Priests, Levites & High Priests: What’s the Difference?

Understanding the People God Set Apart to Serve

Priest

If you’ve spent any time reading the Old Testament, you’ve probably come across the words priest, Levite, and high priest.

And if we’re being truthful, sometimes we read right over them.

We know they have something to do with worship and serving God. We know Aaron was a priest. We know the Levites were important. And somewhere along the way, we may have started using priest and Levite as though they mean exactly the same thing.

But they don’t.

So, Bloom Family, this month we’re slowing down and taking a closer look. Throughout September, we’re going to discover who the priests and Levites were, why God set them apart, what they actually did, and eventually how the Old Testament priesthood helps us better understand Jesus. But before we talk about priestly garments, sacred duties, and the High Priest, we need to start with a basic question:

Who were these people?

Grab your Bible, and let’s take a look.

Who Were the Levites?

To understand the Levites, we have to go all the way back to Genesis. Levi was one of the twelve sons of Jacob and his descendants became the tribe of Levi. When God organized Israel after bringing them out of Egypt, He gave this tribe a unique assignment.

Numbers 3:5–6 says:

“And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: ‘Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may serve him.’”

The Levites were set apart for service connected with Israel’s worship and the Tabernacle. They assisted the priests, cared for different parts of the Tabernacle, and helped transport it when Israel moved from place to place.

But here is something important to understand: the Levites did not all have the same job.

Levi’s descendants were divided into three primary family groups—the Gershonites, Kohathites, and Merarites. The Gershonites cared for certain curtains, coverings, screens, and cords. The Kohathites transported many of the sacred furnishings after the priests had properly covered them. The Merarites were responsible for much of the Tabernacle’s framework, including frames, bars, pillars, and bases.

We’ll look much closer at these three families later this month. For now, remember this: The Levites were set apart for sacred service, but they were not all priests.

What is a Priest?

This is where things can get a little confusing. The priests came from the tribe of Levi, but God did not appoint every Levite to the priesthood. He specifically chose Aaron and his sons.

In Exodus 28:1, God tells Moses:

“Now take Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister to Me as priest...”

Aaron’s family line helps us see the connection:

Levi → Kohath → Amram → Aaron

Aaron was a Levite, but God chose Aaron and his descendants for priestly service. The priests offered sacrifices, ministered in connection with the sanctuary, burned incense, taught God’s instructions, distinguished between what was holy and common, and pronounced God’s blessing over Israel.

So here is the easiest way to remember the difference:

Every priest was a Levite, but not every Levite was a priest.

A Levite was a member of the tribe of Levi who belonged to the tribe God designated for sacred service. A priest was a Levite from the family line of Aaron who had been appointed to perform specific priestly duties.

Once you understand that distinction, many passages in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy become much easier to follow.

What Was the High Priest?

The High Priest held the chief position within Israel’s priesthood, and Aaron was Israel’s first High Priest. He had responsibilities that even the other priests did not have. One of the most significant occurred on the Day of Atonement, when the High Priest entered the Most Holy Place as part of the atonement God commanded for Israel in Leviticus 16.

The High Priest also wore the special garments described in Exodus 28—the ephod, breastplate, blue robe, turban, and gold plate engraved with the words “HOLINESS TO THE LORD.” We’re going to spend more time with those garments later this month because there is so much to discover in the details.

For now, keep this simple picture in mind:

Levite → Tribe of Levi

Priest → Descendant of Aaron appointed to priestly service

High Priest → Chief priest, beginning with Aaron

Did You Know? The Levites Took the Place of the Firstborn

Here’s a detail that is easy to miss. The Levites weren’t simply selected because Israel needed people to help with the Tabernacle.

God told Moses:

“Now behold, I Myself have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of every firstborn who opens the womb among the children of Israel. Therefore the Levites shall be Mine.”— Numbers 3:12

This reaches back to Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. God spared Israel’s firstborn during the final plague, and afterward the firstborn were consecrated to Him. God later took the Levites in their place. Their calling, then, was connected with belonging to God and serving according to His appointment.

Different Assignments Didn't Mean Different Importance

I love this part of the Levites' story.

One family carried the sacred furnishings, another handled the curtains and coverings, while another transported the frames, pillars, bars, and bases. The priests had responsibilities the other Levites could not perform, and the High Priest had responsibilities that even the ordinary priests did not have. Everyone wasn't doing the same thing—and they weren't supposed to. God established order within their service and gave each group a specific assignment.

Sometimes we're tempted to measure the importance of an assignment by how visible or impressive it appears. Carrying the Ark sounds important, but carrying a tent peg? Maybe not so much—until you need the tent peg. Every responsibility contributed to the larger work God had given His people. That's something worth sitting with. God didn't ask every Levite to do everything; He gave each one a place within the work He had established. Different assignments. One purpose.

Why Does This Matter for Us?

We aren’t ancient Israelites traveling through the wilderness, so why should we spend time learning about priests and Levites?

Because understanding them helps us understand the rest of the Bible.

When Hebrews 4:14 calls Jesus our Great High Priest, that title carries much more meaning when we understand what a High Priest was. When Scripture talks about sacrifice, mediation, holiness, priesthood, and drawing near to God, those ideas didn’t suddenly appear in the New Testament. There is an Old Testament story behind them.

That’s why we’re studying this—not simply to collect interesting Bible facts, but to better understand the larger story of Scripture and ultimately see more clearly who Jesus is.

As you study

Take some time to read Numbers 3. Don’t rush past the names and family divisions. Look at who God appointed, what He assigned, and the order He established.

And as you read, think about this:

What does the way God organized the Levites and priesthood teach us about Him?

Take time to looker closer.

Scriptures for Further Study

Genesis 29:34 • Exodus 28:1–4 • Numbers 3:5–39 • Numbers 4:1–33 • Numbers 8:5–22 • Numbers 18:1–7 • Leviticus 16 • Hebrews 4:14–16

With love and grace,

Yvonne Perry

The creator and founder of The Bible Bloom