Messiah in Judaism

The Messiah in Judaism (Hebrew: מָשִׁיחַ‎; mashiach, mashiah, moshiah, or moshiach, "anointed [one]") first appeared as a term in the Hebrew Bible, to describe priests and kings anointed with holy anointing oil. Later on, a belief in the coming of a future Messiah who will bring salvation to Israel and mankind became a central tenet in Judaism, considered virtually a dogma in most traditional sources and Orthodox Judaism at present.

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Historical

In Jewish eschatology, the term mashiach, or "Messiah", came to refer to a future Jewish King from the Davidic line, who is expected to be anointed with holy anointing oil and rule the Jewish people during the Messianic Age. The Messiah is often referred to as "King Messiah", or, in Hebrew, מלך משיח (melekh mashiach), and, in Aramaic, malka meshiḥa.

Orthodox views have generally held that the Messiah will be descended from his father through the line of King David, and will gather the Jews back into the Land of Israel, usher in an era of peace, build the Third Temple, father a male heir, re-institute the Sanhedrin, and so on. Jewish tradition alludes to two redeemers, both of whom are called mashiach and are involved in ushering in the Messianic age: Mashiach ben David; and Mashiach ben Yosef. In general, the term Messiah unqualified refers to Mashiach ben David (Messiah, son of David).