Psalm 22

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 22:9

But thou art he that took me out of the womb - I owe my life to thee. This is urged by the sufferer as a reason why God should now interpose and protect him. God had brought him into the world, guarding him in the perils of the earliest moments of his being, and he now pleads that in the day of trouble God will interpose and save him. There is nothing improper in applying this to the Messiah. He was a man, with all the innocent propensities and feelings of a man; and no one can say but that... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 22:10

I was cast upon thee from the womb - Upon thy protection and care. This, too, is an argument for the divine interposition. He had been, as it were, thrown early in life upon the protecting care of God. In some special sense he had been more unprotected and defenseless than is common at that period of life, and he owed his preservation then entirely to God. This, too, may have passed through the mind of the Redeemer on the cross. In those sad and desolate moments he may have recalled the scenes... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 22:11

Be not far from me - Do not withdraw from me; do not leave or forsake me.For trouble is near - Near, in the sense that deep sorrow has come upon me; near, in the sense that I am approaching a dreadful death.For there is none to help - Margin, as in Hebrew, “not a helper.” There were those who would have helped, but they could not; there were those who could have helped, but they would not. His friends that stood around the cross were unable to aid him; his foes were unwilling to do it; and he... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 22:12

Many bulls have compassed me - Men with the fierceness and fury of bulls. Compare Isaiah 51:20; Psalms 68:30.Strong bulls of Bashan - The country of Bashan embraced the territory which was on the east of the Jordan, north of Gilead, which was given to the half tribe of Manasseh: compare Genesis 14:5 with Joshua 12:4-6. It was distinguished as pasture land for its richness. Its trees and its breed of cattle are frequently referred to in the Scriptures. Thus in Deuteronomy 32:14, “rams of the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 22:13

They gaped upon me with their mouths - Margin, as in Hebrew, “opened their mouths against me.” That is, they opened their mouths wide as if they would devour me, as a lion does when he seizes upon his prey. In Psalms 22:7 they are represented as “opening” the mouth for another purpose - that of derision or scorn; here they are described as if they were fierce and wild beasts ready to fall upon their prey.As a ravening and roaring lion - The word “ravening” means “voraciously devouring,” and the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 22:14

I am poured out like water - The sufferer now turns from his enemies, and describes the effect of all these outward persecutions and trials on himself. The meaning in this expression is, that all his strength was gone. It is remarkable that we have a similar expression, which is not easily accounted for, when we say of ourselves that “we are as weak as water.” An expression similar to this occurs in Joshua 7:5 : “The hearts of the people melted, and became as water.” Compare Lamentations 2:19;... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 22:15

My strength is dried up like a potsherd, - A “potsherd” is a fragment of a broken pot, or a piece of earthenware. See Isaiah 45:9, note; and Job 2:8, note. The meaning here is, that his strength was not vigorous like a green tree that was growing, and that was full of sap, but it was like a brittle piece of earthenware, so dry and fragile that it could be easily crumbled to pieces.And my tongue cleaveth to my jaws - See the notes at Job 29:10. The meaning here is, that his mouth was dry, and he... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 22:16

For dogs have compassed me - Men who resemble dogs; harsh, snarling, fierce, ferocious. See Philippians 3:2, note; and Revelation 22:15, note. No one can doubt that this is applicable to the Redeemer.The assembly of the wicked have enclosed me - That is, they have surrounded me; they have come around me on all sides so that I might not escape. So they surrounded the Redeemer in the garden of Gethsemane when they arrested him and bound him; so they surrounded him when on his trial before the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 22:17

I may tell all my bones - That is, I may count them. They are so prominent, so bare, that I can see them and count their number. The idea here is that of emaciation from continued suffering or from some other cause. As applied to the Redeemer, it would denote the effect of long protracted suffering and anxiety on his frame, as rendering it crushed, weakened, emaciated. Compare the notes at Isaiah 52:14; Isaiah 53:2-3. No one can prove that an effect such as is here referred to may not have been... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 22:18

They part my garments among them - They divide; they apportion. This refers merely to the fact that they made such a division or distribution of his garments; the manner in which it was done, is specified in the other part of the verse. The word “garments” is a general term, and would be applicable to any part of the raiment.And cast lots upon my vesture - That is, upon the part here represented by the word “vesture,” “they cast lots.” There was a general division of his garments by agreement,... read more

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 22:9

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 22:10

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 22:11

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 22:12

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 22:13

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 22:14

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 22:15

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 22:16

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 22:17

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 22:18

Verse of the Day

Daily Devotional

Group of Brands