define chief priests in the bible

v. 1). Priestly perspectives and concerns are on display in various places, from legal materials to historical narratives and from the prayers of the Psalms to the discourses of the prophets. Definition of “Priest” The primary meaning of a priest is a mediator or representative between man and God. CHIEF PRIESTS.  |  19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. ‘High Priest.’. (n. ) The head or leader of any body of men; a commander, as of an army; a head man, as of a tribe, clan, or family; a person in authority who directs the work of others; the principal actor or agent. Chief priest. Ezra 8:29 | View whole chapter | See verse in context Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them before the chief of the priests and the Levites, and chief of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD. iii. 174–184, 195–206, and ‘Die ἀρχιερεῖς im NT’ in SK [Note: K Studien und Kritiken.] xii. Used by Permission. The precise meaning of ἀρχιερεῖς, as we meet it in the Gospels and Josephus, is not easily determined. Priests also represented the people before God, offering sacrifices as well as interceding and pleading for the people. ii. Then the king gave orders to Hilkiah, the chief priest, and to the priests of the second order, and to the keepers of the door, to take out of the house of the Lord all the vessels made for Baal and for the Asherah and for all the stars of heaven; and he had them burned outside Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and took the dust of them to Beth-el ἀρχιερεύς; Alford on Matthew 2:4). It appears from a statement of Josephus that the dignity of the high priesthood was confined to a few select families (BJ iv. 593–657; Edersheim, Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, i. p. 322 t.; Ewald, HI [Note: I History of Israel.] Unlike a "high priest," the "chief priests" referred to here are not official offices ordained by God. A common explanation used to be that these ‘chief priests’ were the heads or presidents of the twenty-four courses into which the Jewish priesthood was divided (1 Chronicles 24:4, 2 Chronicles 8:14, Luke 1:5; Luke 1:8; Josephus Ant. The scribes make up another group of individuals who enjoyed the authority of leadership in Israel. The son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah and brother of Jeremiah. In the Old Testament, "high priest" and "chief priest" (singular) are used interchangeably and refer to the one priest who is appointed to lead all other priests. From the Levites came the priests, and among the priests were the high priest and, in Luke 19:47, the “chief priests.” The chief priests would have been from the tribe of Levi. See PRIEST . 3 [Note: designates the particular edition of the work referred] , art. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. They belonged to the party of the Sadducees (Acts 5:17; Josephus Ant. McClintock and Strong's Bible Encyclopedia; Princeps Sacerdotum (Chief of Priests) Chief Priest. For by NT times the high priestly office had sunk far from its former greatness. A title given to Adino the Eznite, one of David's greatest heroes (2 Samuel 23:8); also called Jashobeam (1 Chronicles 11:11). vii. Josephus Vita, 38, BJ ii. In the Mishnah they are presented as pre-rabbinic teachers with authority, as well as copyists and teachers.1 Josephus does not list them as a distinct group. , 1872, pp. Glossary. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. cit. But Schürer further maintains that, in addition to the ex-high priests, the title was applied to the members of those families from which the high priests were usually chosen—the γένος ἀρχιερατικόν of Acts 4:6. x. ‘Priests and Levites’ and ‘Priest in NT’; Hauck-Herzog, PRE [Note: RE Real-Encyklopädie fur protest. Lexicons. description and definition • What does the Bible say about…? Sadducees and “chief priests”—which they were—are mentioned in all four gospels and in Acts. And most scholars now take the view that the ἁρχιερεῖς were high priests rather than ‘chief priests,’ not leading representatives from the general body of the priesthood, but members of an exclusive high priestly caste. 1906-1918. While the scribes interpreted Jewish law, they did not make it, hence their conflicts with Jesus, who claimed authority over the law. Josephus Vita, 38, BJ iv. PRIEST, n. L. proestes, a chief, one that presides; proe, before,and sto, to stand, or sisto. In many ways, the Hebrew Bible bears witness to a community of people whose social identity, religious beliefs, and ritual practices were deeply enmeshed in matters related to the priesthood. 4 B.C.-A.D. 29), also known as Jesus Christ, was the central personality and founder of … See PRIEST. x. (Genesis 14:18) In the worship of the patriarchs themselves, the chief of the family, as such, acted as the priest. Moses, Aaron, and Miriam were all Levites, as were thousands of other men and women. Mark 14 states that Jesus was taken that night "to the high priest" (without naming the priest), where all the chief priests and the elders gathered. 6); and that this was really the case becomes clear upon an examination of the list which Schürer has compiled, from the various references given by the Jewish historian, of the twenty-eight holders of the office during the Romano-Herodian period (HJP [Note: JP History of the Jewish People.] 1. i. Melchizedek is "the priest of the most high God." Most information about priests is from God’s establishment of the Levitical priesthood with Aaron, Moses’ brother as its head. Chief priest. CHIEF PRIESTS (ἀρχιερεῖς).—In the Gospels ἀρχιερεύς properly denotes the individual who for the time being held the office of Jewish high priest; and when the word occurs in its singular form, ‘high priest’ is the almost invariable rendering it receives throughout the NT, both in Authorized Version and Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 (in Luke 3:2 ἐπὶ ἀρχιερέως Ἄννα καὶ Καιάφα is rendered in Authorized Version ‘Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests,’ and in Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 ‘in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas.’ In Acts 19:14 ἀρχιερεύς, as applied to ‘one Sceva, a Jew,’ is rendered ‘chief of the priests’ in Authorized Version, ‘a chief priest’ in Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885). A man who officiates in sacred offices. Above all, in one passage (BJ vi. ‘Hoher Priester’; Jewish Encyc., art. The chief priests are a specific group of temple priests, administrators of the temple's liturgy, buildings, and finances. The Definition of the word Chief priest. Before the Mosaic Law was instituted, the family head served as priest for his family. Rather, they seem to be those priests with particular influence. Luke 3:2, John 18:13; John 18:24, Acts 4:6). 7, 9, 10, and passim), and on all such occasions, both in Authorized Version and Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885, it is translated ‘chief priests.’ It is these ἀρχιερεῖς, not the ἀρχιερεύς proper, with whom we are concerned in the present article. "Chief priests" (plural) is found only in the New Testament and is the English translation of αρχιερεις (archiereis), which literally means "archpriests." ix. i. pp. 6, xviii. A former high priest and father-in-law of Caiaphas, Annas remained very influential. According to John's gospel, Jesus was taken not to Caiaphas but to Annas, who questioned him only privately. Search for "Chief priest" in Keyword Search | Topical Index Use Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary Smith's Bible Names Dictionary * Chief priest Chief priest. 7), or at least that these heads of the priestly courses were included under the term (see, e.g., the Lexicons of Cremer and Grimm-Thayer, s.v. Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament. xii. Literature.—Schürer, HJP [Note: JP History of the Jewish People.] In the Christian Greek Scriptures, the expression “chief priests” evidently denoted the principal men of the priesthood, including any deposed high priests and possibly the heads of the … - Darby Bible And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people, and the chief priests, and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, - Webster's Bible As soon as it was day, the whole body of the Elders, both High Priests and Scribes, assembled. ; Hasting's Dictionary of the Bible, artt. This thematic guide is designed with two purposes in view: 1) to pr… CHIEF PRIESTS (ἀρχιερεῖς ).—In the Gospels ἀρχιερεύς properly denotes the individual who for the time being held the office of Jewish high priest; and when the word occurs in its singular form, ‘high priest’ is the almost invariable rendering it receives throughout the NT, both in Authorized Version and Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 (in Luke 3:2 ἐπὶ ἀρχιερέως Ἄννα καὶ Καιάφα is rendered in Authorized … The office descended with the birthright, and might apparently he transferred with it. 7330 chief priests. But in NT times their influence, even in the Sanhedrin, was inferior to that of the scribes and Pharisees, who commanded the popular sympathies as the high priestly party did not (Josephus Ant. In the Old Testament period the High Priest did not have much power, but during and after the exile he apparently attained greater importance.1In fact, many of the trappings of the monarchy were transferred to the High Priest, not merely the clothing but also the duties of government. Acts 6:12-15 So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. But it is noticeable, as Schürer pointed out (‘Die ἀρχιερεῖς im NT’ in SK [Note: K Studien und Kritiken.] … 1), and were, formally at least, the leading personages in the Sanhedrin.† [Note: When ἁρχιερεῖς are mentioned in the NT along with γραμματεῖς and πρεσβύτεροι, they almost invariably occupy the first place.] Because the high priest held the leadership position, one of his roles was overseeing the responsibilities of all the subordinate priests (2 Chronicles 19:11). Then He was brought into their Sanhedrin, and they asked Him, - Weymouth Bible The chief priests were the leading priests who were members of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council, … xx. xiii. The high priest had to be “whole” physically (without any physical defects) and holy in his conduct (Leviticus 21:6-8). A group of individuals in charge of temple worship in Jerusalem, and regarded as leading representatives of the Jewish people, who came into conflict with Jesus Christ and plotted his death. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. The chief priests were members of the high priestly families or those acting with the authority of the high priest, while the scribes with whom Jesus argued were probably lawyers and judges. These chief fathers of the Levites were chief throughout their generations; these dwelt at Jerusalem. An alternate term for “high priest” in the Hebrew Scriptures. 6, iv. i. iv. Among pagans, priests were persons whose appropriate business was to offer sacrifices and perform other sacred rites of religion. This article will examine what the word means and how it is used in the Bible. As applied to this high priestly class, the word ἀρχιερεῖς would seem to denote primarily the official high priest together with a group of ex-high priests. 20 This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.. 21 Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. High priest In Hebrew "THE priest," and in books after the Pentateuch "the great priest," "the head priest," or "chief priest" (2 Kings 25:18). Would you like to read this article in %%? ii. Chief Priest :: See. In Numbers 3:12–13 the Lord set apart the entire tribe of Levi for special service. 2Ch 19:11 See also … Ezra (Bible priest), Ezra a Jewish priest and scribe who played a central part in the reform of Judaism in the 5th or 4th century bc, continuing the work of Nehemiah and… Jesus (persons In The Bible), Jesus of Nazareth (ca. iii. The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. 7, 9, 10, iv. Entry for 'Chief Priests'. 2) Josephus, after distinguishing the υἱοὶ τῶν ἀρχιερέων from the ἀρχιερεῖς themselves, apparently combines both classes under the general designation of ἀρχιερεῖς. Both Herod and the Roman legates deposed and set up high priests at their pleasure (Josephus Ant. Thus there were usually several ex-high priests alive at the same time, and these men, though deprived of office, still retained the title of ἀρχιερεῖς and still exercised considerable power in the Jewish State (cf. Bibliography InformationHastings, James. chief priest - Biblical Meaning for chief priest in Eastons Bible Dictionary (Bible History Online) It is true that some support for this view may be found in the expressions ‘all the chief ( Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 ‘chiefs’) of the priests’ (2 Chronicles 36:14, Nehemiah 12:7), ‘the chief priests’ ( Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 ‘the chiefs of the priests,’ Ezra 10:5). p. 206). ii. Theologic und Kirche.] The chief priests and the Pharisees told the people to let them know if any of them saw Jesus. xx. An alternate term for “high priest” in the Hebrew Scriptures. Chief priest. 3). for 1872), that in the LXX Septuagint the word ἀρχιερεῖς is never used of the heads of the priestly courses, and that the nearest approximations to this term are such phrases as ἄρχοντες τῶν πατριῶν τῶν ἰερέων (1 Chronicles 24:6) ἄρχοντες τῶν ἱερέων (Nehemiah 12:7). 1. For a general treatment of the office of the ἀρχιερεύς in NT times, and also of the use of the word as a title of Christ by the author of Hebrews, reference must be made to art. 196 ff., 204). It is nearly identical, and is often confounded, with Ezra as well as with Zerahiah and Seraiah. People's Dictionary of the Bible; Chief Priest; Encyclopedias. 1), as the Seleucidae appear to have done at an earlier period (2 Maccabees 4:24; Josephus Ant. The prophet Zechariah of the restored community had already foreseen in his vision of Joshua the High Priest the union of the offices of King and Priest (… https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/hdn/c/chief-priests.html. Scribes are experts in the Mosaic law. These dictionary topics are from M.G. At the top of the social and political scale was the High Priest. CONTENT DISCLAIMER: The Blue Letter Bible ministry and the BLB Institute hold to the historical, conservative Christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy of Scripture. PRIVACY POLICY, https://assetsnffrgf-a.akamaihd.net/assets/a/nwtstg/univ/wpub/nwtstg_univ_lg.jpg, Publication download options Copyright StatementThese files are public domain.Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary. To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use the convenient, McClintock and Strong's Bible Encyclopedia, Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament. It was no longer hereditary, and no longer held for life. (whom the Lord helps) a common name in Hebrew, and especially in the families of the priests of the line of Eleazar, whose name has precisely the same meaning as Azariah. Charles Souvay, in the Catholic Encyclopedia, notes that he is often understood "in a broad sense", meaning that Seraiah, the chief priest, spoken of in 2 Kings 25:18–21 (at the time of the fall of Judah and the deportation to Babylon), was one of Ezra's ancestors. iii. Few topics are more central to the Hebrew Bible than priests and priesthood. But in the Gospels and Acts the word occurs very frequently in the plural form (cf. OT references to the chief priest. the one actually in office and those who had previously been so, and then of the members of those privileged families from which the high priests were taken’ (op. High Priest. In the notable case of Annas, we even have an ex-high priest whose influence was plainly greater than that of the ἀρχιερεύς proper (cf. In the New Testament they are associated with the Pharisees and the High Priests as opponents of Jesus. xiv. A man who officially represented God to the people he served, instructing them about God and his laws. vii. TERMS OF USE * [Note: In accordance with this view, Dr. Moffatt, in his Historical New Testament, renders ἁρχιερεῖς; ‘high priests,’ a plan which has also been adopted by the editor of The Corrected English New Testament (1905).]. Copyright © 2021 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. Acts 5:34 ff; Acts 23:6 ff.). See [113]PRIEST. These, then, were in all probability the ‘chief priests’ of the Authorized and Revised Versions. 4; cf. p. 479 ff. None of those mentions are flattering. This is how they hoped to arrest him. God indicated that the high priest had to be a … In the Christian Greek Scriptures, the expression “chief priests” evidently denoted the principal men of the priesthood, including any deposed high priests and possibly the heads of the 24 priestly divisions.​—2Ch 26:20; Ezr 7:5; Mt 2:4; Mr 8:31. 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