Messiah
/məˈsaɪ.ə/noun
A savior or liberator in religious contexts, particularly in Judaism and Christianity.
Did you know?The concept of a Messiah spans multiple religions, often symbolizing hope and divine intervention in times of darkness.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
PS
*məšaʔ
“To anoint; to smear with oil as a sign of divine favor.”
Hebrew
Hebrew
מָשִׁיחַ (Māšîaḥ)
“The anointed one, a title for kings and priests in ancient Israel.”
Greek
Greek
Χριστός (Christos)
“The anointed one, used in the Septuagint to translate 'Messiah'.”
Old English
Old English
Messias
“The term adopted from Latin and Greek to denote the savior figure.”
Modern English
English
Messiah
“Used in a broader context to refer to any anticipated savior or liberator.”