Μεσσίας
Messías
G3323 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A title meaning 'anointed one,' specifically used to refer to a divinely appointed figure anticipated as a deliverer or king. In Koine Greek texts, Μεσσίας designates the expected anointed leader in Israelite and Judean tradition, aligned with Hebrew mashiach. Used with a strong sense of one who fulfills specific covenantal, royal, or prophetic expectations.
Semantic Range
anointed one, divinely appointed leader, expected deliverer, messianic figure, title for anticipated Israelite/Judean king or prophet
Root / Etymology
Borrowed directly from Aramaic/Hebrew מָשִׁיחַ (māšîaḥ) via a Semitic transliteration; not a native Greek form but a loanword brought into Greek through Judaean traditions. Its Greek form reflects transliteration rather than native word formation. Root: משׁח (to anoint).
Historical & Contextual Notes
Μεσσίας is a direct transliteration from Semitic (specifically Aramaic/Hebrew) and occurs rarely in Greek literature—found in only a handful of New Testament passages (notably John 1:41; 4:25). Unlike Χριστός (Christos), which is the standard Greek rendering of 'anointed one,' Μεσσίας retains a foreign and distinctly Judean flavor, evoking Hebrew scriptural and Second Temple traditions. In New Testament contexts, it is explicitly glossed for Greek-speaking audiences as meaning Χριστός (the anointed/chosen one). The term elsewhere in Greek literature remains uncommon, highlighting its specialized use within Judean messianic expectation. Later Christian tradition frequently rendered Μεσσίας as 'Messiah' in English, often equated or conflated with 'Christ,' but the Greek text distinguishes between the transliterated Hebrew title and its Greek translation. Use of Μεσσίας in Koine underscores the continued presence and importance of Hebrew/Aramaic concepts in Hellenistic Judean discourse.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of Hebrew origin (מָשִׁיחַ); the Messias (i.e. Mashiach), or Christ:--Messias.
Root Family
Μεσσίας (Messias) — to anoint, anointed one, chosen figure
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3323-02 |
Μεσσίας | messias | N NOM M SG |
Messiah | Anointed One | Messias | 1 |
G3323-01 |
Μεσσίαν | messian | N ACC M SG |
Messiah | Anointed One | Messias | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences