἀρχιερέων archiereon N GEN M PL chief priests of chief priests of high priests
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