Characteristics of Moshiach

The writings of the Rambam and the books of the Prophets and Scriptures describe the time of Redemption. They portray Moshiach with special qualities that will characterize him.

Wisdom

Moshiach will possess wisdom greater than King Solomon.

Humility

Moshiach will be extremely humble. This is despite the fact that he will be at the height of greatness, as it is written, "And the spirit of Hashem will rest upon him." He will study Torah with the Patriarchs and Moshe Rabbeinu. And despite his greatness, he will also teach even the simple people.

One Who Suffers

Moshiach will be one who suffers, and because of his love for Israel, he will suffer for the sake of the Redemption.

In the Midrash, Hashem asks Moshiach:

"Those whose sins are hidden with you are destined to place you under an iron yoke, and make you like a calf whose eyes are dim, and they will choke your spirit with the yoke, and because of their sins your tongue will cleave to your palate. Do you desire this?" Moshiach replied to the Holy One, Blessed be He: "Master of the Universe, with the joy of my heart and the happiness of my heart I accept this upon myself, on condition that not a single person from Israel will be lost." — Yalkut Shimoni

The Midrash states that suffering was divided into three portions - one was taken by the Patriarchs of the world, one by the generation of persecution, and one by Moshiach.

Strength

Moshiach will be mighty like Yiftach the Gileadite - for times of war. Strength is essential for a king, as his role is to fight the wars of Hashem and be victorious. However, in order to defeat his enemies, Moshiach will not need to use strength, but rather counsel, meaning that Moshiach will have special wisdom and insight by which he will give counsel to defeat enemies.

Fear of Hashem

The thoughts, speech, and actions of Moshiach will be with fear of Hashem.

Love of Hashem

All of Moshiach's actions will be for the sake of Heaven, because he loves Hashem, a love beyond "eternal love" and "great love," a love born of love. Even though kings typically indulge themselves and delight in physical matters of food and drink, Moshiach will not be so. Rather, all his comfort and delight will be in the love of Hashem, in fulfilling Torah and mitzvot, and not in worldly vanities. As it says: "And he shall be permeated with the fear of Hashem" - "v'haricho" is interpreted as "comfort" [clarification needed].

Faith in Hashem

Moshiach will have a very strong faith. And although he will also have great wisdom, faith will prevail over wisdom, and thus he will reach the greatest levels of understanding. The righteousness and faith that will be in Moshiach will not be external acquisitions, but like a belt attached to the loins, which is something belonging to his body. And righteousness, which pertains to interpersonal relationships, will be visible like a belt on the loins, from the outside; and faith, which is between man and Hashem, resembles a belt of the loins that is visible only to the person wearing it.

Possessing a Special Sense of Smell

For expanded details - Morach V'dain

The greatness of Moshiach will be his sense of smell, meaning that he will "smell" each person and know their level of yiras shamayim (fear of Heaven), how much they can achieve, even if they have fallen in their behavior.

Possessor of Ruach HaKodesh

Melech HaMoshiach will have ruach hakodesh (Divine inspiration).

Great Prophet

Moshiach is a very great prophet and greater than all prophets, close to Moshe Rabbeinu. In the Midrash Tanchuma it implies that he is a greater prophet than Moshe: "This is Moshiach ben David... who is greater than the forefathers, as it says, 'Behold, My servant shall prosper, he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high.' Exalted above Avraham, lifted up above Yitzchak, higher than Yaakov... and lifted up above Moshe." The Rebbe explains that according to the Tanchuma, it implies that Melech HaMoshiach will be greater than Moshe, and therefore the meaning of the words in the Rambam: "close to Moshe" is: above Moshe. The Mitteler Rebbe explains the advantage of Moshe Rabbeinu over other prophets, that he was a vessel to receive the Divine light even in his body and not just in his soul, and in this the Melech HaMoshiach will surpass even Moshe Rabbeinu.

In Chassidus

Shepherd and Prince of Man

Moshiach is a "prince of man," likewise Melech HaMoshiach is one of the seven shepherds who nourish and influence G-dliness in Knesses Yisroel (the congregation of Israel) in an internal manner. And one of the eight princes who are complete tzaddikim, from whom power is also drawn to the souls of Israel in their service in an encompassing manner.

Equal to All of Israel - The General Yechidah

About Moshe Rabbeinu it is said that he is equal to all of Israel, but Moshe Rabbeinu was on the level of the general neshamah while Moshiach is on the level of the general yechidah. As explained in Kabbalah: five names are called to the soul; nefesh, ruach, neshamah, chayah, yechidah. David merited the level of nefesh. Eliyahu HaNavi merited the level of ruach. Moshe Rabbeinu to neshamah, Adam HaRishon to chayah, and Melech HaMoshiach - to the level of yechidah. Meaning, the general yechidah of the Jewish people, and therefore through revealing the level of the individual yechidah, we awaken the redemption for all of Israel.

Lives Above Nature

The virtue of Moshiach is that he controls matter, is separate from it, and rises above it. Moshiach has no part at all in this natural world, and the world even opposes him, because his virtues are not from nature, and even he himself is not natural and not physical.

Connector of Opposites

Moshiach is a unification of MA and BAN. That is, on the one hand he is flesh and blood in physicality in the simple sense (BAN), and on the other hand he is the messenger of the Holy One, Blessed be He. According to the Mitteler Rebbe, the Holy One, Blessed be He, says:

"I will reveal myself in Moshiach" because the Holy One, Blessed be He, who is "without limit" can reveal Himself within the "limit" - in the burning bush, in the Holy Temple, in angels, in tzaddikim who resemble their Creator, and especially in Melech HaMoshiach. And this, according to the Mitteler Rebbe, is the greatness of Moshiach over every person, even over Moshe Rabbeinu:

"And Moshe was not called malka (king) but Moshe Rabbeinu, and it is when he taught Torah to Israel in the revealed dimension, as it is written: 'Moses commanded us the Torah, etc.' But Moshiach will be in the aspect of king specifically in the model of the King of kings because in him will be revealed from His essence and being the infinite light itself."

His Primary Purpose

For expanded details - The Kingship of Melech HaMoshiach

Despite all the virtues said about Melech HaMoshiach, even though he will have all these virtues described about him, from the perspective of his other actions and roles that he will do, they are not part of his main purpose and role.

His essence and primary purpose is to restore the completeness of Torah and mitzvah observance.