What is the meaning of Messiah? Is there only one messiah or many? How many messiahs are in the Bible?

Question

Just because many Christians seem to use the word in a way that doesn't fit its actual understood meaning, how often do we hear a christian say 'but jesus was the messiah!' thinking that it somehow means all that they have invested Jesus with

Answer 1

According to Judaism there can be a potential messiah in each generation.

< The moshiach will be a great political leader descended from King David (Jeremiah 23:5). The moshiach is often referred to as "moshiach ben David" (moshiach, son of David). He will be well-versed in Jewish law, and observant of its commandments. (Isaiah 11:2-5) He will be a charismatic leader, inspiring others to follow his example. He will be a great military leader, who will win battles for Israel. He will be a great judge, who makes righteous decisions (Jeremiah 33:15). But above all, he will be a human being, not a god, demi-god or other supernatural being.

It has been said that in every generation, a person is born with the potential to be the moshiach. If the time is right for the messianic age within that person's lifetime, then that person will be the moshiach. But if that person dies before he completes the mission of the moshiach, then that person is not the moshiach >

Answer 2

The word "Messiah" is an English rendering of the Hebrew word "Mashiach", which means "Anointed." It usually refers to a person initiated into God's service by being anointed with oil. (Exodus 29:7, I Kings 1:39, II Kings 9:3)

Since every King and High Priest was anointed with oil, each may be referred to as "an anointed one" (a Mashiach or a Messiah). For example: "God forbid that I [David] should stretch out my hand against the Lord's Messiah [Saul]..." (I Samuel 26:11. Cf. II Samuel 23:1, Isaiah 45:1, Psalms 20:6)

Where does the Jewish concept of Messiah come from? One of the central themes of Biblical prophecy is the promise of a future age of perfection characterized by universal peace and recognition of God. (Isaiah 2:1-4; Zephaniah 3:9; Hosea 2:20-22; Amos 9:13-15; Isaiah 32:15-18, 60:15-18; Micah 4:1-4; Zechariah 8:23, 14:9; Jeremiah 31:33-34)

Many of these prophetic passages speak of a descendant of King David who will rule Israel during the age of perfection. (Isaiah 11:1-9; Jeremiah 23:5-6, 30:7-10, 33:14-16; Ezekiel 34:11-31, 37:21-28; Hosea 3:4-5)

Since every King is a Messiah, by convention, we refer to this future anointed king as The Messiah. The above is the only description in the Bible of a Davidic descendant who is to come in the future. We will recognize the Messiah by seeing who the King of Israel is at the time of complete universal perfection.

Answer 3

The word Messiah is Hewbrew for "Anointed One of God". The Biblical meaning is the ONE person that was Annointed by God to die for the sins of mankind. There is only one person in history to ever do that. God himself became a man in order to live a perfect life and to experience what mankind is going through, through our eyes. Because a perfect man (Adam) brought sin into the world, it took a perfect man (Jesus) to pay for that sin.

Christians didn't invest Jesus with that title, God, the Father did.

There have been many false messiahs in the past and the Bible says there is one false messiah coming that will lead a great deal of the world away from God. But there has and will be only ONE true messiah.

Answer 4

It literally means "anointed one". It refers to the biblical practice of a priest or prophet ceremonially anointing a king with oil to show that he is God's chosen leader (like when David was proclaimed as king over Israel). I believe that the Church of England still does this when appointing a new monarch of the United Kingdom.

One the other hand, the Old Testament prophets predicted the coming of an world leader who would arise from the line of King David and bring universal peace. This is "the" messiah that the Christians are refering to.

Answer 5

Strip the tendencies towards religious justification from quantrill37's answer, and that is pretty good. For a discussion on how Messiah was merely a political term, see The Messianic Legacy, Baigent et al.

Answer 6

I beleive translated Messiah refers king or leader. The Jewish Messiah was the person who was going to reenstate the line of David, unite the tribes, and rebuild the Temple of Jerusalem...still waiting I guess

Answer 7

Messiah means mess. There are too many messiah in the bible (& not enough tradesmen).
d

Answer 8

the origin of the word MESSIAH is in Hebrew = ANOINTED
that specifically speaks of THE ANOINTED ONE promised to the Children o f Israel.
search for the expression GRAFTED IN

Answer 9

Messiah means savior, almost like we would call a champion that saves his people.
List of some:
Noah
Joseph
Moses
David (I think so)
^ Samson (he was expected to be)
Jesus (Expected to be like the others by the Jews)

The others defeated the enemies of Israel.
Physical feats, things you can see, touch.

Jesus defeated death (the 2nd death), and hell.
You can't see death or hell yet.

Answer 10

Messiah means "anointed one". He was anointed at his baptism to be the king of Gods kingdom.