Old Testament: Priests

Aaron

Name meaning: "Mountain of strength" or uncertain
Approximately 352 references

Elder brother of Moses and the first high priest of Israel, Aaron served as Moses' spokesman before Pharaoh. His most notorious act — fashioning the golden calf while Moses received the Law on Sinai (Exodus 32) — did not disqualify him from the priesthood. He was consecrated as high priest, and the Aaronic line continued through his descendants until the Temple's destruction. God's vindication of his calling came when Aaron's staff alone budded among the twelve tribal rods (Numbers 17).

Key references: 1 Chronicles 5:29, 1 Chronicles 6:34, 1 Chronicles 6:35, 1 Chronicles 6:39, 1 Chronicles 6:42, 1 Chronicles 12:28, 1 Chronicles 15:4, 1 Chronicles 23:13, 1 Chronicles 23:28, 1 Chronicles 23:32 (and 323 more)

Eleazar

Name meaning: "God has helped"
Approximately 72 references

Third son of Aaron and his successor as high priest, appointed at Aaron's death on Mount Hor (Numbers 20:26–28). Eleazar served alongside Joshua in apportioning the Promised Land among the twelve tribes.

Key references: 1 Chronicles 5:29, 1 Chronicles 5:30, 1 Chronicles 6:35, 1 Chronicles 9:20, 1 Chronicles 11:12, 1 Chronicles 23:21, 1 Chronicles 23:22, 1 Chronicles 24:1, 1 Chronicles 24:2, 1 Chronicles 24:3 (and 60 more)

Eli

Name meaning: "Ascended" or "my God"
Approximately 33 references

High priest and judge of Israel at Shiloh, Eli raised the boy Samuel in the tabernacle. His sons Hophni and Phinehas turned the priesthood to their own advantage, and Eli's failure to discipline them sealed his family's fate. When the Philistines captured the Ark, both sons fell in battle; Eli, upon hearing the news, fell from his seat and died (1 Samuel 4).

Key references: 1 Kings 2:27, 1 Samuel 1:3, 1 Samuel 1:9, 1 Samuel 1:12, 1 Samuel 1:13, 1 Samuel 1:14, 1 Samuel 1:17, 1 Samuel 1:25, 1 Samuel 2:11, 1 Samuel 2:12 (and 20 more)

Ezra

Name meaning: "Help"
Approximately 1 reference

Priest and scribe who led a group of exiles from Babylon back to Jerusalem (c. 458 BC) and instituted religious reforms, including the public reading of the Law. Central figure in the restoration of Jewish identity after the exile. Traditionally credited with compiling much of the Hebrew Bible.

Key references: Numbers 34:26

Reuel

Also known as: Jethro
Name meaning: "Friend of God"
Approximately 11 references

Father-in-law of Moses and priest of Midian. When Moses fled Egypt, Reuel sheltered him and gave him his daughter Zipporah in marriage. He later visited Moses in the wilderness and counseled him to delegate judicial authority — appointing judges to share the burden of leadership (Exodus 18).

Key references: 1 Chronicles 1:35, 1 Chronicles 1:37, 1 Chronicles 9:8, Exodus 2:18, Genesis 36:4, Genesis 36:10, Genesis 36:13, Genesis 36:17, Numbers 2:14, Numbers 10:29

Zadok

Name meaning: "Righteous"
Approximately 53 references

Priest who stood with David through Absalom's rebellion and helped secure Solomon's succession over Adonijah. His descendants, the Zadokites, served as high priests throughout the First Temple period. The line's prominence outlasted the Temple itself: Ezekiel's vision of the restored sanctuary reserves priestly service for Zadokite descendants alone (Ezekiel 44:15).

Key references: 1 Chronicles 5:34, 1 Chronicles 5:38, 1 Chronicles 6:38, 1 Chronicles 9:11, 1 Chronicles 12:29, 1 Chronicles 15:11, 1 Chronicles 16:39, 1 Chronicles 18:16, 1 Chronicles 24:3, 1 Chronicles 24:6 (and 40 more)

6 entries. Reference counts are approximate, based on morphological analysis of the Westminster Leningrad Codex (Hebrew) and Open Greek New Testament.