Messiah is a deity in Jewish folklore, from Levant. A religiously defined human office or figure in Abrahamic religions, understood as an anointed leader designated to bring restoration, justice, or final consummation. Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions share the concept but differ on the figure's ontological status and the specific tasks he will perform.
The term originates in the Hebrew Bible where māšîaḥ (מָשִׁיחַ, "anointed") denotes one consecrated by holy oil — kings, priests, prophets, and consecrated objects are so described. The Septuagint rendered the Hebrew term as the Greek calque Christos (Χριστός), giving rise to English "Christ." In Arabic the cognate al‑Masīḥ (المسيح) is used for Jesus. Across the provided sources the messianic office is thus rooted linguistically and ritually in the practice of anointing and in the biblical corpus's use of the term for various consecrated offices.
The provided sources do not offer a single uniform physical description. Jewish sources emphasize human, genealogical criteria (a future king descended paternally from David) and an investiture by anointing oil. Christian sources identify the historical Jesus — a first‑century Galilean man — as the Messiah, with New Testament narratives focusing on teaching and deeds rather than a distinctive supernatural form. Islamic summaries treat Jesus (ʿĪsā) as the messianic prophet who will return; no consistent iconographic or sensory description is supplied in the material.
In Jewish tradition (per sources citing biblical usage and Maimonides) the mashiach is expected to gather the exiles of Israel, rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem, restore proper Torah observance, unify the tribes, and establish an era of peace; he may lead wars divinely sanctioned to accomplish these ends. In Christianity the title applied to Jesus denotes one whose life, death, and resurrection fulfill earlier messianic prophecies and whose return (Second Coming) will complete remaining expectations; messianic identification is attested by works and signs in the New Testament. In Islam Jesus is called al‑Masīḥ: a prophet who was the Messiah in his mission to the Israelites and who will return in the end times to confront the false Messiah (al‑Masīḥ ad‑Dajjāl), cooperating in eschatological victory.
Weaknesses
- conditionNot a spirit or demon; defined as a human office/agent
Wards
None recorded.
Aaron
Aaron is a central human figure in Israelite sacred literature: the elder brother of Moses, the first high priest (progenitor of the Aaronide priesthood), and a spokesman/prophet who mediates between Israel and God in Exodus–Deuteronomy narratives. His role in the texts establishes hereditary priestly authority, ritual functions (sacrifices, blessing, use of Urim and Thummim), and institutional norms for Israelite cultic life.
Ababil
Ababil (Arabic: أبابيل, romanized abābīl) are miraculous birds mentioned in the Qur'anic account of Surah Al‑Fil. In Islamic tradition they appear as a divinely sent avian host that defended the Kaaba by pelting an invading army with small clay stones; tradition places the event in the year traditionally given as 570 CE.
Abaddon
In Hebrew scripture Abaddon is primarily a noun meaning 'destruction' or a section/condition of the underworld paired with Sheol; in the New Testament Book of Revelation Abaddon is personified as an angelic figure (Greek Apollyon) described as the king of an army of locusts released from the abyss during the apocalypse.
Abadir
Abadir is a polysemous name attested in distinct cultural contexts: a legendary founding saint and clan ancestor in eastern Ethiopia (Sheikh Abadir Umar Al‑Rida / Aw Abadir), a term applied to cone‑shaped cult stones in Phoenician religious description, and a personal name of a martyr (Abadir/Apater) in the Coptic Synaxarium. The attestations are independent usages of the same name rather than a single supernatural being.
Abadiu of Antinoe
Abadiu of Antinoe was a fourth‑century bishop of Antinoe (Antinoopolis, in Roman Egypt) commemorated as a martyr and saint in the Coptic Orthodox Church, with a feast day on 26 December. Sources record that he was killed during a theological dispute with Arian opponents and reference him in collections of Egyptian martyrs.
Abagtha
Abagtha (Hebrew: אבגתא, ’Ǎḇaḡṯā) is a named human court official in the Hebrew Bible’s Book of Esther, listed among seven chamberlains who ministered before King Ahasuerus and were commanded to bring Queen Vashti before the king. He is attested only in Esther 1:10 and is presented as an institutional palace attendant rather than a supernatural being.
Abanoub
Abanoub is a 4th‑century Egyptian Christian child martyr venerated in the Coptic tradition. Remembered for his public confession of Christ, miraculous healings associated with his passion, and the translation and veneration of his relics, his feast is observed on July 31 (Epip 24) and his cult centers include Nehisa and Samanoud.
Abaskhiron the Soldier
A Coptic Orthodox martyr venerated for refusing imperial idolatry during the Diocletian persecution; reputedly healed by the Archangel Michael, preserved in monastery relics, and commemorated on 14 June (7 Paoni).
Abdel Messih El-Makari
Abdel Messih El-Makari (1892–1963) was a Coptic Orthodox monk and priest venerated as a 20th‑century Coptic saint. Associated with the Monastery of Saint Samuel the Confessor and the Monastery of Saint Macarius (Scetes/Wadi El‑Natrun), he is remembered for humility, asceticism, charity, and reported spiritual gifts such as prescience, discerning of spirits, and healing.
Abdiel
Abdiel (Hebrew עֲבְדִּיאֵל) is primarily a theophoric Hebrew personal name meaning "servant of El/servant of God," attested once in the Hebrew Bible (1 Chronicles 5:15). In later literature—most notably John Milton's Paradise Lost—Abdiel is reimagined as a faithful seraph who opposes Satan's revolt. The provided sources do not treat Abdiel as an autonomous folkloric spirit type or record rituals or wards associated with the name.
Abdul Qadir Gilani
A historical 11th–12th century Hanbali jurist, preacher, and Sufi shaykh who became the eponym and principal early figure of the Qadiriyya tariqa; venerated in Sunni Sufi traditions as an Awliya (saint) and often given exalted hagiographical ranks such as Muḥi al‑Dīn and Ghawth.
Abel
Abel is the second son of Adam and Eve in the Genesis narrative, a shepherd whose accepted offering and subsequent murder by his brother Cain form the biblical account of the first death. Later interpretive traditions expand his role, treating him as an archetypal righteous victim, a postmortem avenging or adjudicating figure, and in some systems (notably Mandaean) identifying him with an angelic lightbeing.
Community Record
- [1]Messiah. Wikipedia, "Messiah"wiki
- [2]Messiah (Wikidata). Wikidata entry Q2255337other
- [3]The Aramaic Onkelos Is Not A Literal Translation! Part 3 Case For Messiah. Archive.org item discussing translation history and messianic readingsother
- [4]Jesus, Messiah, Son of God | John 10:22-42. Archive.org recording/transcription of John 10 (New Testament) passages on messianic claimsother
- [5]Al‑Masihu‑Isa: The Glory of Jesus The Messiah. Answering‑Islam article summarizing Islamic view of Jesus as Messiahother