Growing up with a Christian backgroud I have always heard about all of the Old Testement prophesies about the Messiah. Many of them, however, are vague, and come in the middle of totally separtate topics. We would never know were refering to the Messiah if the New Testament didn’t tell us so. So I was wondering, what do the Jews concider to be prophesies about the Messiah, and what do they exspect him to be like?
Are you trying to start trouble? I think you want to look at Isiah. Must resist urge to jump on straight line. Must resist. Phew! Glad that’s passed.
In the books of the prophets there are set down qualifications and rules that will determine who is the Messiah.
I remember that Rabbi Akiva (considered the greatest if not one of the greates commentators) believed Bar Kochba (A general in Jewish army during Roman occupation) to be the Messiah. When Bar Kochba was killed Rabbi Akiva was in utter shock and realised that he was mistaken.
I find this to be a very interesting comment as you are asking about the Jewish Messiah and yet are using the New Testament to determine which parts of the old refer to him . . . seems circular to me.
On the actual topic though. To the best of my knowledge there is no specific person listed, and we won’t know until he comes. There are various traits that they must have, and effects that they must have on the world (though I can’t remember them all, I think that one is worldwide peace) and according to tradition their coming will be announed by the prophet Elija.
Jews have become very skeptical over the years of anyone claiming to be the Messiah due to numerous false alarms (at least according to Jewdaism) including: Bar Kochba and Jesus.
No I am not trying to cause trouble at all. I have looked in Isaiah but almost all of the major prophesies that are generally used to refer to the Messiah, do not specificly say something like “the Messaih will be…” I was no all fo the Christian examples, I am just wondering if the Jews agree with the Christians on what the Messiah will be like (the Jews just not believeing that Jesus was he).
Unfortunately I don’t have a copy of the Old Testament (or Tanach in Hebrew) easily accessable but I should advise you to refer to a Jewish translation of the Old Testament due to the fact that all translations are colored by the translator and it is my understanding that (no offense intended) the Christian translations are often colored in such a way as to support Jesus as the Messiah.
I answered this very question in a thread on a different message board. I’d repost that answer, but since there are also follow-up questions and answers on the topic, I think it’s wiser for me to just link to that thread and let anyone interested browse the thread itself.
The post which best answers your question is the second post on this page. Since it comes in response to an earlier question, and since there are follow-ups, you might find it useful to browse that thread.
Are all Jews really awaiting a messiah? Or are just some of them? In other words, is a messiah a universally accepted notion among Jews? I didn’t think it was that widespread–kind of like the Christian notions of the Rapture: You can find references to it in scripture, but not everyone’s too concerned about it.
Among the Jews who are serious about their Judaism, I think that it is safe to answer, Yes, the great majority of them are indeed still waiting for the Messiash. But they don’t all agree on what that Messiah is expected to do, however. For example, it is pretty much universal that he’s expected to usher in a period of world-wide peace and tranquility, in which the Jews will as a whole be pretty prominent leadership-wise among the peoples of the world. Almost as universal is the idea that the Messiah will also lead the Jews back to the homeland of Israel, and rebuild the Temple. Somewhat divided is the role which that Temple will take; whether animal sacrifice will be reinstituted as in the old days, or whether it will center on more modern forms of service to God, for example.
Among the Jews who are not serious about their Judaism, well, what would one expect? As you write, “not everyone’s too concerned about it.”
I heard a great explanation of this last night on a local programme produced for the PBS station.
In Judaism, “Messiah” is a job description. The Messiah will be and do certain things. If someone is/does ALL of those things as prophesied, then he is the Messiah.
Anyone who is/does not fulfill all of the prophecies is not the Messiah.
Jesus of Nazareth did not qualify as Messiah. There have been several Jews who were hailed as Messiah during their lives; so far none of them have fully met the requirements.
Here is one page that gives the ‘job description’.
If you go Googling for more info, be very careful that you’re looking at Jewish sites. There are a lot of dishonest Christian sites that pretend to give information on Jewish beliefs about the Messiah, but are really just making false claims about their own beliefs.
Who is the messiah(note that the Hebrew word meshiach is often used)?
Prime Suspects-
IzzyR
ZevSteinhart
CMKeller
Or maybe, just maybe the meshiach is a secret Jew, pretending to be Christian. Maybe, just maybe, it’s Cecil.
One of Maimonides’ Thirteen Principles of Faith is:
“I believe with perfect faith that the Moshiach (Messiah)will come; even though he may tarry, I wait daily for his coming.”
Yes we are all witing. Not everyone may realize it, but we *are[\i] waiting.
One thing to note is that several OT passages heavily used by early Christians to promote Jesus as The Messiah had their interpretations changed within the early diaspora Rabbinical communities as not foretelling The Messiah. So whether a certain OT passage refers to The Messiah is time and orientation dependent.
Source: “Jesus Outside the New Testament” Van Vorst