People & groups
High priest
The leading priest who bore unique responsibility for Israel’s sanctuary.
Also called · Chief priest
What it means
On the Day of Atonement the high priest entered the innermost sanctuary and performed rites for his own sins and those of the people.
The office later had public and political influence. Hebrews presents Jesus as the definitive high priest in a theological comparison.
How it appears in the Bible
Aaron was the first high priest in the wilderness system, and successors served under particular rules of consecration.