Μεσσίας G3323
Messias, the Greek transliteration of Aramaic 'Meshiha' (Hebrew 'Mashiach'), meaning 'the Anointed One'
The Greek form of the Aramaic Meshiha, equivalent to Hebrew Mashiach—'Anointed One.' John's Gospel preserves the Aramaic title twice, immediately translating it as 'Christ.' Andrew tells Simon, 'We have found the Messias' (1:41). The Samaritan woman speaks of 'Messias' who will explain everything (4:25). John's double explanation ('which is, being interpreted, the Christ') shows he's writing for Greek readers unfamiliar with the Hebrew-Aramaic term. Both languages point to the same reality: God's promised, anointed deliverer.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Both Johannine uses (1:41, 4:25) transliterate the Aramaic, then gloss it for Greek readers. This reflects the multilingual environment—Hebrew/Aramaic terms circulating among Greek-speaking Jews and Samaritans. The title carries centuries of prophetic expectation: a David-like king anointed by God to redeem Israel. Most translations either transliterate (Messias, Messiah) or translate directly to 'Christ,' sometimes with explanatory notes. 2×
AR["الْمَسِيَّا", "مَسِيَّا"]·ben["মশীহ", "মশীহকে"]·DE["Messias"]·EN["Messias"]·FR["Messie"]·heb["מָשִׁיחַ"]·HI["मसीहा", "मसीहा-को,"]·ID["Mesias", "Mesias,"]·IT["Messia"]·jav["Mésias", "Mésias,"]·KO["메시아-를", "메시아가"]·PT["Messias", "Messias,"]·RU["Мессию", "Мессия"]·ES["Messías"]·SW["Messías"]·TR["Mesih", "Mesih'i"]·urd["مسیح", "مسیحا،"]
Related Senses
G3588 1. definite article (18298×)H0853 1. definite direct object marker (10915×)G2532 1. (8312×)H3068 1. YHWH (the divine name) (6522×)H0834a 1. relative pronoun (who/which/that) (4839×)H3588a 1. causal: because, for (3498×)G1161 1. and (2806×)H3478 1. Israel (proper name and nation) (2507×)G4771 1. you (plural address) (1853×)H1931 1. personal pronoun he/she/it (1431×)G3739 1. relative pronoun who/which/that (1149×)H1732 1. David (proper name) (1075×)H2088 1. this, this one (demonstrative) (1059×)G1063 1. (1047×)G3778 1. this thing, these things (1003×)H???? 2. (1002×)G2424 1. (924×)G3754 1. that (content clause) (881×)H2009 1. presentative particle: behold, look (881×)H0589 1. I (first person singular pronoun) (874×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
Μεσσίας, -ου, ὁ (Aram. מְשִׁיחָא = Heb. מָשִׁיחַ = Χριστός, which see), Messiah: Jhn.1:42 4:22.† (From Abbott-Smith. LSJ has no entry)