English form of a Greek word meaning “anointed”; “Messiah” is the English form of the Hebrew word with the same meaning. In Old Testament days God anointed people for special service, especially the king (2 Sam. 1:14; 23:1) and the priest (Lev. 4:3). Eventually the understanding developed that an outstanding “anointed one” would appear, who would do God’s will in a very special way (Dan. 9:25-26). This great One is often referred to without the use of the term anointed (Isa. 9:6-7; 11:1-9). The New Testament shows that Jesus was this chosen One, God’s Messiah (John 4:25-26; cf. Matt. 23:10; Mark 9:41).

The Shaw Pocket Bible Handbook, Walter A. Elwell, Editor, (Harold Shaw Publ., Wheaton , IL; 1984), p. 347