Psalm Chapter 22 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
2 O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
8 He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.
Psalms Chapter 22 Cont'd (Old Testament)
10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.
11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
Psalms Chapter 22 (Old Testament)
19 But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
21 Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.
22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
23 Ye that fear the Lord, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.
25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.
26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
28 For the kingdom is the Lord's: and he is the governor among the nations.
29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.
Key Takeaways from This Psalm:
Psalm 22:1
Verse: אֵלִי אֵלִי לָמָה עֲזַבְתָּנִי
Transliteration: Eli Eli lama azavtani
English: “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?”
Focus Word: עָזַב (Azav)
- Root: ע-ז-ב (Ayin-Zayin-Bet)
- Meaning: “To leave,” “forsake,” “abandon.”
- Deeper Insight: Hebrew azav conveys physical and emotional separation. In this psalm, the lament expresses deep sense of distress while trusting God’s ultimate deliverance.
Biblical Scholars On This Psalm:
| Scholar & Work | View |
|---|---|
| Thomas Scott – Commentary on the Holy Bible (additional) | Scott sees this psalm as expressing profound anguish that ultimately transitions to praise. The vivid descriptions foreshadow Christ’s passion. God’s eventual deliverance becomes the ground of universal worship. |
| Henry Alford – Greek Testament with OT Notes | Alford interprets the psalm as both historical and prophetic. The suffering described transcends David’s experience. The universal praise at the end anticipates Messianic fulfillment. |
| William S. Plumer – Additional Psalm Notes | Plumer views the psalm as a masterpiece of lament and hope. The abandonment cry reveals the depth of suffering. The concluding praise anticipates global acknowledgment of God. |
| William Jay – Sermons | Jay emphasizes the emotional intensity of the opening lament. He notes the accuracy with which the psalm mirrors Christ’s crucifixion. The final triumph reflects the joy of redeemed nations. |
| George Henslow – The Psalms: Chronologically Arranged | Henslow sees the psalm as the voice of a persecuted king. He highlights the shift from despair to assurance. The promise of worldwide worship attests to God’s saving acts. |
| Edward Payson – 19th-Century Sermons | Payson views the psalm as capturing both human sorrow and divine triumph. The piercing descriptions suggest a prophetic picture of Christ. Praise becomes the final word of faith. |
| James Parsons – Victorian Expository Preacher | Parsons stresses the psalmist’s sense of abandonment. The mockery and bodily suffering prefigure Christ’s agony. The declaration that “He hath done it” anticipates completed redemption. |
| F. W. Grant – Numerical Bible (Psalm section) | Grant sees deep Messianic significance in the psalm’s structure. The shift from darkness to light reflects divine victory. The worldwide praise at the close points to millennial hope. |
| John Kirk – Scottish Psalm Expositions | Kirk views the psalm as the cry of a righteous sufferer. He notes how the imagery transcends David’s life. Global worship becomes the endpoint of suffering. |
| Alexander MacDuff – Devotional Psalms Lectures | MacDuff sees the psalm as the soul’s descent into the lowest sorrow and its ascent to highest praise. The suffering servant image fits Christ uniquely. Redemption culminates in universal thanksgiving. |
Prayer: Thank you Father for your glorious goodness towards your people. Thank you Lord that Yours is the Kingdom and you rule among the nations, and that nothing is outside of your reach, turning the hearts of kings in whatever direction you see fit. Thank you Father that I can trust in You. Thank you Lord that in every situation I find myself in that you are present, caring for me, and instructing me in the way that I should go. Glorify Yourself in my life and in the lives of your children in Jesus' Name. Amen.
