Lexical Summary mashiach: Anointed one, Messiah Original Word: מָשִׁיחַ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance anointed, Messiah From mashach; anointed; usually a consecrated person (as a king, priest, or saint); specifically, the Messiah -- anointed, Messiah. see HEBREW mashach NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom mashach Definition anointed NASB Translation Anointed (1), anointed (34), anointed ones (2), Messiah (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs מָשִׁיחַ noun masculine anointed; — absolute ׳מ Leviticus 4:3 5t.; construct מְשִׁיחַ Lamentations 4:20 11t.; suffix מְשִׁיחִי Psalm 132:17; 1 Samuel 2:35; מְשִׁיחֶ֑ךָ Habakkuk 3:13 5t; מְשִׁיחוֺ Psalm 2:2 9t.; plural suffix מְשִׁיחָ֑יPsalm 105:15; 1 Chronicles 16:22; — 1 king of Israel anointed by divine command, יהוה ׳מ 1 Samuel 24:7 (twice in verse); 1 Samuel 24:11; 1 Samuel 26:9,11,16,23; 2 Samuel 1:14; 2 Samuel 1:16; 2 Samuel 19:22; Lamentations 4:20; אלהי עַקב ׳מ 2 Samuel 23:1; so with suffixes reference to ׳י, 1 Samuel 12:3,5; 1 Samuel 16:6; Psalm 20:7; Psalm 28:8; Habakkuk 3:13; Davidic dynasty with Messianic ideals attached Psalm 2:2; Psalm 18:51, = 2 Samuel 22:51; Psalm 89:39; Psalm 89:52; Psalm 132:10 2Chronicles 6:42; Psalm 132:17; 1 Samuel 2:10,35. 2 high priest of Israel, הַכֹּהֵן הַמָּשִׁיחַ, Leviticus 4:3,5,16; Leviticus 6:15 (P); מְשִׁיחֶ֑ךָ Psalm 84:10. 3 Cyrus as commissioned by ׳י, מְשִׁיחוֺ Isaiah 45:1. 4 Messianic prince, עַדמָֿשִׁיחַ נָגִיד Daniel 9:25 = מָשִׁיחַ Daniel 9:26 (see BrMP 422 f.; others distinguished ׳מ Daniel 9:25 from Daniel 9:26 and refer Daniel 9:25 to Cyrus [as 3; so Ew see Leng Schü Co Behrm], or high priest Joshua [as 2; so Gr Bev], Daniel 9:26 to Seleucus IV [Ew see Leng], or high priest Onias III. [Hi Gr Co Bev Behrm]). 5 patriarchs, regarded as anointed kings Psalm 105:15 = 1 Chronicles 16:22. Topical Lexicon Scope and Range of the Termמָשִׁיחַ designates one who has been set apart by the ritual of anointing and thereby endowed with a divinely granted office or function. Across its roughly thirty-nine Old Testament appearances, three primary spheres emerge—priestly, kingly, and (less frequently) prophetic—each contributing to the cumulative portrait that ultimately converges in the promised Redeemer. Priestly Usage The first cluster of references occurs in the Torah, where “the anointed priest” (Leviticus 4:3, 4:5, 4:16, 6:22) refers to the high priest. By the application of sacred oil (Exodus 29:7; Leviticus 8:12), Aaron and his successors became living mediators between a holy God and a sinful people. Their anointing signified: • Consecration to holy service (Leviticus 8:30). Thus the priestly מָשִׁיחַ foreshadows Jesus Christ, “a merciful and faithful High Priest” (Hebrews 2:17). Kingly Usage Far more frequent is the political-covenantal sense, where מָשִׁיחַ becomes a title for the divinely installed ruler of Israel: • Saul is called “the LORD’s anointed” in 1 Samuel 24:6 and 1 Samuel 26:9, underscoring the inviolability of his office despite personal failure. The stability of God’s covenant with David grounds the messianic hope expressed in Psalm 2:2: “The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed.” The expectation transcends any single monarch, anticipating a universal reign (Psalm 72; Isaiah 9:6-7). Prophetic and Exceptional Usage Though priests and kings dominate, the term can also be applied to a prophetic or deliverer figure: • The anonymous psalmist petitions, “Do not touch My anointed ones” (Psalm 105:15), apparently encompassing prophets (see verse 15b). Covenantal Trajectory From Torah to Prophets, the concept of an anointed mediator gathers theological momentum: 1. Anointing imparts the Spirit (1 Samuel 16:13; Isaiah 61:1), linking the rite with empowerment. Eschatological Focus Daniel 9:25-26 introduces “Messiah the Prince” who is “cut off and shall have nothing,” combining regal authority with vicarious suffering. This text bridges Old Testament promise and New Testament fulfillment: Jesus identifies Himself as the Anointed One when He reads Isaiah 61:1-2 in Nazareth—“Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21). The early church repeatedly cites Psalm 2 and applies מָשִׁיחַ to Jesus Christ (Acts 4:25-27), proclaiming that the crucified and risen Lord embodies every strand of the Old Testament anointed offices: • As Priest, He offers Himself once for all (Hebrews 9:12). Ministry Significance for Believers Because the definitive מָשִׁיחַ has come, all who belong to Him share in His anointing (2 Corinthians 1:21-22; 1 John 2:20). The Old Testament pattern of consecration, empowerment, and protection now finds its fullest expression in the church’s mission “to proclaim good news to the poor” (Isaiah 61:1; compare Luke 4:18). Thus the biblical theology of מָשִׁיחַ unfolds from a ritual act on individuals to a singular Person who fulfills and surpasses every previous anointed role, securing eternal redemption and establishing an unshakable kingdom. Forms and Transliterations בִּמְשִׁ֣יחַ בִּמְשִׁ֥יחַ בִּמְשִׁיחָ֔י בִמְשִׁיחָ֑י במשיח במשיחי הַמָּשִׁ֖יחַ הַמָּשִׁ֛יחַ הַמָּשִׁ֧יחַ המשיח לִמְשִׁ֣יחַ לִמְשִׁיח֗וֹ לִמְשִׁיח֛וֹ לִמְשִׁיחִֽי׃ לִמְשִׁיחוֹ֮ למשיח למשיחו למשיחי׃ מְשִׁ֙יחַ֙ מְשִׁ֣יחַ מְשִׁ֥יחַ מְשִׁ֫יח֥וֹ מְשִׁיח֗וֹ מְשִׁיח֣וֹ מְשִׁיחִ֖י מְשִׁיחֶ֑יךָ מְשִׁיחֶ֑ךָ מְשִׁיחֶֽךָ׃ מְשִׁיחֽוֹ׃ מְשִׁיחוֹ֙ מָשִׁ֖יחַ מָשִׁ֣יחַ מָשִׁ֥יחַ משיח משיחו משיחו׃ משיחי משיחיך משיחך משיחך׃ bim·šî·aḥ bim·šî·ḥāy ḇim·šî·ḥāy bimShiach bimshiChai bimšîaḥ bimšîḥāy ḇimšîḥāy ham·mā·šî·aḥ hammaShiach hammāšîaḥ lim·šî·aḥ lim·šî·ḥî lim·šî·ḥōw limShiach limshiChi limshiCho limšîaḥ limšîḥî limšîḥōw mā·šî·aḥ maShiach māšîaḥ mə·šî·aḥ mə·šî·ḥe·ḵā mə·šî·ḥî mə·šî·ḥōw meShiach meshiChecha meshiCheicha meshiChi meshiCho məšîaḥ məšîḥeḵā məšîḥî məšîḥōw vimshiChaiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Leviticus 4:3 HEB: אִ֣ם הַכֹּהֵ֧ן הַמָּשִׁ֛יחַ יֶחֱטָ֖א לְאַשְׁמַ֣ת NAS: if the anointed priest sins KJV: If the priest that is anointed do sin INT: if priest the anointed sins to bring Leviticus 4:5 Leviticus 4:16 Leviticus 6:22 1 Samuel 2:10 1 Samuel 2:35 1 Samuel 12:3 1 Samuel 12:5 1 Samuel 16:6 1 Samuel 24:6 1 Samuel 24:6 1 Samuel 24:10 1 Samuel 26:9 1 Samuel 26:11 1 Samuel 26:16 1 Samuel 26:23 2 Samuel 1:14 2 Samuel 1:16 2 Samuel 1:21 2 Samuel 19:21 2 Samuel 22:51 2 Samuel 23:1 1 Chronicles 16:22 2 Chronicles 6:42 Psalm 2:2 39 Occurrences |
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