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:
Luke 20:1: "and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon"
Luke 20:19: "And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour"
Luke 22:2: "And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill"
Luke 22:4: "he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray"
Luke 22:50: "smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his"
Luke 22:52: "Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple,"
Luke 22:54: "him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed"
Luke 22:66: "of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and"
Luke 23:4: "Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find"
Luke 23:10: "And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused"
Luke 23:13: "Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and"
Luke 23:23: "of them and of the chief priests prevailed."
Luke 24:20: "And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered"
John 7:32: "Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take"
John 7:45: "officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they"
John 11:47: "Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council,"
John 11:49: "of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said"
John 11:51: "himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that"
John 11:57: "Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given"
John 12:10: "But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;"
John 18:3: "officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither"
John 18:10: "and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his"
John 18:13: "father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year."
John 18:15: "was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into"
John 18:15: "the palace of the high priest."
John 18:16: "was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and"
John 18:19: "The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples,"
John 18:22: "struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?"
John 18:24: "unto Caiaphas the high priest."
John 18:26: "the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear"
John 18:35: "Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me:"
John 19:6: "When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him,"
John 19:15: "your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king"
John 19:21: "Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write"
Acts 4:6: "And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John,"
Acts 4:23: "reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto"
Acts 5:17: "Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with"
Acts 5:21: "and taught. But the high priest came, and they"
Acts 5:24: "of the temple and the chief priests heard these things,"
Acts 5:27: "council: and the high priest asked them,"
Acts 7:1: "Then said the high priest, Are these"
Acts 9:1: "Lord, went unto the high priest,"
Acts 9:14: "authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy"
Acts 9:21: "bound unto the chief priests?"
Acts 19:14: "sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so."
Acts 22:5: "As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all"
Acts 22:30: "and commanded the chief priests and all their council"
Acts 23:2: "And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite"
Acts 23:4: "said, Revilest thou God's high priest?"
Acts 23:5: "brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak"
