ἱερατεία (G2405) — Greek Lexicon

ἱερατεία

hierateía

G2405 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ἱερατ- to be a priest, to act as priest, priestly service

Definition

Designates the office, role, or collective body of those who perform priestly functions; specifically, the institution or exercise of priestly service. In certain contexts, it refers to the priesthood as an organized group, the function or state of being a priest, or the duties and privileges associated with priestly office. In the Judean context, commonly denotes the organization or authority of priestly leadership centered around the Jerusalem Temple.

Semantic Range

institution or office of the priesthood, collective body of priests, priestly system or organization, exercise or duration of priestly service, status of belonging to the priesthood

Root / Etymology

Formed from ἱερατεύω ('to serve as a priest'), which itself derives from ἱερεύς ('priest'); the suffix -εία (-eía) forms abstract nouns denoting functions or offices. Thus, ἱερατεία literally means 'priesthood' or 'priestly office.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

First attested in Hellenistic Greek (LXX, Josephus, Philo), ἱερατεία describes not merely the abstract quality of priestliness but the institutional priesthood as a group or class, as well as its functions and status. In the Septuagint, it renders Hebrew terms relating to priesthood, emphasizing the collective office of the Israelite priestly order. In Second Temple Judean society, ἱερατεία referred specifically to the hereditary priestly class responsible for sacrificial and cultic duties at the Jerusalem Temple, particularly the descendants of Aaron. In the New Testament (e.g., Luke 1:9), it refers to the performance, schedule, or system of priestly service among the Judeans. English translations such as 'priesthood' or 'office of the priest' are conceptually accurate but may obscure the institutional and social dimensions present in ancient sources, where the term signals both functions and the collective identity. Distinct from ἱεράτευμα (G2406), which may refer generically to a priestly body or a more abstract concept of priesthood, and from ἱερεύς ('priest'), which is individual.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἱερατεύω; priestliness, i.e. the sacerdotal function:--office of the priesthood, priest's office.

Root Family

ἱερατεία (hierateia) — priesthood, priestly office, priestly service, priestly institution

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`G2405-02`	ἱερατείας	ierateias	`N GEN F SG`	priestly office	of priesthood	1
`G2405-01`	ἱερατείαν	ierateian	`N ACC F SG`		priestly office	1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`G2405-02`	Luke 1:9	ἱερατείας	ierateias	`N GEN F SG`	priestly office	of priesthood
`G2405-01`	Hebrews 7:5	ἱερατείαν	ierateian	`N ACC F SG`		priestly office

← G2404 Greek Lexicon G2406 →