messiah

Messiah, from the Hebrew mashiach meaning “anointed one,” is a concept used in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam to refer to a divinely chosen figure. The term originally described anointed kings or priests, but its religious sense grew to signify a future deliverer who would bring salvation or restoration.

In Judaism, the Messiah is expected to be a human descendant of King David who will lead Israel during the end times, gather the dispersed Jews to the Land of Israel, rebuild the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, and usher in an era of peace and universal knowledge of God. Jewish views on the messianic era vary, and there is no single, universally binding description of the Messiah.

In Christianity, Jesus of Nazareth is identified as the Messiah (the Christ). Christians believe Jesus fulfills the messianic prophecies of the Hebrew Scriptures through his life, death, and resurrection, and they anticipate his second coming to judge the world and establish God’s kingdom. The title Christ, from the Greek christos, has become central to Christian identity.

In Islam, Jesus (Isa) is regarded as the Messiah (al-Masih) but as a human prophet rather than divine. Muslims believe he will return near the end of time to defeat the false messiah (the Antichrist) and to restore justice before the Day of Judgment, aligning some motifs with Jewish and Christian traditions within an Islamic framework.

Beyond doctrinal usage, “messiah” is employed more broadly to denote any anticipated savior or liberator. The term has influenced political movements, literature, and popular culture, where it carries a range of meanings and expectations.