Extended Strong's Greek Lexicon (Abbott-Smith based)
priesthood
Usage: ἱερωσύνη, -ης, ἡ (ἱερός), [in LXX: 1Ch.29:22 (כָּהַן), I Est.5:38, Sir.45:24, 1Ma.2:54 1Mac 3:49 1Mac 7:9 1Mac 7:21, 4Ma.5:35 4Mac 7:6 * ;] priesthood: Heb.7:11-12, 24.† (AS)
Strong's Number
G2420
Language
Greek
Linked Usages
12
Books
6
Strong's G2420 Quick Answer
Strong's G2420 ἱερωσύνη (hierosune) is a Greek Strong's word-study entry. hierosune (hee-er-o-soo'-nay) n. 1. sacredness 2. (by implication) the priestly office It has 12 linked Bible usages across 6 books. Visible English usage signals include priesthood. Indexed coverage on this page includes New Testament, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, and Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha.
- Meaning
- hierosune (hee-er-o-soo'-nay) n. 1. sacredness 2. (by implication) the priestly office
- Usage
- 12 linked usages
- Books
- 6 indexed books
- Corpus
- New Testament, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, and Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha
- Usage Words
- priesthood
Meaning and Definition
hierosune (hee-er-o-soo'-nay) n. 1. sacredness 2. (by implication) the priestly office [from G2413] KJV: priesthood Root(s): G2413
Across Lexicons
How independent scholarly lexicons define Strong's G2420. Each definition is shown with its source so you can compare and cite the original reference works.
How Strong's G2420 Is Translated
The English word each shown verse actually uses to render hierosune, taken from the interlinear word alignment (the same word underlined in the excerpts below). Where a rendering is used more than once, the count is shown.
priesthood
Hebrews 7:11
4×
How Strong's G2420 Usage Compares
Indexed coverage includes Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, New Testament, and Septuagint / Greek Old Testament. Each section below keeps corpus counts and sample passages visible so readers can compare the word across contexts instead of reading one flat concordance list.
- The largest indexed corpus on this page is Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha with 7 linked usages.
- This page lets readers compare New Testament usage with Septuagint / Greek Old Testament usage, which is a key THF advantage over narrower Strong's pages.
- Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha rows are counted separately so readers can decide how those texts relate to the main word study.
In the Septuagint (LXX)
Strong's G2420 (ἱερωσύνη) appears 8 times in the Greek Septuagint — the Old Testament the New Testament authors quoted.
Sample Septuagint occurrences:
- 1 Chronicles 29:22 — ἱερωσύνην
- 1 Esdras 5:38 — ἱερωσύνης
- 1 Maccabees 2:54 — ἱερωσύνης
- 1 Maccabees 3:49 — ἱερωσύνης
- 1 Maccabees 7:9 — ἱερωσύνην
Strong's G2420 by Corpus
Indexed usage grouped by testament and extended corpus so readers can compare this word across the Bible, Septuagint, deuterocanonical books, and 1 Enoch where present.
Strong's G2420 in the New Testament
4 indexed usages in New Testament.
If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
Strong's G2420 in the Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
1 indexed usage in Septuagint / Greek Old Testament.
And they ate and drank joyfully that day before the Lord: and they made Solomon the son of David king a second time, and anointed him king before the Lord, and Zadok to the priesthood.
Strong's G2420 in the deuterocanonical books / Apocrypha
7 indexed usages in Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha.
And of the priests that usurped the office of the priesthood, and were not found: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Jaddus, who married Agia one of the daughters of Barzillai, and was named after his name.
Phinehas our father in being zealous and fervent obtained the covenant of an everlasting priesthood.
They brought also the priest’s garments, and the firstfruits, and the tithes: and the Nazirites they stirred up, who had accomplished their days.
Usage Excerpts
First 12 linked usage excerpts for Strong's G2420.
And they ate and drank joyfully that day before the Lord: and they made Solomon the son of David king a second time, and anointed him king before the Lord, and Zadok to the priesthood.
If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
And of the priests that usurped the office of the priesthood, and were not found: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Jaddus, who married Agia one of the daughters of Barzillai, and was named after his name.
Phinehas our father in being zealous and fervent obtained the covenant of an everlasting priesthood.
They brought also the priest’s garments, and the firstfruits, and the tithes: and the Nazirites they stirred up, who had accomplished their days.
And him he sent with that wicked Alcimus, whom he made high priest, and commanded that he should take vengeance of the children of Israel.
I will not put thee to shame, O philosopher Reason; or deny thee, O honored priesthood, and science of the law.
O priest, worthy of the priesthood! thou didst not pollute thy sacred teeth; nor make thy appetite, which had always embraced the clean and lawful, a partaker of profanity.
Therefore was there a covenant of peace made with him, That he should be the chief of the sanctuary and of his people, And that he and his posterity should have the dignity of the priesthood forever:
All Indexed Usage Links
Every indexed verse link for Strong's G2420, grouped by book.
1 Chronicles 1 usage, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
Hebrews 4 usages, New Testament
1 Esdras 1 usage, Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha
1 Maccabees 3 usages, Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha
4 Maccabees 2 usages, Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha
Wisdom of Sirach 1 usage, Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha
Strong's G2420 FAQ
What does hierosyne (ἱερωσύνη) mean?
Hierosyne (Strong's G2420) is a Greek word most simply glossed "priesthood". hierosune (hee-er-o-soo'-nay) n. 1. sacredness 2. (by implication) the priestly office
How many times is hierosyne (ἱερωσύνη) used in the Bible?
This page currently indexes 12 linked usages for Strong's G2420 across 6 books.
Where can I study hierosyne (ἱερωσύνη) in context?
Use the linked verse references on this page to study Strong's G2420 in context. The indexed coverage includes New Testament, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, and Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha.
What English words translate hierosyne (ἱερωσύνη)?
The visible usage excerpts most often surface English words such as priesthood. These are scanning signals from the displayed verses, not replacements for the original-language definition.
Does Strong's G2420 appear in the Septuagint or deuterocanonical books?
Yes. The current local index includes 1 in Septuagint / Greek Old Testament and 7 in Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha for Strong's G2420, with linked reader references where each row is available.