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מָשִׁיחַ

𐤌𐤔𐤉𐤇

mâshîyach

H4899 noun

SILEX Entry

Root משח to smear, to anoint, to consecrate by anointing

Definition

Anointed one; a person ceremonially marked by anointing oil to designate appointment to a special office, most commonly king or priest. The term refers variously to an individual divinely chosen for leadership (such as an Israelite king) or to a priest (notably the high priest), sometimes to a prophet. In post-exilic and later Hebrew texts, it can refer with increasing specificity to a future ideal ruler, especially in eschatological contexts. The semantic range includes any person set apart by anointing for sacred or public office.

Semantic Range

one who is anointed, anointed king, anointed high priest, figure anointed for special office or role, future hoped-for leader (in post-exilic or apocalyptic context)

Root / Etymology

From the root מָשַׁח (mshḥ), meaning 'to smear, anoint.' The noun מָשִׁיחַ is an adjectival formation, literally 'anointed one.' The word does not intrinsically mean king, priest, or savior; it fundamentally indicates having been anointed.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In early Israelite tradition (patriarchal and monarchic periods), מָשִׁיחַ primarily designates those anointed for leadership, chiefly kings (e.g., Saul, David, others) and high priests. The act of anointing signifies consecration for office and is a ritual acknowledgment of being set apart for a divine or sacred role. Prophets rarely are termed מָשִׁיחַ, though the term may extend to them contextually. In exilic and post-exilic literature (e.g., Psalms, Daniel), the word develops broader or more eschatological connotations: expectation of a future, idealized anointed leader is found in some late biblical writings. The term later became central in Jewish and Christian writings to refer to a future or expected deliverer (the Messiah), but in the Hebrew Bible מָשִׁיחַ nearly always refers to historical, currently-living figures, not to an eschatological redeemer by default. Standard English renderings like 'Messiah' can mislead by importing later theological meanings; in the Hebrew Bible, מָשִׁיחַ usually signifies any anointed official, not necessarily a future savior. The term should be distinguished from מָשִׁיחַ יְהוָה ('Yahweh's anointed') and other honorifics that specify the agent. The Septuagint translates מָשִׁיחַ as Χριστός (Christos), contributing to later religious interpretations.

Translation Consistency

primary "anointed" 38 occurrences

'Anointed' is the most frequent and natural English rendering (35 of 39 occurrences) and directly reflects the SILEX range — a person set apart by anointing for kingly, priestly, or special office. It is neutral and descriptive across ordinary and eschatological uses, avoiding the theological specificity of 'Messiah' while remaining clear and consistent.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"blood" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from מָשַׁח; anointed; usually a consecrated person (as a king, priest, or saint); specifically, the Messiah; anointed, Messiah.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

משח (m-š-ḥ) — to smear, to anoint, to consecrate by anointing

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4473 מִמְשַׁח outspreading of
H4886 מָשַׁח to be anointed
H4887 מְשַׁח anointing oil
H4888 מִשְׁחָה the anointing oil
H4893 מִשְׁחָת anointing oil of

Word Forms

13 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H4899-08 מְשִׁ֥יחַ meshicha HNcmsc anointed anointed one of anointed one of 8
H4899-12 מְשִׁיחֽ/וֹ meshicho HNcmsc/Sp3ms his anointed his anointed one his anointed one 7
H4899-09 מְשִׁיחֶ֑/ךָ meshichekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your anointed your anointed one your anointed one 5
H4899-03 הַ/מָּשִׁ֛יחַ hamashicha HTd/Ncmsa the anointed the anointed one the anointed one 4
H4899-06 לִ/מְשִׁיח֛/וֹ limeshicho HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms to his anointed to his anointed one to his anointed one 3
H4899-07 מָשִׁ֥יחַ mashicha HNcmsa Messiah anointed one anointed one 3
H4899-01 בִּ/מְשִׁ֥יחַ bimeshicha HR/Ncmsc against the anointed in an anointed one of against the anointed one 3
H4899-05 לִ/מְשִׁיחִֽ/י limeshichi HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cs for my anointed to my anointed one for my anointed one 1
H4899-04 לִ/מְשִׁ֣יחַ limeshicha HR/Ncmsc to the anointed of to an anointed one of to the anointed one of 1
H4899-02 בִּ/מְשִׁיחָ֔/י bimeshichay HR/Aampc/Sp1cs my anointed ones in my anointed ones my anointed ones 1

Occurrences in Scripture

39 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H4899-03 Leviticus 4:3 הַ/מָּשִׁ֛יחַ hamashicha HTd/Ncmsa that is anointed the anointed one the anointed one
H4899-03 Leviticus 4:5 הַ/מָּשִׁ֖יחַ hamashicha HTd/Ncmsa the anointed the anointed one from the blood
H4899-03 Leviticus 4:16 הַ/מָּשִׁ֖יחַ hamashicha HTd/Ncmsa the anointed the anointed one the anointed one
H4899-03 Leviticus 6:15 הַ/מָּשִׁ֧יחַ hamashicha HTd/Ncmsa the-anointed-one the anointed one the anointed one
H4899-12 1 Samuel 2:10 מְשִׁיחֽ/וֹ meshicho HNcmsc/Sp3ms of his anointed his anointed one his anointed one
H4899-11 1 Samuel 2:35 מְשִׁיחִ֖/י meshichi HNcmsc/Sp1cs My anointed my anointed one my anointed one
H4899-12 1 Samuel 12:3 מְשִׁיח֗/וֹ meshicho HNcmsc/Sp3ms his anointed his anointed one his anointed one
H4899-12 1 Samuel 12:5 מְשִׁיח/וֹ֙ meshicho HNcmsc/Sp3ms his anointed his anointed one his anointed one
H4899-12 1 Samuel 16:6 מְשִׁיחֽ/וֹ meshicho HNcmsc/Sp3ms his anointed his anointed one his anointed one
H4899-04 1 Samuel 24:7 לִ/מְשִׁ֣יחַ limeshicha HR/Ncmsc to the anointed of to an anointed one of to the anointed one of
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