Ἀαρών
Aaron
Definition
Ἀαρών refers exclusively to Aaron, the first high priest of Israel, brother of Moses and Miriam. In the New Testament, he is presented as the archetypal high priest, establishing the Levitical priesthood (Hebrews 5:4, 7:11). His name is invoked to contrast the old covenant priesthood with the superior, eternal priesthood of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 7:11). He is also mentioned historically as the one who fashioned the golden calf (Acts 7:40) and as an ancestor of John the Baptist (Luke 1:5).
Biblical Usage
The name is used five times in the New Testament, primarily in the Book of Hebrews (Hebrews 5:4, 7:11, 9:4) to develop theological arguments about priesthood and covenant. In Acts 7:40, Stephen references Aaron negatively in his speech about Israel's idolatry. In Luke 1:5, it is used genealogically to establish Zechariah's priestly lineage. The usage is consistently referential, pointing to the Old Testament figure.
Etymology
The Greek Ἀαρών is a direct transliteration of the Hebrew name אַהֲרֹן (Aharon). Its exact Hebrew etymology is uncertain, but possible meanings include 'bearer of martyrs' or 'mountain of strength.' In the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament), the name is consistently rendered as Ἀαρών, which the New Testament authors adopted.
Semantic Range
Aaron is theologically crucial as the founder of the Levitical priesthood, which serves as a shadow and contrast to the perfect priesthood of Jesus Christ. Understanding this name enriches reading of Hebrews, which argues that Jesus is a high priest of a different, superior order (like Melchizedek), surpassing Aaron's temporary and imperfect ministry (Hebrews 7:11-28). He represents the old covenant system that Christ fulfills and replaces.
For first-century Jewish and Jewish-Christian readers, 'Aaron' immediately evoked the entire system of temple worship, sacrifice, and atonement under the Mosaic Law. His name carried authority and established legitimacy for any priestly claim. The negative reference in Acts 7:40 would also recall a foundational story of national failure and idolatry.
ἱερεύς (hiereus, G2409) — A general term for 'priest'; Aaron was the specific first high priest. ἀρχιερεύς (archiereus, G749) — 'High priest'; Aaron was the first of this line.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
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