bible verses about priests

Bible Verses About Priests: 12

Bible Verses About Priests: 12 Scriptures on hiereus and a royal priesthood.

Illustrated portrait of Christopher McAllister

By Christopher McAllister

Founder of theBibleand.Love

Published October 1, 20265 min read1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

Two people meet where two paths join into one road, arms beginning to open.

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."

— 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

People who search bible verses about priests want Scripture on hiereus — priests and God's people as a priesthood — not only the high priest Christology list. This page is a numbered list of twelve passages with the NIV text and a short note on each. Related lists: Bible verses about the high priest, Bible verses about Jesus, Bible verses about the cross, Bible verses about salvation, Bible verses about holiness, Bible verses about faith, Bible verses about hope, and Bible verse of the day. Priests here means the office and the people's share as a royal priesthood — distinct from Jesus-as-high-priest alone.

Word study (lead theme). In Greek, "priest" is ἱερεύς hiereus (Strong's G2409; Bible Hub G2409) — a priest. Exodus 19:6 and 1 Peter 2:9 frame a kingdom/royal priesthood; Hebrews still speaks of priests who offer gifts. This list centers priests/people-as-priests, not only archiereus high-priest Christology.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Hebrews 7 develops priesthood under the law and the better order after Melchizedek (Bible Hub MHC Hebrews 7; Blue Letter Bible, Matthew Henry on Hebrews 7). (High-priest office lists live on that page; this list centers hiereus / royal priesthood.)

12 Bible verses about priests

  1. Exodus 19:6. "you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites." A kingdom of priests and a holy nation. See Bible verses about holiness.

  2. 1 Peter 2:9. "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." A royal priesthood — declare his praises. See Bible verses about holiness.

  3. Revelation 1:6. "and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen." Made us a kingdom and priests. See Bible verses about salvation.

  4. Revelation 5:10. "You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." Kingdom and priests — they will reign. See Bible verses about hope.

  5. Hebrews 5:1. "Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins." Appointed to represent the people — gifts and sacrifices. See Bible verses about the high priest.

  6. Hebrews 10:11. "Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins." Every priest stands — sacrifices that cannot take away sins. See Bible verses about the cross.

  7. Isaiah 61:6. "And you will be called priests of the Lord, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast." Called priests of the Lord. See Bible verses about hope.

  8. Malachi 2:7. "'For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth." Lips of a priest preserve knowledge. See Bible verses about the Word of God.

  9. Jeremiah 33:18. "nor will the Levitical priests ever fail to have a man to stand before me continually to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings and to present sacrifices.'" Levitical priests stand before me. See Bible verses about faith.

  10. Leviticus 21:6. "They must be holy to their God and must not profane the name of their God. Because they present the food offerings to the Lord, the food of their God, they are to be holy." Priests must be holy to their God. See Bible verses about holiness.

  11. Hebrews 7:11. "If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron?" Need for another priest — order of Melchizedek. See Bible verses about the high priest.

  12. Psalm 132:9. "May your priests be clothed with your righteousness; may your faithful people sing for joy.'" Priests clothed with righteousness. See Bible verses about faith.

How to use these verses

Pick one verse when you need priests / royal priesthood — not twelve as a grind. If you need people as priests, start with Exodus 19:6 or 1 Peter 2:9. If you need Revelation's kingdom-and-priests, open Revelation 1:6 or 5:10. If you need OT priest duty and holiness, open Malachi 2:7 or Leviticus 21:6. For Jesus as high priest, open Bible verses about the high priest. For the cross and once-for-all offering, open Bible verses about the cross. For a daily verse, open Bible verse of the day.

Questions people ask

What is a good Bible verse about priests?

1 Peter 2:9 (a royal priesthood), Exodus 19:6 (a kingdom of priests), and Revelation 1:6 (made us a kingdom and priests) are clear starting places.

How do Bible verses about priests differ from the high priest?

High-priest pages center Jesus as archiereus — sympathetic, once-for-all, Melchizedek. This page centers hiereus — priests and the people's share as a royal priesthood — then cross-links that companion. See Bible verses about the high priest.

What does hiereus mean?

Greek hiereus (G2409) means a priest. The New Testament also speaks of believers as a royal priesthood who declare God's praises.

Are Christians "priests" in the New Testament?

1 Peter 2:9 and Revelation 1:6 / 5:10 use priesthood language for the people of God — not replacing Jesus' unique high-priest work. See Bible verses about holiness.

Where can I read more about high priest, the cross, and salvation?

Start with Bible verses about the high priest, then Bible verses about the cross, Bible verses about salvation, and Bible verses about holiness.

Sources

A man and a woman meet where two paths join into one road.

Keep reading