What does Messiah mean?

Messiah means anointed one. In the King James Version the word appears as “Messiah” in Daniel and as “anointed” for priests and kings. “Christ” is the Greek word for the same office. Christians confess that Jesus is this anointed king and that he is God the Son.

Key points

• Daniel 9:25–26^9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. ^9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.Daniel 9:25–26 · King James Version says “unto the Messiah the Prince,” and then “shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself.” (1)
• Psalm 2:2The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,Psalms 2:2 · King James Version says the rulers set themselves “against the LORD, and against his anointed.” Leviticus 4:3If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering.Leviticus 4:3 · King James Version speaks of “the priest that is anointed.” 1 Samuel 10:1Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?1 Samuel 10:1 · King James Version: “the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain.” (2) (3) (4)
• John 1:41He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.John 1:41 · King James Version: “We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.” The Greek word is Christ (christos), glossed “anointed, the Messiah, the Christ.” (5)
• Mark 14:61–62^14:61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? ^14:62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.Mark 14:61–62 · King James Version: “Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” Jesus says, “I am.” (6)
• Maimonides says the Messianic king will renew the Davidic dynasty, build the Temple, and gather Israel. If he is killed before that, “he surely is not the redeemer promised by the Torah.” (8) Why don’t Jews believe Jesus is the Messiah? is that test.
• Qur’an 3:45[And mention] when the angels said, "O Mary, indeed Allāh gives you good tidings of a word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary - distinguished in this world and the Hereafter and among those brought near [to Allāh].Qur’an 3:45 · Saheeh InternationalOpen on quran.com ↗, Saheeh International, calls the son of Mary “the Messiah, Jesus.” (9)
• John 1:1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.John 1:1 · King James Version says the Word was God. Messiah means anointed one. Christians say the anointed one is God the Son. (5) Is Jesus God?.

Anointed

Psalm 2:2The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,Psalms 2:2 · King James Version, King James Version: (2)

The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,

Psalms 2:2 · King James Version

Leviticus 4:3If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering.Leviticus 4:3 · King James Version: “If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people.” 1 Samuel 10:1Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?1 Samuel 10:1 · King James Version: “Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?” Oil on a priest or a king is the act. The person is the anointed one.

Daniel 9:25–26^9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. ^9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.Daniel 9:25–26 · King James Version: (1)

Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

Daniel 9:25 · King James Version

And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

Daniel 9:26 · King James Version

Here the King James Version prints “Messiah.” In Psalm 2, Leviticus 4, and 1 Samuel 10 it prints “anointed.” Hebrew study on this site is a later phase. The English the King James translators chose is the meaning this page uses: anointed, and, in Daniel, Messiah. The verse also says the Messiah is cut off, and not for himself.

John 1:41He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.John 1:41 · King James Version: “He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.” John 4:25The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.John 4:25 · King James Version: “I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ.” Another word for Messiah is Christ. The word page for christos gives the Dodson gloss “anointed, the Messiah, the Christ.”

Who the anointed one is

2 Samuel 7:16And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.2 Samuel 7:16 · King James Version: “thy throne shall be established for ever.” Isaiah 11:1And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:Isaiah 11:1 · King James Version: “there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse.” Micah 5:2But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.Micah 5:2 · King James Version says the ruler from Bethlehem has goings forth “from of old, from everlasting.” Isaiah 9:6For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.Isaiah 9:6 · King James Version: “his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (7)

Isaiah 53:5But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.Isaiah 53:5 · King James Version: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities.” Psalm 110:1The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.Psalms 110:1 · King James Version: “The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand.”

Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, Kings and Wars, Touger’s translation: (8)

In the future, the Messianic king will arise and renew the Davidic dynasty, restoring it to its initial sovereignty. He will build the Temple and gather the dispersed of Israel.

Mishneh Torah

If he did not succeed to this degree or was killed, he surely is not the redeemer promised by the Torah.

Mishneh Torah

That is the Jewish expectation in his words: a future Davidic king, the Temple, the ingathering, and a failed claim if the man is killed first. What do Jews believe? is the wider confession. Christians read Daniel’s “cut off” and Isaiah’s wounded servant as the same anointed one, and they read the resurrection as the reason death did not end his reign. The resurrection of Jesus.

Mark 14:61–62^14:61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? ^14:62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.Mark 14:61–62 · King James Version: (6)

Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?

Mark 14:61 · King James Version

And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Mark 14:62 · King James Version

John 4:26Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.John 4:26 · King James Version: “I that speak unto thee am he.” Matthew 16 is Peter’s confession in the same Gospel tradition. The claim on the page is the one Jesus answers in Mark: he is the Christ.

Qur’an 3:45[And mention] when the angels said, "O Mary, indeed Allāh gives you good tidings of a word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary - distinguished in this world and the Hereafter and among those brought near [to Allāh].Qur’an 3:45 · Saheeh InternationalOpen on quran.com ↗, Saheeh International: (9)

[And mention] when the angels said, “O Mary, indeed Allāh gives you good tidings of a word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary - distinguished in this world and the Hereafter and among those brought near [to Allāh].

Qur’an 3:45 · Saheeh International

The Qur’an uses the title. It does not confess him as God the Son. Jesus in the Qur’an and the Gospels is that comparison. Can God have a Son? is the denial of the Son.

Messiah and God

Messiah does not mean “God” as a dictionary gloss. It means anointed one: a priest, a king, and, in Daniel and in the Gospels, the promised king. John 1:1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.John 1:1 · King James Version is a different sentence: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 20:28And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.John 20:28 · King James Version: “My LORD and my God.” Matthew 28:19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:Matthew 28:19 · King James Version baptizes “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” (5) (10)

Christians say the anointed king is the Son, and the Son is God. The office is Messiah. The identity is the Trinity. Deuteronomy 6:4Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:Deuteronomy 6:4 · King James Version remains “The LORD our God is one LORD.” The Son is not a second deity beside that LORD. What is the difference between Judaism and Christianity? is where the Shema and the Son meet.

Frequently asked questions

What is another word for Messiah?

Christ. John 1:41He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.John 1:41 · King James Version says Messias “is, being interpreted, the Christ.” christos is that Greek word.

Why is Jesus called Messiah?

Andrew says “We have found the Messias.” The Samaritan woman says “Messias cometh, which is called Christ,” and Jesus says, “I that speak unto thee am he.” Before the council he answers “I am” to “Art thou the Christ?” (5) (6)

What is the difference between God and Messiah?

Messiah means the anointed one. God is the one Deuteronomy 6:4Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:Deuteronomy 6:4 · King James Version names. Christians confess that this anointed one, Jesus, is God the Son, John 1:1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.John 1:1 · King James Version and John 20:28And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.John 20:28 · King James Version. The word Messiah itself is the office, not a second definition of the word God.

What does Messiah mean in Judaism?

In Maimonides’ Mishneh Torah, Mashiach is the future king from David who renews the dynasty, builds the Temple, and gathers Israel. A king who is killed before that “is not the redeemer promised by the Torah.” (8)

What does Messiah mean in Islam?

Qur’an 3:45[And mention] when the angels said, "O Mary, indeed Allāh gives you good tidings of a word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary - distinguished in this world and the Hereafter and among those brought near [to Allāh].Qur’an 3:45 · Saheeh InternationalOpen on quran.com ↗ calls him “the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary,” a word from God. The Qur’an does not say that the Messiah is God the Son.

Keep reading

• Why don’t Jews believe Jesus is the Messiah?
• What do Jews believe?
• What is the difference between Judaism and Christianity?
• Is Jesus God?
• The deity of Christ
• The Trinity
• Jesus in the Qur’an and the Gospels
• John 1 and the Word