King James Bible Dictionary

The Heb. kohen, Gr. hierus, Lat. sacerdos, always denote one who offers sacrifices.

At first every man was his own priest, and presented his own sacrifices before God. Afterwards that office devolved on the head of the family, as in the cases of Noah (Genesis 8:20), Abraham (12:7; 13:4), Isaac (26:25), Jacob (31:54), and Job (Job 1:5).

The name first occurs as applied to Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18). Under the Levitical arrangements the office of the priesthood was limited to the tribe of Levi, and to only one family of that tribe, the family of Aaron. Certain laws respecting the qualifications of priests are given in Leviticus 21:16-23. There are ordinances also regarding the priests' dress (Exodus 28:40-43) and the manner of their consecration to the office (29:1-37).

Their duties were manifold (Exodus 27:20, 21; 29:38-44; Leviticus 6:12; 10:11; 24:8; Numbers 10:1-10; Deuteronomy 17:8-13; 33:10; Malachi 2:7). They represented the people before God, and offered the various sacrifices prescribed in the law.

In the time of David the priests were divided into twenty-four courses or classes (1 Chronicles 24:7-18). This number was retained after the Captivity (Ezra 2:36-39; Nehemiah 7:39-42).

"The priests were not distributed over the country, but lived together in certain cities [forty-eight in number, of which six were cities of refuge, q.v.], which had been assigned to their use. From thence they went up by turns to minister in the temple at Jerusalem. Thus the religious instruction of the people in the country generally was left to the heads of families, until the establishment of synagogues, an event which did not take place till the return from the Captivity, and which was the main source of the freedom from idolatry that became as marked a feature of the Jewish people thenceforward as its practice had been hitherto their great national sin."

The whole priestly system of the Jews was typical. It was a shadow of which the body is Christ. The priests all prefigured the great Priest who offered "one sacrifice for sins" "once for all" (Hebrews 10:10, 12). There is now no human priesthood. (See also Epistle to the Hebrews throughout.) The term "priest" is indeed applied to believers (1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6), but in these cases it implies no sacerdotal functions. All true believers are now "kings and priests unto God." As priests they have free access into the holiest of all, and offer up the sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving, and the sacrifices of grateful service from day to day.

Antemosaic:

Melchizedek
Genesis 14:18; Hebrews 5:6; Hebrews 5:10-11; Hebrews 6:20; Hebrews 7:1-21

Jethro
Exodus 2:16

Priests in Israel before the giving of the law
Exodus 19:22; Exodus 19:24

Called Angel
Ecclesiastes 5:6

Mosaic:

General references
Exodus 28:1-4; Exodus 29:9; Exodus 29:44; Numbers 3:10; Numbers 18:7; 1 Chronicles 23:13

Hereditary descent of office
Exodus 27:21; Exodus 28:43; Exodus 29:9

Consecration of
Exodus 29:1-9; Exodus 29:19-35; Exodus 40:12-16; Leviticus 6:20-23; Leviticus 8:6-35; Hebrews 7:21

Is holy
Leviticus 21:6-7; Leviticus 22:9; Leviticus 22:16

Ablutions of
Exodus 40:30-32; Leviticus 16:24

Must be without blemish
Leviticus 21:17-23

Vestments of
Exodus 28:2-43; Exodus 39:1-29; Leviticus 6:10-11; Leviticus 8:13; Ezekiel 44:17-19

Don vestments in temple
Ezekiel 42:14; Ezekiel 44:19

Atonement for
Leviticus 16:6; Leviticus 16:24; Ezekiel 44:27

Defilement and purification of
Ezekiel 44:25-26

Marriage of
Leviticus 21:7-15; Ezekiel 44:22

Chambers for, in temple
Ezekiel 40:45-46

Exempt from tax
Ezra 7:24

Armed and organized for war at the time of the disaffection toward Saul
1 Chronicles 12:27-28

Beard and hair of
Ezekiel 44:20

Twenty-four courses of
1 Chronicles 24:1-19; 1 Chronicles 28:13; 1 Chronicles 28:21; 2 Chronicles 8:14; 2 Chronicles 31:2; 2 Chronicles 35:4-5; Ezra 2:36-39; Nehemiah 13:30

Chosen by lot
Luke 1:8-9; Luke 1:23

Usurpations of office of
Numbers 3:10; Numbers 4:16; Numbers 18:7; 2 Chronicles 26:18

Priests were appointed by Jeroboam who were not of the sons of Levi
1 Kings 12:31; 1 Kings 13:33
Levites; Minister, A Sacred Teacher

Duties of:

To offer sacrifices

General references
Leviticus 1:4-17; Leviticus 2:2; Leviticus 2:16; Leviticus 3:5; Leviticus 3:11; Leviticus 3:13; Leviticus 3:16; Leviticus 4:5-12; Leviticus 4:17; Leviticus 4:25-26; Leviticus 4:30-35; 1 Chronicles 16:40; 2 Chronicles 13:11; 2 Chronicles 29:34; 2 Chronicles 35:11-14; Ezra 6:20; Hebrews 10:11
Offerings

To offer the first fruits
Leviticus 23:10-11; Deuteronomy 26:3-4

Pronounce benedictions
Numbers 6:22-27; Deuteronomy 21:5; 2 Chronicles 30:27

Teach the law
Leviticus 10:11; Deuteronomy 24:8; Deuteronomy 27:14; Deuteronomy 31:9-13; Deuteronomy 33:10; Jeremiah 2:8; Malachi 2:7

Light the lamps in the tabernacle
Exodus 27:20-21; 2 Chronicles 13:11; Leviticus 24:3-4

Keep the sacred fire always burning
Leviticus 6:12-13

To furnish a quota of wood for the sanctuary
Nehemiah 10:34

Responsible for the sanctuary
Numbers 4:5-15; Numbers 18:1; Numbers 18:5; Numbers 18:7

To act as scribes
Ezra 7:1-6; Nehemiah 8:9

Be present at and supervise the tithing
Nehemiah 10:38

Sound the trumpet in calling assemblies and in battle
Numbers 10:2-10; Numbers 31:6; Numbers 6:6; 2 Chronicles 13:12

Examine lepers
Leprosy

Purify the unclean

General references
Leviticus 15:31
Defilement

Value things devoted
Leviticus 27:8; Leviticus 27:12

Officiate in the holy place
Hebrews 9:6

Chiefs of Levites
Numbers 3:9; Numbers 3:32; Numbers 4:19; Numbers 4:28; Numbers 4:33; 1 Chronicles 9:20

To act as magistrates
Numbers 5:14-31; Deuteronomy 17:8-13; Deuteronomy 19:17; Deuteronomy 21:5; 2 Chronicles 19:8; Ezekiel 44:23-24

To encourage the army on the eve of battle
Deuteronomy 20:2-4

Bear the ark through the Jordan
Deuteronomy 6:3; Joshua 4:15-18

Bear the ark in battle
1 Samuel 4:3-5

Emoluments (compensations) of:

No part of the land of Canaan allowed to
Numbers 18:20; Deuteronomy 10:9; Deuteronomy 14:27; Deuteronomy 18:1-2; Joshua 13:14; Joshua 13:33; Joshua 14:3; Joshua 18:7; Ezekiel 44:28

Provided with cities and suburbs
Leviticus 25:32-34; Numbers 35:2-8; Joshua 21:1-4; Joshua 21:13-19; Joshua 21:41-42; 1 Chronicles 6:57-60; Nehemiah 11:3; Nehemiah 11:20; Ezekiel 45:1-6; Ezekiel 48:8-20

Own lands sanctified to the Lord
Leviticus 27:21

Tithes of the tithes
Numbers 18:8-18; Numbers 18:26-32; Nehemiah 10:38

Part of the spoils of war, including captives
Numbers 31:25-29

First fruits
Leviticus 23:20; Leviticus 24:9; Numbers 18:12-13; Numbers 18:17-18; Deuteronomy 18:3-5; Nehemiah 10:36

Redemption money
Leviticus 27:23

Redemption money of firstborn
Numbers 3:46-51; Numbers 18:15-16

Things devoted
Leviticus 27:21; Numbers 5:9-10; Numbers 18:14

Fines
Leviticus 5:16; Leviticus 22:14; Numbers 5:8

Trespass money and other trespass offerings
Leviticus 5:15; Leviticus 5:18; Numbers 18:9; 2 Kings 12:16

The shewbread
Exodus 25:30; Leviticus 24:5-9; 2 Chronicles 2:4; 2 Chronicles 13:11; Nehemiah 10:33; Matthew 12:4; Hebrews 9:2

Portions of sacrifices and offerings
Exodus 29:27-34; Leviticus 2:2-3; Leviticus 2:9-10; Leviticus 5:12-13; Leviticus 5:16; Leviticus 6:15-18; Leviticus 6:26; Leviticus 7:6-10; Leviticus 7:31-34; Leviticus 10:12-14; Leviticus 14:12-13; Numbers 6:19-20; Numbers 18:8-19; Deuteronomy 18:3-5; 1 Samuel 2:13-14; Ezekiel 44:28-31; Ezekiel 45:1-4; 1 Corinthians 9:13

Regulations by Hezekiah concerning emoluments (compensations)
2 Chronicles 31:4-19

Portion of land allotted to, in redistribution in Ezekiel's vision
Ezekiel 48:8-14

For sustenance of their families
Leviticus 22:11-13; Numbers 18:11; Numbers 18:19

Figurative
Exodus 19:6; Isaiah 61:6; 1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6; Revelation 5:10; Revelation 20:6

High priest:

Moses did not denominate Aaron chief or high priest. The function he served was superior to that of other priests. The title appears after the institution of the office
Leviticus 21:10-15; Numbers 3:32

For qualifications, consecration, etc.
Priest, Mosaic

Vestments of
Exodus 28:2-43; Exodus 39:1-31; Leviticus 8:7-9

Respect due to
Acts 23:5

Duties of:

Had charge of the sanctuary and altar
Numbers 18:2; Numbers 18:5; Numbers 18:7

To offer sacrifices
Hebrews 5:1; Hebrews 8:3

To designate subordinate priests for duty
Numbers 4:19; 1 Samuel 2:36

To officiate in consecrations of Levites
Numbers 8:11-21

To have charge of the treasury
2 Kings 12:10; 2 Kings 22:4; 2 Chronicles 24:6-14; 2 Chronicles 34:9

To light the lamps of tabernacle
Exodus 27:20-21; Exodus 30:8; Leviticus 24:3-4; Numbers 8:3

To burn incense
Exodus 30:7-8; 1 Samuel 2:28; 1 Chronicles 23:13

To place shewbread on the table every Sabbath
Leviticus 24:8

To offer for his own sins of ignorance
Leviticus 4:3-12

On the Day of Atonement
Exodus 30:10; Exodus 3:16; Hebrews 5:3; Hebrews 9:7; Hebrews 9:22-23

Judicial
Numbers 5:15; Deuteronomy 17:8-13; 1 Samuel 4:18; Hosea 4:4; Matthew 26:3; Matthew 26:50; Matthew 26:57; Matthew 26:62; Acts 5:21-28; Acts 23:1-5

To number the people
Numbers 1:3

Officiate at choice of ruler
Numbers 27:18-19; Numbers 27:21

Distribute spoils of war
Numbers 31:26-29

Emoluments (compensations) of:
Priest, Emoluments (Compensations) of

A second priest, under the high priest
Numbers 3:32; Numbers 4:16; Numbers 31:6; 1 Chronicles 9:20; 2 Samuel 15:24; 2 Kings 25:18; Luke 3:2

Miscellaneous facts concerning:

Loyal to Rehoboam at the time of the revolt of the ten tribes
2 Chronicles 11:13

Zeal of, in purging the temple
2 Chronicles 29:4-17

Wickedness of
2 Chronicles 36:14

Taken with the captivity to Babylon
Jeremiah 29:1

Return from the captivity
Ezra 1:5; Ezra 2:36-39; Ezra 2:61; Ezra 2:70; Ezra 3:8; Ezra 7:7; Ezra 8:24-30; Nehemiah 7:39-42; Nehemiah 7:63-73; Nehemiah 10:1-8; Nehemiah 12:1-7

Polluted by marrying idolatrous wives
Ezra 9:1-2; Ezra 10:5; Ezra 10:18-19; Nehemiah 10:28

Restore the altar, and offer sacrifices
Ezra 3:1-7

Supervise the building of the temple
Ezra 3:8-13

Inquire of John the Baptist whether he were the Christ
John 1:19

Conspire to destroy Jesus
Matthew 26:3-5; Matthew 26:14-15; Matthew 26:47; Matthew 26:51; Mark 14:10-11; Mark 14:43-47; Mark 14:53-66; Mark 15:1; Luke 22:2-6; Luke 22:50; Luke 22:54; Luke 22:66-71; Luke 23:1-2; John 11:47; John 19:15-16; John 19:18

Try and condemn Jesus
Matthew 26:57-68; Matthew 27:1-2; Mark 14:53-65; Luke 22:54-71; Luke 23:13-24; John 18:15-32

Incite the people to ask that Barabbas be released and Jesus destroyed
Matthew 27:20; Mark 15:11; Luke 23:18

Persecute the disciples
Acts 22:5

Reprove and threaten Peter and John
Acts 4:6-21; Acts 5:17-41

Try, condemn, and stone Stephen
Acts 6:12-15; Acts 44:7

Paul brought before
Acts 22:30; Acts 23:1-5

Corrupt

General references
Jeremiah 23:11-12; Ezekiel 22:26; Luke 10:31

Instances of:

Eli's sons
1 Samuel 2:12-17; 1 Samuel 2:22

Of the captivity
Ezra 9:1-2; Ezra 10:18-22; Nehemiah 13:4-9; Nehemiah 13:13; Nehemiah 13:28-29

Zealous
1 Chronicles 9:10-13

Priestly office performed by prophets
1 Samuel 16:5

Vestments of
Exodus 28:2-43; Exodus 39:1-31; Leviticus 8:7-9

Respect due to
Acts 23:5

Duties of:

Had charge of the sanctuary and altar
Numbers 18:2; Numbers 18:5; Numbers 18:7

To offer sacrifices
Hebrews 5:1; Hebrews 8:3

To designate subordinate priests for duty
Numbers 4:19; 1 Samuel 2:36

To officiate in consecrations of Levites
Numbers 8:11-21

To have charge of the treasury
2 Kings 12:10; 2 Kings 22:4; 2 Chronicles 24:6-14; 2 Chronicles 34:9

To light the lamps of tabernacle
Exodus 27:20-21; Exodus 30:8; Leviticus 24:3-4; Numbers 8:3

To burn incense
Exodus 30:7-8; 1 Samuel 2:28; 1 Chronicles 23:13

To place shewbread on the table every Sabbath
Leviticus 24:8

To offer for his own sins of ignorance
Leviticus 4:3-12

On the Day of Atonement
Exodus 30:10; Exodus 3:16; Hebrews 5:3; Hebrews 9:7; Hebrews 9:22-23

Judicial
Numbers 5:15; Deuteronomy 17:8-13; 1 Samuel 4:18; Hosea 4:4; Matthew 26:3; Matthew 26:50; Matthew 26:57; Matthew 26:62; Acts 5:21-28; Acts 23:1-5

To number the people
Numbers 1:3

Officiate at choice of ruler
Numbers 27:18-19; Numbers 27:21

Distribute spoils of war
Numbers 31:26-29

Emoluments (compensations) of:
Priest, Emoluments (Compensations) of

A second priest, under the high priest
Numbers 3:32; Numbers 4:16; Numbers 31:6; 1 Chronicles 9:20; 2 Samuel 15:24; 2 Kings 25:18; Luke 3:2

Miscellaneous facts concerning:

Loyal to Rehoboam at the time of the revolt of the ten tribes
2 Chronicles 11:13

Zeal of, in purging the temple
2 Chronicles 29:4-17

Wickedness of
2 Chronicles 36:14

Taken with the captivity to Babylon
Jeremiah 29:1

Return from the captivity
Ezra 1:5; Ezra 2:36-39; Ezra 2:61; Ezra 2:70; Ezra 3:8; Ezra 7:7; Ezra 8:24-30; Nehemiah 7:39-42; Nehemiah 7:63-73; Nehemiah 10:1-8; Nehemiah 12:1-7

Polluted by marrying idolatrous wives
Ezra 9:1-2; Ezra 10:5; Ezra 10:18-19; Nehemiah 10:28

Restore the altar, and offer sacrifices
Ezra 3:1-7

Supervise the building of the temple
Ezra 3:8-13

Inquire of John the Baptist whether he were the Christ
John 1:19

Conspire to destroy Jesus
Matthew 26:3-5; Matthew 26:14-15; Matthew 26:47; Matthew 26:51; Mark 14:10-11; Mark 14:43-47; Mark 14:53-66; Mark 15:1; Luke 22:2-6; Luke 22:50; Luke 22:54; Luke 22:66-71; Luke 23:1-2; John 11:47; John 19:15-16; John 19:18

Try and condemn Jesus
Matthew 26:57-68; Matthew 27:1-2; Mark 14:53-65; Luke 22:54-71; Luke 23:13-24; John 18:15-32

Incite the people to ask that Barabbas be released and Jesus destroyed
Matthew 27:20; Mark 15:11; Luke 23:18

Persecute the disciples
Acts 22:5

Reprove and threaten Peter and John
Acts 4:6-21; Acts 5:17-41

Try, condemn, and stone Stephen
Acts 6:12-15; Acts 44:7

Paul brought before
Acts 22:30; Acts 23:1-5

Corrupt

General references
Jeremiah 23:11-12; Ezekiel 22:26; Luke 10:31

Instances of:

Eli's sons
1 Samuel 2:12-17; 1 Samuel 2:22

Of the captivity
Ezra 9:1-2; Ezra 10:18-22; Nehemiah 13:4-9; Nehemiah 13:13; Nehemiah 13:28-29

Zealous
1 Chronicles 9:10-13

Priestly office performed by prophets
1 Samuel 16:5

The English word is derived from the Greek presbyter , signifying an "elder" (Heb. cohen). Origin.

The idea of a priesthood connects itself in all its forms, pure or corrupted, with the consciousness, more or less distinct of sin. Men feel that they have broken a law. The power above them is holier than they are, and they dare not approach it. They crave for the intervention of some one of whom they can think as likely to be more acceptable than themselves. He must offer up their prayers, thanksgivings, sacrifices. He becomes their representative in "things pertaining unto God." He may become also (though this does not always follow) the representative of God to man. The functions of the priest and prophet may exist in the same person. No trace of a hereditary or caste priesthood meets us in the worship of the patriarchal age. Once and once only does the word cohen meet us as belonging to a ritual earlier than the time of Abraham. Melchizedek is "the priest of the most high God." (Genesis 14:18) In the worship of the patriarchs themselves, the chief of the family, as such, acted as the priest. The office descended with the birthright, and might apparently he transferred with it. When established.

The priesthood was first established in the family of Aaron, and all the sons of Aaron were priests. They stood between the high priest on the one hand and the Levites on the other. [HIGH PRIEST; LEVITES] The ceremony of their consecration is described in HIGH PRIEST - 1986 (Exodus 29:1; Leviticus 8:1) ... Dress.

The dress which the priests wore during their ministrations consisted of linen drawers, with a close-fitting cassock, also of linen, white, but with a diamond or chess-board pattern on it. This came nearly to the feet, and was to be worn in its garment shape. Comp. (John 19:23) The white cassock was gathered round the body with a girdle of needle work, in which, as in the more gorgeous belt of the high priest, blue, purple and scarlet were intermingled with white, and worked in the form of flowers. (Exodus 28:39,40; 39:2; Ezekiel 44:17-19) Upon their heads the were to wear caps or bonnets in the form of a cup-shaped flower, also of fine linen. In all their acts of ministration they were to be bare footed. Duties .

The chief duties of the priests were to watch over the fire on the altar of burnt offering, and to keep it burning evermore both by day and night, (Leviticus 6:12; 2 Chronicles 13:11) to feed the golden lamp outside the vail with oil (Exodus 27:20,21; Leviticus 24:2) to offer the morning and evening sacrifices, each accompanied with a meet offering and a drink offering, at the door of the tabernacle. (Exodus 29:38-44) They were also to teach the children of Isr'l the statutes of the Lord. (Leviticus 10:11; 33:10; 2 Chronicles 15:3; Ezekiel 44:23,24) During the journeys in the wilderness it belonged to them to cover the ark and all the vessels of the sanctuary with a purple or scarlet cloth before the Levites might approach them. (Numbers 4:5-15) As the people started on each days march they were to blow "an alarm" with long silver trumpets. (Numbers 10:1-8) Other instruments of music might be used by the more highly-trained Levites and the schools of the prophets, but the trumpets belonged only to the priests, The presence of the priests on the held of battle, (1 Chronicles 12:23,27; 2 Chronicles 20:21,22) led, in the later periods of Jewish history, to the special appointment at such times of a war priest. Other functions were hinted at in Deuteronomy which might have given them greater influence as the educators and civilizers of the people. They were to act (whether individually or collectively does not distinctly appear) as a court of appeal in the more difficult controversies in criminal or civil cases. (17:8-13) It must remain doubtful however how far this order kept its ground during the storms and changes that followed, Functions such as these were clearly incompatible with the common activities of men. Provision for support .

This consisted

1. Of one tenth of the tithes which the people paid to the Levites, i.e. one per cent on the whole produce of the country. (Numbers 18:26-28)
2. Of a special tithe every third year. (14:28; 26:12)
3. Of the redemption money, paid at the fixed rate of five shekels a head, for the first-born of man or beast. (Numbers 18:14-19)
4. Of the redemption money paid in like manner for men or things specially dedicated to the Lord. (Leviticus 27:5)
5. Of spoil, captives, cattle and the like, taken in war. (Numbers 31:25-47)
6. Of the shew-bread, the flesh of the burnt offerings, peace offerings, trespass offerings, (Leviticus 6:26,29; 7:6-10; Numbers 18:8-14) and in particular the heave-shoulder and the wave-breast. (Leviticus 10:12-15)
7. Of an undefined amount of the firstfruits of corn, wine and oil. (Exodus 23:19; Leviticus 2:14; 26:1-10)
8. On their settlement in Canaan the priestly families had thirteen cities assigned them, with "suburbs" or pasture-grounds for their flocks. (Joshua 21:13-19) These provisions were obviously intended to secure the religion of Isr'l against the dangers of a caste of pauper priests, needy and dependent, and unable to bear their witness to the true faith. They were, on the other hand as far as possible removed from the condition of a wealthy order. Coarses .

   The priesthood was divided into four and twenty "courses" or orders, (1 Chronicles 24:1-19; 2 Chronicles 23:8; Luke 1:5) each of which was to serve in rotation for one week, while the further assignment of special services during the week was determined by lot. (Luke 1:9) Each course appears to have commenced its work on the Sabbath, the outgoing priests taking the morning sacrifice, and leaving that of the evening to their successors. (2 Chronicles 23:8) Numbers

   If we may accept the numbers given by Jewish writers as at all trustworthy, the proportion of the priesthood population of Palestine during the last century of their existence as an order, must have been far greater than that of the clergy has ever been in any Christian nation. Over and above those that were scattered in the country and took their turn there were not fewer than 24,000 stationed permanently at Jerusalem,and 12,000 at Jericho. It was almost inevitable that the great mass of the order, under such circumstances, should sink in character and reputation. The reigns of the two kings David and Solomon were the culminating period of the glory of the Jewish priesthood. It will be interesting to bring together the few facts that indicate the position of the priests in the New Testament period of their history. The number scattered throughout Palestine was, as has been stated, very large. Of these the greater number were poor and ignorant. The priestly order, like the nation, was divided between contending sects. In the scenes of the last tragedy of Jewish history the order passes away without honor, "dying as a fool dieth." The high priesthood is given to the lowest and vilest of the adherents of the frenzied Zealots. Other priests appear as deserting to the enemy. The destruction of Jerusalem deprived the order at one blow of all but an honorary distinction.

PRIEST, noun [Latin proestes, a chief, one that presides; proe, before, and sto, to stand, or sisto.]

1. A man who officiates in sacred offices. Among pagans, priests were persons whose appropriate business was to offer sacrifices and perform other sacred rites of religion. In primitive ages, the fathers of families, princes and kings were priests. Thus Cain and Abel, Noah, Abraham, Melchizedek, Job, Isaac and Jacob offered their own sacrifices. In the days of Moses, the office of priest was restricted to the tribe of Levi, and the priesthood consisted of three orders, the high priest the priests, and the Levites, and the office was made hereditary in the family of Aaron.

Every priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. Hebrews 5:1.

2. In the modern church, a person who is set apart or consecrated to the ministry of the gospel; a man in orders or licensed to preach the gospel; a presbyter. In its most general sense, the word includes archbishops, bishops, patriarchs, and all subordinate orders of the clergy, duly approved and licensed according to the forms and rules of each respective denomination of christians; as all these orders 'are ordained for men in things pertaining to God.' But in Great Britain, the word is understood to denote the subordinate orders of the clergy, above a deacon and below a bishop. In the United States, the word denotes any licensed minister of the gospel.

PRIE'STCRAFT, noun [priest and craft.] The stratagems and frauds of priests; fraud or imposition in religious concerns; management of selfish and ambitious priests to gain wealth and power, or to impose on the credulity of others.

PRIE'STESS, noun A female among pagans, who officiated in sacred things.

PRIE'STHOOD, noun The office or character of a priest.

1. The order of men set apart for sacred offices; the order composed of priests.

PRIE'STLIKE, adjective Resembling a priest, or that which belongs to priests.

PRIE'STLINESS, noun The appearance and manner of a priest.

PRIE'STLY, adjective Pertaining to a priest or to priests; sacerdotal; as the priestly office.

1. Becoming a priest; as priestly sobriety and purity of life.

PRIE'STRIDDEN, adjective [priest and ridden. See Ride.] Managed or governed by priests.