A messiah is a savior or liberator of a people in the Jewish, Christian, Islamic or other religions.

In the Hebrew Bible a messiah (or mashiach) is a king or High Priest traditionally anointed with holy anointing oil.^[1] However, messiahs were not exclusively Jewish kings, and the Hebrew Bible refers to Cyrus the Great, king of Persia, as a messiah. Following the death of Simon bar Kokhba, a messiah came to be a Jewish king who would rule at the end of history. In later Jewish messianic tradition and eschatology, a messiah is a leader anointed by God, and in some cases, a future King of Israel, physically descended from the Davidic line, who will rule the united tribes of Israel^[2] and herald the Messianic Age^[3] of global peace.

The translation of the Hebrew word Mašíaḥ as Χριστός (Khristós) in the Greek Septuagint^[4] became the accepted Christian designation and title ofJesus of Nazareth. Christians believe that prophecies in the Hebrew Bible (especially Isaiah) refer to a spiritual savior and believe Jesus to be that Messiah (Christ).

Islamic tradition holds the view that Isa, son of Maryam (aka Jesus, son of Mary), was the promised nabi (Prophet) and masih (Messiah) sent to the Israelites, and that he will again return to Earth in the end times, along with al-Mahdi, and they will defeat Masih ad-Dajjal (lit. “false Messiah”; cf. antichrist).^[5]

Etymology

Messiah (Hebrew: מָשִׁיחַ, Modern Mashiaẖ Tiberian Māšîăḥ; in modern Jewish texts in English sometimes spelled Moshiach; Aramaic: משיחא, Greek: Μεσσίας, Syriac: ܡܫܺܝܚܳܐ, Məšîḥā, Arabic: المسيح‎,al-Masīḥ, Latin: Messias) literally means “anointed [one]”. In standard Hebrew, the Messiah is often referred to as מלך המשיח (Méleḫ ha-Mašíaḥ in the Tiberian vocalization, pronounced Méleḵ haMMāšîªḥ), literally meaning “the Anointed King.”

The Greek Septuagint version of the Old Testament renders all thirty-nine instances of the Hebrew word for “anointed” (Mašíaḥ) as Χριστός (Khristós).^[4] The New Testament records the Greek transliteration Μεσσίας, Messias twice in John.^{[Jn. 1:41][4:25]}

Masih (pronounced [ˈmɑsiːħ]) is the Arabic word for messiah. In modern Arabic, it is used as one of the many titles of Jesus. Masih is used by Arab Christians as well as Muslims, and is written asYasu’ al-Masih (يسوع المسيح )by Christian Arabs or Isa al-Masih (عيسى المسيح) by Muslims. The word Masih literally means “The anointed one”^{[citation needed]} and in Islam, Isa al-Masih is believed to have been anointed from birth by Alläh with the specific task of being a prophet and a king.^{[citation needed]} The Israelites, to whom Isa was sent, had a traditional practice of anointing their kings with oil. An Imam Bukhari Hadith describes Jesus as having wet hair that looked as if water was dripping from it, possibly meaning he was naturally anointed.^[6] Muslims believe that this is just one of the many signs that proves that Jesus is the Messiah.

Judaism

The literal translation of the Hebrew word moshiach (messiah) is “anointed,” which refers to a ritual of consecrating someone or something by putting holy oil upon it.^{[1 Sam. 10:1-2]} It is used throughout the Hebrew Bible in reference to a wide variety of individuals and objects; for example, a Jewish king,^{[1 Kings 1:39]} Jewish priests,^[Lev. 4:3] and prophets,^[Isa. 61:1] the Jewish Temple and its utensils,^{[Ex. 40:9-11]} unleavened bread,^[Num. 6:15] and a non-Jewish king (Cyrus king of Persia).^[Isa. 45:1]

The Torah describes the advent of a messiah in the Torah portion of Balak, couched in poetic prophetic prose: “I see him, but not now. I perceive him, but he is not near. There shall step forth a star out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel… From Jacob shall issue out and destroy the remnant of the city”,^[7] which Jewish Biblical scholars expound refers to the king’s victory over Israel’s enemies.^[8]

Modern Jewish movements are based on Pharisaic Judaism was embodied in the Talmud. The Talmud is replete with references and anecdotes about the Messiah and the Messianic era. It states in tractate Sanhedrin “The Jews are destined to eat [their fill] in the days of the Messiah”, “The world was created only…for the sake of the Messiah.”^[9] and “All the prophets prophesied [all the good things] only in respect of the Messianic era.”^[10] It also provides exegesis of scriptural verses which illustrate the events that will occur at that time. For example, resurrection of the dead, which is exegetically supported by a verse in Exodus 15: “Az Yashir Moshe…” – “Then [Moses] will sing…”, from which is derived that “then” (in the Messianic Era) Moses will arise and once again sing as he did at the time of the Exodus.^[11] (Some Jewish texts also refer to a “Messiah ben Joseph” or “Messiah ben Ephraim”, a military leader descended from the biblical Ephraim, who will successfully lead the army of Israel in many battles before being killed by Armilus, when Israel is defeated by Gog and Magog. His body will subsequently lie unburied in the Jerusalem streets for forty days, and he will be the first person resurrected by the Messiah descended from King David).^[12][13]

In Jewish eschatology, the term came to refer to a future Jewish King from the Davidic line, who will be “anointed” with holy anointing oil and rule the Jewish people during the Messianic Age. Belief in the eventual coming of a future messiah is a fundamental part of Judaism, and is one of Maimonides‘ 13 Principles of Faith.^[14] In Judaism, the Messiah is not considered to be God or aSon of God.

The Messianic Age is described as follows by Maimonides:

And at that time there will be no hunger or war, no jealousy or rivalry. For the good will be plentiful, and all delicacies available as dust. The entire occupation of the world will be only to know God… the people Israel will be of great wisdom; they will perceive the esoteric truths and comprehend their Creator’s wisdom as is the capacity of man. As it is written (Isaiah 11:9): “For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of God, as the waters cover the sea.” “^[15]

Maimonides describes the identity of the Messiah in the following terms:

And if a king shall arise from among the House of David, studying Torah and occupied with commandments like his father David, according to the written and oral Torah, and he will impel all of Israel to follow it and to strengthen breaches in its observance, and will fight Hashem’s [God’s] wars, this one is to be treated as if he were the anointed one. If he succeeded and built the Holy Temple in its proper place and gathered the dispersed ones of Israel together, this is indeed the anointed one for certain, and he will mend the entire world to worship the Lord together, as it is stated: “For then I shall turn for the nations a clear tongue, so that they will all procalim the Name of the Lord, and to worship Him with a united resolve (Zephaniah 3:9).”^[16]

A prominent Judaism Web site states:

Belief in the eventual coming of the mashiach is a basic and fundamental part of traditional Judaism. It is part of Rambam’s 13 Principles of Faith, the minimum requirements of Jewish belief. In the Shemoneh Esrei prayer, recited three times daily, we pray for all of the elements of the coming of the Moshiach: gathering of the exiles; restoration of the religious courts of justice; an end of wickedness, sin, and heresy; reward to the righteous; rebuilding of Jerusalem; restoration of the line of King David; and restoration of Temple service.^[17]

A common modern rabbinic interpretation is that there is a potential messiah in every generation. The Talmud, which often uses stories to make a moral point (aggadah), tells of a highly respectedrabbi who found the Messiah at the gates of Rome and asked him, “When will you finally come?” He was quite surprised when he was told, “Today.” Overjoyed and full of anticipation, the man waited all day. The next day he returned, disappointed and puzzled, and asked, “You said messiah would come ‘today’ but he didn’t come! What happened?” The Messiah replied, “Scripture says, ‘Today, ‘if you will but hearken to His voice.'”^[Ps. 95:7]

A Kabbalistic tradition within Judaism is that the commonly-discussed messiah who will usher in a period of freedom and peace (Messiah ben David) will be preceded by Messiah ben Joseph, who will die sacrificing himself while uniting all of Israel in preparing the world for the arrival of Messiah ben David.^[18]

Christianity

Christianity emerged early in the first century AD as a movement among Jews (Jewish Christians) and their Gentile converts (sometimes called Godfearers) who believed that Jesus is the Christ or Messiah. The Greek translation for ‘Messiah’ is khristos (χριστος), anglicized as Christ. Christians commonly refer to Jesus as either the “Christ” or the “Messiah.” In Christian theology the two words are synonymous. Christians believe Jesus to be the Messiah that the Jews were expecting:

The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.^{[Jn. 1:41-42]}

The Christian concept of the Christ/Messiah as “the Word made Flesh” (see also Logos) is fundamentally different from the Jewish andIslamic. The majority of historical and mainline Christian theologies, as seen within the Nicene Creed, consider Jesus to be God or God the Son.

Christians believe that Daniel (Hebrew: דָּנִיֵּאל, or Daniyyel) was a prophet and gave an indication of when the Messiah, the princemashiyach nagiyd, would come in the Prophecy of Seventy Weeks.^{[Dan. 9:25-26]} Daniel’s prophecies refer to him as a descendant of King David, a Son of Man, who will rebuild the nation of Israel, destroy the wicked, and ultimately judge the whole world.

In Christian theology, the Christ/Messiah serves a number of roles. The Nicene Creed of 325 and 381 A.D. provides a convenient framework:^{[19][full citation needed]}

• He suffers and dies to make reconciliation with God.^[20][21]
• He was raised from the dead on the third day after He was crucified to prove that He has defeated death and the power of Satan, thus enabling those that receive Him as their Savior to live under God’s grace. ^{[Galatians 2:16]}
• He ascended to heaven ^{[Acts 1:9-10]} where He currently reigns over the world at God’s right hand ^{[Romans 8:34][Ephesians 1:20][Colossians 3:1]} and from where he will return^{[Acts 1:10][1Thessalonians 4:16]}
• He serves as the pioneer and embodiment of the culture and living presence of the Kingdom of God
• When he returns he will judge the world ^{[2Corinthians 5:10]} and reign over a new creation^{[Revelation 21:1]}. Christian believers are invited to spend eternity in this new world.^{[Revelation 21:22-27]} (The exact order of these things differs according to the preferred theological framework of Millennialism used to interpret the passages)
• He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and he came to earth as a human. John 1:1-2,14a: In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. 14a And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. John 8:58: Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.

In the New Testament, Jesus often referred to himself as ‘Son of Man‘^{[Mk. 14:61-62] [Lk. 22:66-70]}, a clear reference to the first century apocrophal book of Enoch ^[22]

“”He was chosen and hidden with God before the world was created, and will remain in His presence forevermore … He will judge all hidden things, and no one will be able to make vain excuses to him”

Yet for “son of Man (Ben-Adam), one is also wise to note that HaShem, throughout the Book of “Ezekial,” refers to the prophet himself only by the title “ben-Adam.”

Christianity often interprets the phrase as a reference to Daniel 7:13-14 (KJV):

“I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”^{[Daniel 7:7,13]}

Because Christians believe that Jesus is the Messiah and that he claimed to be the Son of Man referred to by Daniel, Christianity interprets Daniel 7:13-14 as a statement of the Messiah’s authority and that the Messiah will have an everlasting kingdom in the Messianic Age. Jesus’ use of this title is seen as a direct claim to be the Messiah.^[23]

Some identified Jesus as the Messiah,^[Mk. 8:29] his opponents accused him of such a claim,^[Lk. 23:2] and he is recorded at least twice as asserting it himself directly.^{[Mk. 14:60-62] [Jn. 4:25-26]}

Christianity interprets a wide range of biblical passages in the Old Testament (Hebrew scripture) as predicting the coming of the Messiah (see Christianity and Biblical prophecy for examples), and believes that they are fulfilled in Jesus’ own explicit life and teaching:

• Will be born in Bethlehem ^{[Micah 5:2-5]}
• The root of Jesse …to whom the Gentiles will seek. ^[Ia. 11:10]
• He said to them…”Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.”^{[Lk. 24:25-27]}
• “Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”^{[Lk. 24:45-47]}
• The Gospel of Matthew repeatedly says, “This was to fulfill the prophecy….”
• Psalm 22 describes the actions of the crucifixion in John 19 ^{[Ps. 22][Jn. 19]}

Christians believe the Messianic prophecies were fulfilled in the mission, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and seeks to spread throughout the world its interpretation that the Messiah (Jesus) is the only God, and that Jesus will return to fulfill the rest of Messianic prophecy.

Islam

The Qur’an states Jesus the Son of Mary (Arabic: Isa ibn Maryum) is the Messiah or “Prophet” sent to the Jews,^{[Quran 3:45]} and Muslims believe Jesus is alive in Heaven and will return to Earth to defeat the Antichrist (Arabic: Dajjal).^[5] In Islam, Isa is believed to hold the task of killing the false messiah (al-Dajjal, a figure similar to the Antichrist in Christianity), who will emerge shortly before him during Qiyamah (Armageddon in Islamic belief). After he has destroyed al-Dajjal, his final task will be to become leader of the Muslims. Isa will unify the Muslim Ummah (the followers of Islam) under the common purpose of worshipping Allah alone in pure Islam, thereby ending divisions and deviations by adherents. Mainstream Muslims believe that at that time Isa will dispel Christian and Jewish claims about him.

A hadith in Abu Dawud (37:4310) says:

Narrated Abu Hurayrah: The Prophet said: There is no prophet between me and him, that is, Jesus. He will descend (to the earth). When you see him, recognise him: a man of medium height, reddish hair, wearing two light yellow garments, looking as if drops were falling down from his head though it will not be wet. He will fight for the cause of Islam. He will break the cross, kill the swine, and put an end to war (in another Tradition, there is the word Jizyah instead of Harb (war), meaning that he will abolish jizyah); God will perish all religions except Islam. He [Jesus] will destroy the Antichrist who will live on the earth for forty days and then he will die. The Muslims will pray behind him.

Both Sunni and Shia Muslims agree^{[citation needed]} al-Mahdi will arrive first, and after him, Jesus. Jesus will proclaim that the true leader is al-Mahdi. A war, literally Jihad (Jihade Asghar) will be fought—the Dajjal (evil) against al-Mahdi and Jesus (good). This war will mark the approach of the coming of the Last Day. After Jesus slays al-Dajjāl at the Gate of Lud, he will bear witness and reveal that Islam is indeed the true and last word from God to humanity as Yusuf Ali’s translation reads: “And there is none of the People of the Book but must believe in him before his death; and on the Day of Judgment He will be a witness against them.^{[Quran 4:159]}” He will live for several years, marry, have children and will be buried in Medina^{[citation needed]}.

A hadith in Sahih Bukhari (Sahih al-Bukhari, 4:55:658) says:

Allah’s Apostle said “How will you be when the son of Mary descends amongst you and your Imam is from amongst you.”

Very few scholars outside of mainstream Islam^{[citation needed]} reject all the quotes (Hadith) attributed to Prophet Muhammad that mention the second return of Jesus, the Dajjal and Imam Mahdi, believing that they have no Qur’anic basis. However, Quran emphatically rejects the implication of termination of Jesus’ life when he was allegedly crucified. Yusuf Ali’s translation reads “That they said (in boast), “We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah”;― but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not.― (157) Nay, Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise. (158) Verses ^{[Quran 4:157]} imply that Jesus was not killed physically but it was made to appear so. Verse ^{[Quran 19:33]} “So Peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die and the day that I shall be raised up to life (again)”! implies that Jesus will die someday. The unified opinion of Islam maintains that the bodily death of Jesus will happen after his second coming.^{[citation needed]}

Many classical commentators^{[citation needed]} such as Ibn Kathir, At-Tabari, al-Qurtubi, Suyuti, al-Undlusi (Bahr al-Muhit), Abu al-Fadl al-Alusi (Ruh al-Maani) clearly mention that verse^{[Quran 43:61]} of the Qur’an refers to the descent of Jesus before the Day of Resurrection, indicating that Jesus would be the Sign that the Hour is close.

And (Jesus) shall be a Sign (for the coming of) the Hour (of Judgment): therefore have no doubt about the (Hour)… ^{[Quran 43:61]}

Ahmadiyya

In Ahmadiyya, the terms “Messiah” and “Mahdi” are synonymous terms for one and the same person.^[24] The term “Mahdi” means guided by God, thus implying a direct ordainment by God of a divinely chosen individual.^{[citation needed]} According to Ahmadiyya thought, Messiahship is a phenomenon through which a special emphasis is given on the transformation of a people by way of offering suffering for the sake of God instead of giving suffering (i.e. refraining from revenge).^{[citation needed]} Ahmadis believe that this special emphasis was given through the person of Jesus and Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(1835–1908).^[25] among others.

Ahmadis hold that the prophesied eschatological figures of Christianity and Islam, the Messiah and Mahdi, were in fact to be fulfilled in one person who was to represent all previous prophets.^[26] The prophecies concerning the Mahdi or the Second Coming of Jesus are seen by Ahmadis as metaphorical and subject to interpretation. It is argued that one was to be born and rise within the dispensation of Muhammad, who by virtue of his similarity and affinity with Jesus, and the similarity in nature, temperament and disposition of the people of Jesus’ time and the people of the time of the promised one (the Mahdi) is called by the same name.^{[citation needed]}

Numerous hadith are presented by the Ahmadis in support of their view, such as one from Sunan Ibn Majah which says, There is No Mahdi but Jesus son of Mary.^[27]

Ahmadis believe that the prophecies concerning the Mahdi and the second coming of Jesus have been fulfilled in Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835–1908), the founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement. Contrary to mainstream Islam, the Ahmadis do not believe that Jesus is alive in heaven, but that he survived the crucifixion and migrated towards the east where he died a natural death and that Ghulam Ahmad was only the promised spiritual second coming and likeness of Jesus, the promised Messiah and Mahdi.^{[citation needed]}

Other traditions

• Bahá’u’lláh, founder of the Bahá’í Faith, claimed to be the figure prophesied in the scriptures of the world’s religions.^[28]
• Maitreya (Theosophy), a being that Theosophists believe will physically manifest sometime in the 21st century and who will be the Messiah expected by various religions.
• Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia is regarded to be the Messiah by followers of the Rastafari movement.^[29]

See also

• False messiah
• Jewish Messiah claimants
• Kalki, a figure in Hindu eschatology
• Li Hong, a figure in Taoist eschatology.
• List of messiah claimants
• Maitreya, a bodhisattva in Buddhist eschatology.
• Maitreya (Theosophy)
• Messianism
• People claiming to be the Mahdi
• Saoshyant, a figure in Zoroastrian eschatology.
• Year 6000

Notes