What does τάξις (táxis) mean in the Bible?
G5010, táxis, is a Greek noun for an ordered arrangement and, in Hebrews, for an appointed priestly order or pattern. Luke 1:8 uses the word in connection with Zechariah’s priestly division being on duty.
Greek · G5010
τάξις
Order
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τάξιςG5010
Pronunciationtáxis
What does τάξις (táxis) mean in the Bible?
G5010, táxis, is a Greek noun for an ordered arrangement and, in Hebrews, for an appointed priestly order or pattern. Luke 1:8 uses the word in connection with Zechariah’s priestly division being on duty.
Reader summary
Full entry for τάξις (G5010) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G5010?
The BSB source-word alignment has 9 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include order (6), orderly [manner] (1), orderly condition (1), was on duty (1).
Where does τάξις (táxis) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Luke 1:8. Its strongest book concentrations include Hebrews (6), 1 Corinthians (1), Colossians (1), Luke (1).
What This Word Actually Means
G5010, táxis, is a Greek noun for an ordered arrangement and, in Hebrews, for an appointed priestly order or pattern. Luke 1:8 uses the word in connection with Zechariah’s priestly division being on duty. Colossians 2:5 describes the church’s orderly condition alongside firm faith in Christ. First Corinthians 14:40 calls gathered worship to be conducted properly and in an orderly manner after Paul has required intelligible speech, mutual edification, discernment, and self-control.
In these passages, order is not mere tidiness. It is arrangement that enables faithful service, understandable participation, stability, and the good of the gathered body. Hebrews gives G5010 its largest theological concentration through the repeated expression order of Melchizedek. The phrase draws on Psalm 110:4 to explain Jesus’ priesthood. Hebrews contrasts this priestly order with the Levitical order, emphasizes God’s designation and oath, and presents Jesus as the living, enduring high priest who enters on behalf of His people.
The noun does not prove every detail of Melchizedek’s identity by itself, nor does it authorize teachers to invent a secret succession. The argument belongs to Hebrews’ sustained exposition of Christ’s person, priesthood, sacrifice, and access to God. G5010 therefore should not be reduced to organizational efficiency or rigid control. Biblical order serves worship, truth, edification, and faithful vocation.
It also cannot be used to silence Spirit-given participation, excuse domination, or treat human preference as divine rank. Christ’s priestly order is unique within Hebrews’ argument; it is not a title leaders may transfer to themselves. Responsible teaching lets each context define the arrangement: scheduled service in Luke, edifying worship in Corinth, stable faith in Colossae, and the appointed priestly order of the Son in Hebrews.
Passage contextBook contextCanonical parallel
How the Bible Uses It
G5010 describes scheduled priestly service, orderly congregational life, and an appointed priestly order. Hebrews uses it repeatedly to contrast Christ’s enduring Melchizedek priesthood with the Levitical order.
- Luke.1.8
One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,
Zechariah serves while his priestly division is on duty, locating ordered service inside Israel’s temple vocation and schedule.
- 1Cor.14.40
But everything must be done in a proper and orderly manner.
Paul concludes detailed instructions for intelligible, edifying participation by requiring a proper and orderly manner in the assembly.
- Col.2.5
For although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I delight to see your orderly condition and firm faith in Christ.
Paul rejoices in the church’s orderly condition and firm faith in Christ while warning against persuasive teaching that displaces Him.
- Heb.5.6
And in another passage God says: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
Hebrews quotes Psalm 110 to establish a forever priesthood in the order of Melchizedek as part of God’s address to the Son.
- Heb.5.10
And was designated by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
God designates Jesus high priest in this order after the passage has spoken of His obedient suffering and perfected saving work.
- Heb.6.20
Where Jesus our forerunner has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.
Jesus enters ahead on His people’s behalf as the enduring high priest, grounding hope within the veil in His finished access.
- Heb.7.11
Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on this basis the people received the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear—one in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron?
The need for another priestly order exposes the Levitical priesthood’s inability to bring the perfection Hebrews locates in Christ.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itorder6×Hebrews 5:6, Hebrews 5:10, Hebrews 6:20, Hebrews 7:11
orderly [manner]1×1 Corinthians 14:40
orderly condition1×Colossians 2:5
was on duty1×Luke 1:8
Show sample aligned rows
Luke 1:8τάξειtowas on dutyNoun - Dative Feminine Singular1 Corinthians 14:40τάξινtoorderly [manner]Noun - Accusative Feminine SingularColossians 2:5τάξινtoorderly conditionNoun - Accusative Feminine SingularHebrews 5:6τάξινtoorderNoun - Accusative Feminine SingularHebrews 5:10τάξινtoorderNoun - Accusative Feminine SingularHebrews 6:20τάξινtoorderNoun - Accusative Feminine SingularHebrews 7:11τάξινtoorderNoun - Accusative Feminine SingularHebrews 7:11τάξινtoorderNoun - Accusative Feminine SingularHebrews 7:17τάξινtoorderNoun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowLuke 1:8
Aligned rows9
Books represented4
Luke11 Corinthians1Colossians1Hebrews6
Source forms
τάξιν8xtaxin1 Corinthians 14:40, Colossians 2:5, Hebrews 5:6, Hebrews 5:10
τάξει1xtaxeiLuke 1:8
Parsing patterns
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular8x1 Corinthians 14:40, Colossians 2:5, Hebrews 5:6, Hebrews 5:10
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular1xLuke 1:8
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Design gathered worship so people can understand, contribute responsibly, discern what is said, and be built up in Christ.
- Evaluate structures by whether they serve truth, safety, faithfulness, and the good of the body rather than efficiency alone.
- Keep Jesus’ unique priesthood central and refuse leadership claims that borrow His rank or access for human control.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that biblical order requires one timeless meeting format, leadership style, or cultural preference.
- Do not claim that the order of Melchizedek authorizes a secret succession or elevated priestly class among Christian leaders.
- Do not claim that silence, passivity, or absence of disagreement proves a congregation is orderly and spiritually healthy.
- Do not claim that efficient systems compensate for teaching that is unintelligible, untrue, unsafe, or centered on someone other than Christ.
Evidence Summary
Greek word. Order as divinely-established rank or office, not mere arrangement; especially ecclesiastical priesthood.
Strong'sG5010
Lexical occurrences9 versesGreek text appearances10 timesWord forms2 forms9 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study link1 Corinthians 14:40Source Gloss
order
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpusGreek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
10 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Luke 1:8Noun Dative Singular Feminine
τάξειtaxei
order, position, rank
Read verse1 Corinthians 14:40Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
τάξινtaxin
order, position, rank
Read verseColossians 2:5Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
τάξιν,taxin
order, position, rank
Read verseHebrews 5:6Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
τάξινtaxin
order, position, rank
Read verseHebrews 5:10Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
τάξινtaxin
order, position, rank
Read verseHebrews 6:20Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
τάξινtaxin
order, position, rank
Read verseHebrews 7:11Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
τάξινtaxin
order, position, rank
Read verseHebrews 7:11Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
τάξινtaxin
order, position, rank
Read verseHebrews 7:17Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
τάξινtaxin
order, position, rank
Read verseHebrews 7:21Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
τάξινtaxin
order, position, rank
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
This word appears as a noun across 2 case and number patterns. The form changes show how the word functions in a sentence; they do not change the basic lexical meaning by themselves.
Form patterns2Aligned forms9Case patternAccusative (8)Number patternSingular (9)
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Dative · Singular · FeminineLuke 1:81×
Accusative · Singular · Feminine1 Cor 14:40 · Col 2:5 · Heb 5:6 · Heb 5:10 · Heb 6:20 · Heb 7:11 · Heb 7:178×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Proper arrangement and decorum in worship, doing things decently and in order
Priestly office or rank, Christ as priest after the order of Melchizedek
Sacerdotal rank or priesthood system, the Levitical priesthood order
Showing 3 selected witnesses from 9 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
τάξις is built from this root:
For the Preacher and Teacher
First Corinthians 14:40 is often quoted as a general demand for order, but Paul has already explained the order he seeks. Speech must be intelligible, gifts must build up the church, several may contribute, others must weigh what is said, and speakers can exercise self-control. The orderly manner serves edification and peace; it does not create a platform for one person to suppress every other voice.
Hebrews uses G5010 differently and more extensively. The order of Melchizedek identifies the priestly pattern in which God appoints the Son as priest forever. The argument rests on Psalm 110, God’s oath, Jesus’ enduring life, His entry on behalf of His people, and the inadequacy of the Levitical priesthood to bring perfection. The noun alone does not solve every question about Melchizedek, and it does not establish a transferable rank for Christian leaders.
Together the passages teach that faithful order is purposeful. In worship it protects intelligibility and mutual good. In service it assigns a real vocation. In Hebrews it magnifies Christ, whose priesthood does not depend on mortal succession. Order becomes harmful when leaders detach it from edification, truth, and the unique lordship of Jesus.
Anchor passage
1Cor.14.40
Doctrinal connections
- Luke 1 places ordered priestly service within Israel’s temple divisions while preparing for God’s redemptive action in Christ.
- First Corinthians 14 joins orderly worship to intelligibility, edification, discernment, self-control, and the peace of God.
- Colossians 2 pairs orderly condition with firm faith in Christ amid warnings against teaching that displaces His sufficiency.
- Psalm 110 supplies the canonical declaration of a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.
- Hebrews 5-7 contrasts the Levitical order with Jesus’ priesthood grounded in God’s appointment, oath, and enduring life.
- Hebrews 6 connects Jesus’ priestly order with hope, forerunner access, and His entry on behalf of His people.
G5010 is a feminine noun related to arranging or appointing. Its case forms serve different clauses, but the semantic range comes from context: scheduled duty in Luke, ordered condition in Colossians, orderly manner in Corinth, and priestly order in Hebrews.
From Old to New Testament
Israel’s priestly service included appointed divisions and ordered duties, while Psalm 110 promised a priest forever according to a different order. Hebrews reads that promise christologically and explains its fulfillment in Jesus. First Corinthians applies order to gathered worship for edification, but it does not identify church arrangements with the Levitical or Melchizedek priesthood.
Book contextCanonical parallel