Sacred Order: τάξις (Strong’s G5010: taxis) Reveals Divine Arrangement

Strong’s G5010: A noun meaning “order, arrangement, position,” τάξις describes established sequence and proper arrangement. In the New Testament, it appears in both priestly service contexts and in reference to Melchizedek’s unique priesthood, emphasizing divinely ordained order.

U- Unveiling the Word

τάξις embodies the concept of divinely established order and arrangement. In its New Testament usage, it appears in contexts of both temple service and the mysterious priesthood of Melchizedek, revealing God’s intentional ordering of spiritual authority and service. The term carries profound significance in expressing how divine purposes unfold through established patterns and arrangements. The early church recognized this term as crucial for understanding both ecclesiastical order and the Messiah’s unique priesthood. Today, it continues to illuminate how God works through ordered structures while transcending them through the Messiah’s superior priesthood.

N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: τάξις, taxis, /TAK-sis/
• Phonetic Guide: “tak” as in “tack,” “sis” as in “cease”
• Part of Speech: Noun (Feminine)

Etymology:

• From τάσσω (tassō) – verb meaning “to arrange, order”
• -σις (-sis) – suffix forming abstract nouns denoting action or process

D – Defining Meanings

• Order, arrangement
• Position, rank
• Fixed succession

For compound words:
Not a compound word, but derived from τάσσω with abstract noun suffix -σις

Translation Options:

• Order – emphasizes arrangement
• Position – highlights status
• Succession – captures sequential nature

E – Exploring Similar Words

• διαταγή (diagagē) /dee-a-ta-GAY/ – “ordinance” – focuses on command aspect
  See G1296
• τάγμα (tagma) /TAG-ma/ – “division, rank”
  See G5001

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Morphological Features:

• Case: Varies (Nominative, Genitive, etc.)
• Number: Singular/Plural
• Gender: Feminine
• Declension: Third

The noun follows third declension patterns. In English translations, it typically appears as “order” with appropriate articles and possessive forms.

• Cross-references: τάσσω (tassō) – “to arrange”

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes τάξις’s significance in both cultic and administrative contexts, noting its special use regarding Melchizedek’s priesthood. Thayer’s traces its development from military and civil arrangements to spiritual ordering. LSJ documents extensive use in classical Greek for various types of ordered arrangements. Vine’s highlights its theological importance in Hebrews, connecting it to the nature of Christ’s priesthood. Strong’s emphasizes its root meaning of fixed arrangement. Moulton and Milligan provide evidence of its use in papyri for both religious and secular organizational structures.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First Appearance:
Luke 1:8: “Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed [τάξει] order of his division.”

Additional References:
Hebrews 5:6
Hebrews 5:10
Hebrews 6:20
Hebrews 7:11
Hebrews 7:17

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

τάξις powerfully illustrates how God works through established patterns while transcending them in the Messiah. This word appears both in describing temple service and the unique priesthood of Melchizedek, showing how divine purposes unfold through order yet surpass human arrangements. The good news shines through as we see the Messiah establishing a superior priesthood “after the order of Melchizedek,” demonstrating God’s perfect plan for our salvation beyond traditional structures.

D – Did You Know?

1. The term was used extensively in military contexts for battle formations.
2. Early church fathers used τάξις to discuss church hierarchy and liturgical order.
3. In ancient Greek mathematics, it described regular geometric arrangements.

Strong’s G5010: A noun meaning “order, arrangement, position,” τάξις describes established sequence and proper arrangement. In the New Testament, it appears in both priestly service contexts and in reference to Melchizedek’s unique priesthood, emphasizing divinely ordained order.

Part of speech: Noun (Feminine)

Tags: divine order, priesthood, Melchizedek, arrangement, spiritual authority, temple service, succession, ordained pattern, priestly order, divine structure​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​