Devine Scripture

Matthew 27:46

What does Matthew 27:46 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 27:46 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 27:46 means

About the ninth hour Jesus cries out in Aramaic, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’—‘My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?’ This anguished quotation of Psalm 22 expresses real human desolation as Jesus bears sin’s weight. It also intentionally echoes Scripture, connecting Jesus’ suffering to prophetic lament. The cry reveals both the depth of his identification with fallen humanity and the theological reality that, bearing sin, he experiences a filial sense of separation from the Father on our behalf before his redeeming work is completed.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And about the ninth hour Jesus gave a loud cry, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is, My God, my God, why are you turned away from me?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a great voice, saying, `Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?' that is, `My God, my God, why didst Thou forsake me?'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying: Eli, Eli, lamma sabacthani? That is, My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

but about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is, MyGod, myGod, why hast thou forsaken me?

Context

This verse comes during the period of darkness (v. 45) and serves as Jesus’ pivotal cry from the cross. It references Psalm 22 and bridges suffering with Scripture, leading to bystanders’ misunderstanding (vv. 47–49) and then to Jesus’ final cry and death (v. 50). The verse is central to understanding the passion’s theological depth.

v.45Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.

v.46This passage

v.47And some of them that stood there, when they heard it, said, This man calleth Elijah.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Mark 15:34

    And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

  • Hebrews 5:7

    Who in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear,

  • Lamentations 1:12

    Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is brought upon me, Wherewith Jehovah hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.

  • Luke 23:46

    And Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said this, he gave up the ghost.

  • John 19:28

    After this Jesus, knowing that all things are now finished, that the scripture might be accomplished, saith, I thirst.

  • Psalms 22:1

    My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou sofar from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?

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