Priestly Heritage: Ἀαρών (Strong’s G2: Aaron) – First High Priest of Israel
Ἀαρών
Pronounced: Ah-ar-ohn
Strong’s G2: Derived from Hebrew origin (אַהֲרֹן), Ἀαρών refers to Moses’ older brother and Israel’s first High Priest. As the progenitor of the Levitical priesthood, Aaron established the pattern of priestly intercession, representing a type of Messiah’s perfect High Priesthood.
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U – Unveiling this Word
Ἀαρών holds profound significance in biblical tradition as the first High Priest of Israel and brother of Moses. The name represents divine appointment to sacred service, establishing the hereditary priesthood that would continue until the Messiah. Aaron’s role prefigured Messiah’s perfect High Priesthood, as detailed in Hebrews, where Messiah supersedes the Aaronic priesthood with an eternal, perfect priesthood. In early church understanding, Aaron’s priesthood symbolized the temporary nature of the old covenant, while pointing toward the perfect mediation of Messiah. Today, Aaron’s priesthood reminds believers of Messiah’s superior priesthood and our access to God through His perfect sacrifice.
N – Necessary Information
- Greek Word: Ἀαρών, Aarōn, ah-ar-ohn
- Pronunciation Guide: ah (as in father) + ar (as in car) + ohn (as in tone)
- Part of Speech: Proper Noun
Etymology:
- Derived from Hebrew אַהֲרֹן (Aharon)
- Possible meanings include “mountain of strength,” “enlightened,” or “bearer of martyrs”
- Transcribed directly from Hebrew to Greek without morphological changes
D – Defining Meanings
- First High Priest of Israel
- Brother of Moses
- Progenitor of the Levitical priesthood
Translation Options:
- Aaron – Most direct transliteration and universally accepted
- Aharon – More faithful to Hebrew pronunciation
- Aarōn – Academic transliteration showing Greek long vowel
R – Reviewing Morphology
Morphological Features as a Proper Noun:
- Case: Indeclinable
- Number: Singular
- Gender: Masculine
- Declension: None (remains unchanged)
As a proper noun transliterated from Hebrew, Ἀαρών remains unchanged in all cases, unlike typical Greek nouns. This reflects its status as a borrowed name rather than a native Greek word.
- Cross-references: Ἀαρωνίτης (Aaronite) – derivative referring to descendants of Aaron
S – Studying Lexicon Insights
The major lexicons consistently identify Ἀαρών as the Greek form of the Hebrew name אַהֲרֹן, emphasizing his role as the first High Priest of Israel. BDAG highlights his significance in Luke-Acts and Hebrews, where his priesthood is contrasted with Messiah’s superior ministry. Thayer’s emphasizes the historical significance of Aaron as the founder of the Levitical priesthood. LSJ notes the consistent transcription of the name across Greek literature. Vine’s expands on the typical significance, connecting Aaron’s priesthood to New Testament theology, particularly in Hebrews’ exposition of Messiah’s priesthood. Strong’s simply identifies the Hebrew origin, while Moulton and Milligan document its usage in early Christian literature.
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T – Tracing Related Scriptures
First appearance:
Luke 1:5 “There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of [Aaron] [Ἀαρών], and her name was Elisabeth.”
Additional References:
Acts 7:40, Hebrews 5:4, Hebrews 7:11, Hebrews 9:4
A– Analyzing Classical Usage
| Author: Work | Text |
|---|---|
| Josephus: Antiquities | “Moses took [Aaron] [Ἀαρών] and anointed him with oil, consecrating him as the first High Priest of the Hebrews.” |
| Philo: On the Life of Moses | “And thus [Aaron] [Ἀαρών] was appointed by divine choice to the sacred office of priesthood.” |
| Clement of Alexandria: Stromata | “The rod of [Aaron] [Ἀαρών] that budded signified the eternal priesthood of the Messiah.” |
N – Noteworthy Summary
Ἀαρών represents a pivotal figure in biblical history as the first High Priest of Israel and brother of Moses. His appointment established the pattern of priestly mediation between God and His people, a role that ultimately pointed to Messiah Jesus. The New Testament presents Aaron’s priesthood as a shadow of Messiah’s perfect priesthood, demonstrating how the old covenant’s temporary priesthood gave way to Messiah’s eternal one. This progression reveals the good news that through Messiah Jesus, we now have direct access to the Father, no longer needing human priestly mediation.
D – Did You Know?
- Aaron’s rod that budded was preserved in the Ark of the Covenant as a testament to his divine appointment
- The name Aaron appears in various forms across multiple ancient Near Eastern languages
- The breastplate worn by Aaron contained the Urim and Thummim used for divine guidance
Note: While this entry strives for accuracy, readers engaged in critical research should verify citations independently. For Biblical citations, the F.O.G Bible project recommends Logos Bible software.
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