מָשִׁיחַ (Mashiach)

MEANINGAnointed one, messiah. From mashar (to anoint with oil). The OT title for the one specially commissioned by God --- kings, priests, and ultimately the promised deliverer-king.

GRAMMARQal passive participle of מָשַׁח (mashar --- to anoint). The NT's Christos (Christ/Χριστός) is the direct Greek translation. In the OT, mashiach is used of priests (Leviticus 4:3), kings (1 Samuel 2:10; 12:3), and the coming deliverer (Daniel 9:25-26).

SIGNIFICANCEThe mashiach is the figure Lane 3 is moving toward throughout the OT. Every anointed king from Saul to Solomon to the last Judean king is a partial and provisional mashiach pointing to the ultimate Anointed One. Daniel 9:25-26 is the most specific OT countdown to the mashiach. The NT's claim is that Jesus of Nazareth is this mashiach --- anointed by the Spirit (Matthew 3:16-17) and fulfilling the Davidic promise (2 Samuel 7:12-16).

KEY VERSE / SCRIPTURES1 Samuel 2:10; Psalm 2:2; Daniel 9:25-26 (mashiach nagid --- anointed prince).

CROSS-REFERENCES2 Samuel 7:12-16 · Daniel 9:25-26 · Psalm 2:2 · Χριστός Christos (NT equivalent)