Short answer: Psalm 22 is a profound lament that begins with 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' and ends with triumphant praise. It is the most quoted psalm in the New Testament, cited by Jesus on the cross. The psalm moves from intense suffering to worldwide worship, prefiguring the passion and resurrection of Christ.
The setting of the psalm
The opening verse is one of the most agonized in Scripture. Jesus quoted it from the cross (Matthew 27:46). The psalmist feels forsaken even as he continues to call out. This paradox — crying out to a God who seems absent — is at the heart of biblical lament.
The middle section describes suffering in vivid physical detail: bones out of joint, heart like wax, tongue stuck to jaws, pierced hands and feet, garments divided by lot. These details find literal fulfillment in the crucifixion of Jesus.
The final section shifts dramatically to praise. The psalmist declares God's name to his brothers and envisions worldwide worship. 'All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord.' The movement from lament to praise prefigures Christ's resurrection.
Psalm 22 is the most quoted psalm in the New Testament. Jesus quoted its opening words from the cross. The Gospels record that soldiers cast lots for his garments. The writer of Hebrews quotes the declaration of God's name to the brothers (Hebrews 2:12).
For Christians, this psalm provides a profound lens for understanding the crucifixion. It shows that the suffering of the Messiah was not random tragedy but the fulfillment of Scripture. The pattern of suffering followed by vindication is the pattern of the gospel itself.
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning? My God, I cry in the daytime, but you don’t answer; in the night season, and am not silent. But you are holy, you who inhabit the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in you. They trusted, and you delivered them. They cried to you, and were delivered. They trusted in you, and were not disappointed.
Psalm 22:1-5 (World English Bible)
Key words and their meaning
The opening cry uses the Hebrew phrase 'azavtani' (forsaken me), expressing the deepest possible sense of abandonment. Yet the psalmist continues to address God as 'my God,' showing that faith persists even in the experience of forsakenness.
The description of suffering uses striking Hebrew imagery. The psalmist is 'poured out like water' — his life draining away. His enemies are 'strong bulls of Bashan' and 'dogs' — wild, threatening forces. The 'piercing of hands and feet' is a remarkable detail that finds fulfillment in crucifixion.
The shift to praise in verse 22 uses the word 'answered' (anah) — God has responded. The psalm moves from 'why have you forsaken me?' to 'he has not despised the afflicted.' The worldwide worship envisioned in the closing verses uses language from the Abrahamic covenant.
I am poured out like water. All my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax. It is melted within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have brought me into the dust of death. For dogs have surrounded me. A company of evildoers have enclosed me. They have pierced my hands and feet. I can count all of my bones. They look and stare at me. They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.
Psalm 22:14-18 (World English Bible)
What the psalm claims
First, suffering is not a sign of God's abandonment even when it feels that way. The psalmist cries out to God even while feeling forsaken. The relationship with God continues even in the experience of divine absence.
Second, the psalm claims that God ultimately hears the cry of the afflicted. The movement from lament to praise shows that deliverance is certain even when not yet visible. This is the pattern of Christian hope — suffering gives way to glory.
Third, the psalm claims that the suffering of the righteous has universal significance. The psalm ends with all the ends of the earth worshiping God. The suffering of one righteous person becomes the means of blessing for all nations.
I will declare your name to my brothers. Among the assembly, I will praise you. You who fear Yahweh, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify him! Stand in awe of him, all you descendants of Israel! For he has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, Neither has he hidden his face from him; but when he cried to him, he heard. My praise of you comes in the great assembly. I will pay my vows before those who fear him. The humble shall eat and be satisfied. They shall praise Yahweh who seek after him. Let your hearts live forever. All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to Yahweh. All the relatives of the nations shall worship before you.
Psalm 22:22-27 (World English Bible)
Where readers disagree
The most significant question is whether the psalm is directly messianic prophecy or a description of the psalmist's own suffering later appropriated by the New Testament. Traditional Christian interpretation sees direct prophecy; many scholars see a pattern of the righteous sufferer.
The phrase 'they have pierced my hands and feet' in verse 16 has a difficult Hebrew text. The Masoretic text reads 'like a lion' (ka'ari), while the Septuagint reads 'they have pierced.' The New Testament follows the Septuagint reading, which the Gospels see fulfilled in Christ's crucifixion.
The movement from lament to praise raises questions about when and how the psalmist received deliverance. Some see the shift as a statement of faith before deliverance; others as a reflection after the fact. Either way, the psalm models trust in God's ultimate faithfulness.
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning? My God, I cry in the daytime, but you don’t answer; in the night season, and am not silent. But you are holy, you who inhabit the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in you. They trusted, and you delivered them. They cried to you, and were delivered. They trusted in you, and were not disappointed.
Psalm 22:1-5 (World English Bible)
How this psalm connects to the gospel
The themes of Psalm 22 find their ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The New Testament frequently draws on the Psalms to explain who Jesus is and what he accomplished. The psalm's language of deliverance, kingship, and steadfast love all point toward the gospel.
In Jesus, believers see the perfect fulfillment of everything this psalm celebrates. The deliverance David experienced was a foreshadowing of the greater deliverance Christ would accomplish. The kingship celebrated in the psalm points to Christ's eternal reign. The steadfast love described in the psalm is fully revealed in Jesus's sacrificial death and resurrection.
For Christians, reading this psalm is an opportunity to see God's faithfulness across the entire biblical story. The same God who heard David's cry also hears the prayers of his people today. The same deliverance David experienced finds its ultimate expression in the salvation Christ offers. The psalm invites believers to trust in this faithful God and to make his praise known to all generations.
The New Testament writers understood the Psalms as a prophetic witness to Christ. Jesus himself told his disciples that everything written about him in the Psalms must be fulfilled (Luke 24:44). When the apostles preached about Jesus, they regularly quoted the Psalms to demonstrate that his suffering, death, resurrection, and exaltation were all part of God's redemptive plan.
Psalm 22 participates in this prophetic witness. Whether through its language of kingship, its descriptions of suffering and deliverance, or its celebration of God's steadfast love, this psalm contributes to the biblical portrait of the Messiah. Reading it in light of Christ does not diminish its original meaning but reveals its deepest significance.
I am poured out like water. All my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax. It is melted within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have brought me into the dust of death. For dogs have surrounded me. A company of evildoers have enclosed me. They have pierced my hands and feet. I can count all of my bones. They look and stare at me. They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.
Psalm 22:14-18 (World English Bible)
Biblical fidelity check
Psalm 22 is theologically sound and consistent with the broader biblical witness. Its themes of God's steadfast love, faithfulness, and righteousness are central to biblical theology. The psalm contributes to the Psalter's comprehensive portrait of God's relationship with his people. While each psalm reflects its original historical context, its truths are enduring and applicable to believers today. The New Testament affirms and deepens the themes found in this psalm, particularly through the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main message of Psalm 22?
The main message of Psalm 22 is the suffering and triumph of the righteous. The psalm teaches that God is worthy of trust and praise. It calls believers to respond to God's character with faith, obedience, and worship.
How does Psalm 22 point to Christ?
Psalm 22, like all Scripture, ultimately points to Jesus Christ. The themes of God's deliverance, steadfast love, and kingship find their fullest expression in Christ. The New Testament frequently quotes the Psalms to explain Christ's person and work. As Jesus himself said, the Scriptures bear witness to him (John 5:39).
How does Psalm 22 apply to Christians today?
Psalm 22 applies to believers today by providing language for prayer, praise, and lament. It teaches about God's character and how believers should respond to him. The psalm's truths are timeless, addressing the universal human experiences of joy, suffering, hope, and trust.
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