"a high-priest, chief-priest"
Definition and meaning
a high-priest, chief-priest
In the original Greek the word is written: ἀρχιερεύς
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of archiereus (G749) across the King James Bible.
And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,
And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased,
And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?
And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.
Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,
Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,
And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.
And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.
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Common questions
Strong's G749 (archiereus) is a Greek word that means: a high-priest, chief-priest It appears 120 times in the King James Bible.
The word archiereus (G749) appears 120 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G749 is archiereus, a Greek word defined as: a high-priest, chief-priest. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
archiereus is a Greek word found in the New Testament.