Devine Scripture

Psalms 22:1

What does Psalms 22:1 mean?

A plain-English look at Psalms 22:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Psalms 22:1 means

The psalmist begins with a piercing cry directly to God, questioning why he feels utterly abandoned at his moment of deepest need. His words express a profound sense of distance, as if God is not only silent but also deliberately withholding help, rendering his anguished groans unheard and ineffective. This opening sets a tone of intense suffering and bewilderment, highlighting a spiritual crisis where the familiar presence of God seems tragically absent. This verse is famously quoted by Jesus on the cross, revealing a depth of human and divine suffering.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

My God, my God, why are you turned away from me? why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my crying?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

To the Overseer, on `The Hind of the Morning.' --A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me? Far from my salvation, The words of my roaring?

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

A psalm for David. The Lord ruleth me: and I shall want nothing.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

MyGod, myGod, why hast thou forsaken me? [why art thou] far from my salvation, from the words of my groaning?

Context

This verse immediately plunges the reader into the psalmist's profound distress, establishing the central theme of abandonment. It serves as a desperate opening plea, setting the stage for the detailed description of suffering that follows. Without this initial outcry, the subsequent verses detailing his physical and emotional torment would lack their full spiritual weight.

v.1This passage

v.2O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou answerest not; And in the night season, and am not silent.

Cross references

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

  • Psalms 26:9

    Gather not my soul with sinners, Nor my life with men of blood;

  • Psalms 22:16

    For dogs have compassed me: A company of evil-doers have inclosed me; They pierced my hands and my feet.

  • Job 3:24

    For my sighing cometh before I eat, And my groanings are poured out like water.

  • Hebrews 13:5

    Be ye free from the love of money; content with such things as ye have: for himself hath said, I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee.

  • Matthew 27:46

    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?

  • Isaiah 59:11

    We roar all like bears, and moan sore like doves: we look for justice, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us.

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