Messiah

Messiah comes from a Hebrew term meaning “anointed,” originally used for kings, priests, or other figures set apart for a task. In biblical and later Jewish writings, messianic ideas develop in multiple directions, including hopes for restored kingship, just leadership, national renewal, or divine intervention. There is no single, uniform messianic expectation in Jewish literature; instead, different texts imagine different roles and outcomes. In later Christian tradition, the term is applied to Jesus and reshaped around his life and significance. Historically, “messiah” describes a flexible category rooted in anointing and purpose rather than a single defined figure. This figure is sometimes connected to divine election as they are thought to be a singular representative of a larger group of people.