Muslims believe that the Messiah cannot be God and that he is merely a prophet.

The Hebrew Bible presents a clear picture of the Messiah as not only a king but also as a divine figure. In Ezekiel 34:20-24, God promises to place David as a shepherd over His people, indicating that this figure will have a unique relationship with God, who declares, 'I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them.' This establishes a direct link between the Messiah and God's authority. Furthermore, Ezekiel 37:22-28 reinforces this idea by stating that there will be one king over all of Israel, and that David will be king forever. This eternal kingship implies a divine nature, as only God can establish an everlasting covenant and presence among His people. The prophetic texts suggest that the Messiah will not merely be a human leader but one who embodies God's promises and authority. Additionally, Jeremiah 30:9 and Hosea 3:4-5 speak of the people serving both the LORD and David their king, further emphasizing the dual role of the Messiah as both divine and kingly. The expectation of David's resurrection to rule indicates a belief in a powerful, divine intervention in the latter days, aligning with Christian views of Christ's resurrection and kingship. While some may argue that other passages refer to a different figure, such as the Branch in Zechariah, these do not negate the identity of the Messiah as David. Instead, they complement the understanding of the Messiah's multifaceted role in God's redemptive plan, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who is both God and King.