# What does Messiah mean? > Messiah means anointed one. The King James Version uses that word in Daniel and “anointed” for the same idea elsewhere. Christians confess that Jesus is this Messiah and that he is God the Son. - Canonical: https://apologetics.wiki/christianity/what-does-messiah-mean - Religions: Christianity, Judaism, Islam - Denominations: none - Beliefs: none - Tags: messiah, christ, judaism - Updated: 2026-10-09 - Author: [Paul Ambrose](https://apologetics.wiki/author/hi-its-paul) ([GitHub](https://github.com/hi-its-paul)) 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](/bible/daniel/9) says “unto the Messiah the Prince,” and then “shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself.” [(1)](#ref-1) - [Psalm 2:2](/bible/psalms/2/2) says the rulers set themselves “against the LORD, and against his anointed.” [Leviticus 4:3](/bible/leviticus/4/3) speaks of “the priest that is anointed.” [1 Samuel 10:1](/bible/1-samuel/10/1): “the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain.” [(2)](#ref-2) [(3)](#ref-3) [(4)](#ref-4) - [John 1:41](/bible/john/1/41): “We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.” The Greek word is [Christ (christos)](/bible/greek/christos-g5547), glossed “anointed, the Messiah, the Christ.” [(5)](#ref-5) - [Mark 14:61–62](/bible/mark/14): “Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” Jesus says, “I am.” [(6)](#ref-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)](#ref-8) [Why don’t Jews believe Jesus is the Messiah?](/judaism/why-dont-jews-believe-jesus-is-the-messiah) is that test. - [Qur’an 3:45](https://quran.com/3/45), Saheeh International, calls the son of Mary “the Messiah, Jesus.” [(9)](#ref-9) - [John 1:1](/bible/john/1/1) says the Word was God. Messiah means anointed one. Christians say the anointed one is God the Son. [(5)](#ref-5) [Is Jesus God?](/christianity/is-jesus-god). ## Anointed [Psalm 2:2](/bible/psalms/2/2), King James Version: [(2)](#ref-2) > The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, [Leviticus 4:3](/bible/leviticus/4/3): “If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people.” [1 Samuel 10:1](/bible/1-samuel/10/1): “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](/bible/daniel/9): [(1)](#ref-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. > 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. 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 1:41](/bible/john/1/41): “He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.” [John 4:25](/bible/john/4/25): “I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ.” Another word for Messiah is Christ. The word page for [christos](/bible/greek/christos-g5547) gives the Dodson gloss “anointed, the Messiah, the Christ.” ## Who the anointed one is [2 Samuel 7:16](/bible/2-samuel/7/16): “thy throne shall be established for ever.” [Isaiah 11:1](/bible/isaiah/11/1): “there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse.” [Micah 5:2](/bible/micah/5/2) says the ruler from Bethlehem has goings forth “from of old, from everlasting.” [Isaiah 9:6](/bible/isaiah/9/6): “his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” [(7)](#ref-7) [Isaiah 53:5](/bible/isaiah/53/5): “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities.” [Psalm 110:1](/bible/psalms/110/1): “The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand.” Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, Kings and Wars, Touger’s translation: [(8)](#ref-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. > If he did not succeed to this degree or was killed, he surely is not the redeemer promised by the 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?](/judaism/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](/christianity/resurrection-of-jesus). [Mark 14:61–62](/bible/mark/14): [(6)](#ref-6) > Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? > 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. [John 4:26](/bible/john/4/26): “I that speak unto thee am he.” [Matthew 16](/bible/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](https://quran.com/3/45), Saheeh International: [(9)](#ref-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]. The Qur’an uses the title. It does not confess him as God the Son. [Jesus in the Qur’an and the Gospels](/islam/jesus-in-the-quran-and-the-gospels) is that comparison. [Can God have a Son?](/islam/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 1:1](/bible/john/1/1) is a different sentence: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” [John 20:28](/bible/john/20/28): “My LORD and my God.” [Matthew 28:19](/bible/matthew/28/19) baptizes “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” [(5)](#ref-5) [(10)](#ref-10) Christians say the anointed king is the Son, and the Son is God. The office is Messiah. The identity is [the Trinity](/christianity/the-trinity). [Deuteronomy 6:4](/bible/deuteronomy/6/4) 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?](/judaism/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 1:41](/bible/john/1/41) says Messias “is, being interpreted, the Christ.” [christos](/bible/greek/christos-g5547) 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)](#ref-5) [(6)](#ref-6) ### What is the difference between God and Messiah? Messiah means the anointed one. God is the one [Deuteronomy 6:4](/bible/deuteronomy/6/4) names. Christians confess that this anointed one, Jesus, is God the Son, [John 1:1](/bible/john/1/1) and [John 20:28](/bible/john/20/28). 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)](#ref-8) ### What does Messiah mean in Islam? [Qur’an 3:45](https://quran.com/3/45) 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?](/judaism/why-dont-jews-believe-jesus-is-the-messiah) - [What do Jews believe?](/judaism/what-do-jews-believe) - [What is the difference between Judaism and Christianity?](/judaism/what-is-the-difference-between-judaism-and-christianity) - [Is Jesus God?](/christianity/is-jesus-god) - [The deity of Christ](/christianity/deity-of-christ) - [The Trinity](/christianity/the-trinity) - [Jesus in the Qur’an and the Gospels](/islam/jesus-in-the-quran-and-the-gospels) - [John 1 and the Word](/jehovahs-witnesses/john-1-and-the-word) ## Passages quoted on this page ### Daniel 9:25–26 King James Version. > [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. ### Leviticus 4:3 King James Version. > If 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. ### 1 Samuel 10:1 King James Version. > Then 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? ### Mark 14:61–62 King James Version. > [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. ### John 4:25 King James Version. > The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. ### 2 Samuel 7:16 King James Version. > And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. ### Isaiah 11:1 King James Version. > And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: ### Micah 5:2 King James Version. > But 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. ### Isaiah 9:6 King James Version. > For 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 53:5 King James Version. > But 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. ### Psalms 110:1 King James Version. > The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. ### John 4:26 King James Version. > Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he. ### John 20:28 King James Version. > And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God. ### Matthew 28:19 King James Version. > Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: ### Deuteronomy 6:4 King James Version. > Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: ## Sources Numbered to match the HTML References list. Item 1 is `#ref-1` under `#references`. Scripture links to the King James Version on this site. 1. [Daniel, 9:25–26](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/daniel/9). King James Version 2. [Psalm, 2:2](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/psalms/2/2). King James Version 3. [Leviticus, 4:3](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/leviticus/4/3). King James Version 4. [1 Samuel, 10:1](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/1-samuel/10/1). King James Version 5. [Gospel of John, 1:41; 1:1; 4:25–26](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/john/1/41). King James Version 6. [Gospel of Mark, 14:61–62](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/mark/14). King James Version 7. [Book of Isaiah, 9:6; 53:5](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/isaiah/9/6). King James Version 8. [Mishneh Torah, Kings and Wars, 11:4](https://www.sefaria.org/Mishneh_Torah,_Kings_and_Wars.11.4?lang=en) (Translation by Eliyahu Touger. Mashiach as the Davidic king who rebuilds the Temple and gathers Israel.) 9. [Qur’an, 3:45](https://quran.com/3/45) (Saheeh International. Jesus called the Messiah, a word from God, the son of Mary.) 10. [Gospel of Matthew, 28:19](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/matthew/28/19). King James Version ## See also - [What is the difference between Judaism and Christianity?](https://apologetics.wiki/judaism/what-is-the-difference-between-judaism-and-christianity) — Jews and Christians share the God of Israel, the Shema, and the Hebrew Scriptures. Christians confess that Jesus is the Messiah and is God the Son, and that his death and resurrection are salvation. - [Why don’t Jews believe Jesus is the Messiah?](https://apologetics.wiki/judaism/why-dont-jews-believe-jesus-is-the-messiah) — Maimonides says the Messiah is a Davidic king who keeps the Torah, rebuilds the Temple, and gathers Israel, and that a king who was killed is not that redeemer. Christians say Jesus is that son of David, cut off and raised, and that he is God the Son. - [What do Jews believe?](https://apologetics.wiki/judaism/what-do-jews-believe) — Jews confess the God of Israel, one and not a body, the Torah from heaven, a Messiah from the house of David who is still to finish his work, and the revival of the dead. That is Maimonides’ confession, read beside the Shema. - [Is the Sabbath Saturday or Sunday? Must Christians keep it?](https://apologetics.wiki/judaism/is-the-sabbath-saturday-or-sunday) — The Sabbath in Exodus is the seventh day, Saturday. The apostles also met on the first day of the week, and Colossians 2 calls sabbath days a shadow. Christians are not bound to keep Saturday. - [Does the Trinity Depend on 1 John 5:7?](https://apologetics.wiki/christianity/does-the-trinity-depend-on-1-john-5-7) — The sentence about the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost in the King James Version of 1 John 5:7 was added later. The Trinity does not rest on it. ## History [View history on GitHub](https://github.com/Apologetics-Wiki/apologetics-wiki/commits/main/src/content/articles/what-does-messiah-mean.md)