History glossary
Messiah
an anointed deliverer expected in Jewish tradition and identified by Christians with Jesus.
- Category
- Religious title
- Region
- Judea and Mediterranean
- Date range
- Ancient world onward
What it means
Messiah means anointed one. In Jewish tradition it refers to hopes for a divinely appointed deliverer or ruler. Early Christians identified Jesus as the Messiah, even though crucifixion forced them to rethink what messiahship meant.
