Strong's #749: archiereus (pronounced ar-khee-er-yuce')
from 746 and 2409; the high-priest (literally, of the Jews, typically, Christ); by extension a chief priest:--chief (high) priest, chief of the priests.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon:
̓́
archiereus
1) chief priest, high priest - He above all others was honoured with the title of priest, the chief of priests. It was lawful for him to perform the common duties of the priesthood; but his chief duty was, once a year on the day of atonement, to enter into the Holy of Holies (from which the other priests were excluded) and offer sacrifices for his own sins and the sins of the people, and to preside over the Sanhedrin, or Supreme Council, when convened for judicial deliberations. According to Mosaic law, no one could aspire to the high priesthood unless he were of the tribe of Aaron and descended from a high priestly family; and he on whom the office was conferred held it till death. But from the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, when the kings of Seleucideae and afterwards the Herodian princes and the Romans arrogated to themselves the power of appointing the high priests, the office neither remained vested in the pontifical family nor was conferred on any for life; but it became venal, and could be transferred from one to another according to the will of civic or military rulers. Hence it came to pass, that during the one hundred and seven years intervening between Herod the Great and the destruction of the holy city, twenty eight persons held the pontifical dignity.
2) the high priests, these comprise in addition to one holding the high priestly office, both those who had previously discharged it and although disposed, continued to have great power in the State, as well as the members of the families from which high priest were created, provided that they had much influence in public affairs.
3) Used of Christ because by undergoing a bloody death he offered himself as an expiatory sacrifice to God, and has entered into the heavenly sanctuary where he continually intercedes on our behalf.
Part of Speech: noun masculine
Relation: from G746 and G2409
Citing in TDNT: 3:265, 349
Usage:
This word is used 123 times:
Matthew 2:4: "when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people"
Matthew 16:21: "the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed,"
Matthew 20:18: "of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn"
Matthew 21:15: "And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things"
Matthew 21:23: "the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the"
Matthew 21:45: "And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables,"
Matthew 26:3: "Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and"
Matthew 26:3: "the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,"
Matthew 26:14: "went unto the chief priests,"
Matthew 26:47: "staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people."
Matthew 26:51: "struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear."
Matthew 26:57: "to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and"
Matthew 26:58: "afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went"
Matthew 26:59: "Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the"
Matthew 26:62: "And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing?"
Matthew 26:63: "held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure"
Matthew 26:65: "Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy;"
Matthew 27:1: "was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people"
Matthew 27:3: "thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,"
Matthew 27:6: "And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful"
Matthew 27:12: "was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing."
Matthew 27:20: "But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude"
Matthew 27:41: "Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes"
Matthew 27:62: "followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together"
Matthew 28:11: "city, and showed unto the chief priests all the things that were done."
Mark 2:26: "in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread,"
Mark 8:31: "the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed,"
Mark 10:33: "of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and"
Mark 11:18: "the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how"
Mark 11:27: "to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and"
Mark 14:1: "of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought"
Mark 14:10: "went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them."
Mark 14:43: "staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and"
Mark 14:47: "and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear."
Mark 14:53: "they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled"
Mark 14:53: "with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders"
Mark 14:54: "into the palace of the high priest: and he sat"
Mark 14:55: "And the chief priests and all the council sought"
Mark 14:60: "And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked"
Mark 14:61: "nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said"
Mark 14:63: "Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What"
Mark 14:66: "of the maids of the high priest:"
Mark 15:1: "the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the"
Mark 15:3: "And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he"
Mark 15:10: "he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy."
Mark 15:11: "But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather"
Mark 15:31: "Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves"
Luke 3:2: "Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came"
Luke 9:22: "the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain,"
Luke 19:47: "in the temple. But the chief priests and the"
