Priesthood

The priesthood is the office of the priests who served at the tabernacle and temple, chiefly the descendants of Aaron from the tribe of Levi. Jesus is the great high priest, and believers are a royal priesthood.

Aaron and his sons

• Exodus 28:1
  And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons.“Next, have your brother Aaron brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, to serve Me as priests.
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• Exodus 29:9
  And thou shalt gird them with girdles, Aaron and his sons, and put the bonnets on them: and the priest’s office shall be theirs for a perpetual statute: and thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons.Wrap the sashes around Aaron and his sons and tie headbands on them. The priesthood shall be theirs by a permanent statute. In this way you are to ordain Aaron and his sons.
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• Numbers 3:10
  And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest’s office: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out the duties of the priesthood; but any outsider who approaches the tabernacle must be put to death.”
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The Levites

• Numbers 3:6
  Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.“Bring the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.
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• Deuteronomy 10:8
  At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day.At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to serve Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name, as they do to this day.
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• Numbers 18:21
  And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.Behold, I have given to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work they do, the service of the Tent of Meeting.
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Duties of the priests

• Leviticus 10:10-11
  ¹⁰And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the clean and the unclean, ¹¹And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.so that you may teach the Israelites all the statutes that the LORD has given them through Moses.”
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• Malachi 2:7
  For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts.
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• Hebrews 5:1
  For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:Every high priest is appointed from among men to represent them in matters relating to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
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Melchizedek

• Genesis 14:18
  And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine—since he was priest of God Most High—
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• Psalm 110:4
  The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
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• Hebrews 7:1-3
  ¹For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, ²To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;and Abraham apportioned to him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness.” Then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” ³Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.Without father or mother or genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God, he remains a priest for all time.
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Jesus the great high priest

• Hebrews 4:14-15
  ¹⁴Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess. ¹⁵For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin.
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• Hebrews 7:25
  Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.
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• Hebrews 8:1
  Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,
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• Hebrews 9:11-12
  ¹¹But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made by hands and is not a part of this creation. ¹²Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption.
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A royal priesthood

• Exodus 19:6
  And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to speak to the Israelites.”
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• 1 Peter 2:5
  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
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• 1 Peter 2:9
  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
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• Revelation 1:6
  And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.who has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and power forever and ever! Amen.
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See also

• Temple
• Sacrifice
• Law of Moses
• Jesus Christ
• Atonement

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.