Hebrew
מָשִׁיחַ
mashiach
Anointed One, Messiah
The Hebrew word for 'Anointed One' — the OT title for the prophesied great deliverer of God's people. Mashiach is translated 'Messias' (John 1:41) and 'Christos' (Greek). Jesus is the Mashiach — the fulfillment of OT promise.
Mashiach (מָשִׁיחַ) is the Hebrew word for 'anointed one,' from the root 'mashach' (to anoint). The Greek equivalent is 'Christos.' The English 'Messiah' is the direct transliteration. In the OT, kings (1 Samuel 16:13), priests (Leviticus 8:12), and occasionally prophets were anointed with oil to mark consecration to God's service. 'The Anointed One' (often capitalized) became the title for the prophesied great deliverer — the Messiah. John 1:41 explicitly equates Messiah and Christ: 'We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.'
Mashiach in the OT. (1) Anointed kings. 1 Samuel 24:6, 10 — David refers to Saul as 'the LORD's anointed [mashiach].' Psalm 2:2 — kings rage 'against the LORD, and against his anointed.' (2) Anointed priests. Leviticus 4:3 — 'the priest that is anointed [mashiach].' (3) Messianic prophecies. Daniel 9:25-26 — predicts the coming of 'Messiah the Prince' and his being 'cut off, but not for himself.' This is the most explicit OT use as a messianic title. Psalm 2 — 'kings of the earth set themselves... against the LORD, and against his anointed.' Isaiah 61:1 — the suffering servant: 'The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me' — Jesus quoted this of himself in Luke 4:18-21. (4) The expectation. By Jesus' time, Jewish hope was concentrated on the coming Messiah — a king from David's line who would deliver Israel. (5) Christ as the Messiah. John 1:41 — Andrew finds Peter: 'We have found the Messias.' John 4:25-26 — Jesus to the Samaritan woman: 'I that speak unto thee am he [the Messiah].' (6) Different expectations. Many Jews expected a political-military Messiah. Jesus came as suffering servant first (Isaiah 53), conquering King later (Revelation 19). This dual aspect of the Messiah (suffering and reigning) puzzled Jewish interpreters; the NT identifies both as fulfilled in one Christ — first coming and second coming. (7) Modern Jewish view. Most Jews today do not accept Jesus as the Messiah. Messianic Judaism (Jews who do believe Jesus is the Mashiach) is a small but growing movement. The NT presents Jesus as the Mashiach foretold by Moses, David, the prophets — the Anointed One who has come.
“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... And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself.”
“He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.”
“The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ... Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.”
“The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed.”
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek.”
“The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD's anointed.”
Confess Jesus as the Mashiach — the Anointed One promised throughout the OT. Recognize the unity of Scripture — the same God who promised the Mashiach in the OT sent him in the NT. Pray for Israel and for Messianic Jews. Live as a servant of the Anointed King.
Mashiach (מָשִׁיחַ) is Hebrew for 'Anointed One' — the OT title for the prophesied great deliverer. In the OT, kings, priests, and occasionally prophets were anointed with oil to mark consecration to God. 'The Anointed One' (par excellence) became the title for the coming Messiah. John 1:41 — 'We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.' Same word, different languages.
Many places. Daniel 9:25-26 (Messiah the Prince to come and be cut off). Psalm 2 (Anointed One ruling). Isaiah 9:6-7 (a Son born, a King to reign). Isaiah 53 (suffering servant). Micah 5:2 (born in Bethlehem). Zechariah 9:9 (riding on a donkey). Genesis 49:10 (Shiloh from Judah). Hundreds of messianic prophecies, fulfilled in Jesus.
Most modern Judaism expects a Messiah who establishes peace on earth, rebuilds the temple, and brings all nations to Jerusalem (based on certain interpretations of OT prophecies). Since Jesus did not do these in his first coming, mainstream Judaism rejects him as Messiah. Christians answer: the Messiah has two comings — suffering servant first (fulfilled), conquering king second (still future). Messianic Jews (Jews who believe Jesus is the Mashiach) hold both senses.
(1) He came from the line of David (Matthew 1:1-17). (2) He was born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; Luke 2). (3) He fulfilled specific prophecies (virgin birth, suffering servant, pierced, no broken bones, rich man's tomb, resurrection). (4) He was anointed for prophet, priest, and king roles. (5) His resurrection vindicated his claim. (6) He will return to fulfill the conquering-king aspect. The whole NT proclaims: Jesus is the Mashiach.