Greek word · Strong's G5547

Χριστός

Christós · noun · “Christ, Anointed One”

In a sentence

Christos means “Anointed One” — the Greek for the Hebrew Messiah. It is not Jesus’ surname but his title: the promised, anointed King and Savior.

Christos translates the Hebrew mashiach, “anointed.” Kings, priests, and prophets were anointed with oil to set them apart for God’s service; the Christ is the ultimate Anointed One in whom all those roles meet.

To confess “Jesus is the Christ” is to say he is the long-promised deliverer of God’s people. The title binds the whole Bible together: every earlier anointing pointed forward to him.

Strong's reference

Definition: anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus

KJV usage: Christ

Reference gloss from Strong's Concordance (1890, public domain).

Key verses BSB · Public Domain (CC0)

Matthew 16:16 “Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”” John 1:41 “He first found his brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated as Christ).” Romans 10:9 “that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Original BibleDawn word study. Original-language data and the public-domain Strong's (1890) gloss are referenced; see sources.