Psalm 22 expresses deep emotion from King David who describes a rather rough situation. Although his extreme, yet very specific, details help us understand that it is actually a prophetic picture of what will happen to a future King – The King of Kings – Jesus.
THE FAMOUS WORDS
When Jesus was on the cross, He is known for this famous saying before His death:
“Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” Matthew 27:46
Which means – “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?”
Those looking on toward the cross were most likely raised learning the Psalms and would have immediately recognized that Jesus was quoting scripture. But the real question is why? In two gospels (Matthew 27 and Mark 15), Jesus is quoting the first line of Psalm 22:
My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? Psalms 22:1
So why would He quote the first line of Psalm 22? Was it because he felt forsaken and far from the Lord or is there more to it? One thing we need to understand about rabbinic teaching, during the time of Jesus, is that a rabbi would give their students clues. They wouldn’t just tell students the answer to deep questions. Often they should site a part of scripture, like the first line, to instigate study and contemplation. They wanted them to seek and find, to ask questions and ponder. Does that sound familiar? Remember when Jesus told us to seek after Him?
SEEK AND FIND
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7
I believe that every single line of this Psalm has deeper meaning. God is truly divine and His Word gives us little clues. Ever wonder why we love spy movies and secret treasure stories? Because we are designed to seek and find. And God is the ultimate story teller! So let’s do some digging.
Jesus, even in His suffering and death on the cross, was giving His people information. What’s interesting about Psalm 22 is that it is a lament and a praise. It begins with groaning and pain but hinges around verse 22 where King David begins praising God.
Could this Psalm be giving us an overall picture of Israel’s journey and those who are grafted into God’s promise? Is it a big picture of Christianity from the beginning to the end?
THE MORNING STAR
Before I breakdown the verses, I first want to mention the fact that this poetic song is titled The Doe (Aijeleth) of the Dawn (Shahar). The very title can be translated to mean the morning sun or the morning star, which scripture tells us is Jesus.
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” Revelation 22:16
Since going over each line would be quite time consuming, I have made a handy chart (below). Also, I want to stress these are just my thoughts. I am truly blessed that God whispers to me, when I seek Him through study. However, I am still human and doing my best to fully understand. I feel like the Lord put this Psalm on my heart (for such a time as this) because there is more to it that needs to be discussed. But I encourage you to do your own seeking and finding as we are all called to do so.
SEE ATTACHED CHART TO FOLLOW ALONG
A WORM AND NOT A MAN?
One of the first things that stood out to me in this Psalm was verse 6:
But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. Psalm 22:6
Why in the world would David say this and what does this have to do with Jesus? This word for worm (tola) is often used in the Old Testament for the word scarlet, especially when describing the colors used in the Tabernacle.
Here’s is what the commentary from the Blue Letter Bible said about the translation of the word ‘worm’ in this passage: Worm – H8438 (tola)
When the female of the scarlet worm species was ready to give birth to her young, she would attach her body to the trunk of a tree, fixing herself so firmly and permanently that she would never leave again. The eggs deposited beneath her body were thus protected until the larvae were hatched and able to enter their own life cycle. As the mother died, the crimson fluid stains her body and the surrounding wood. From the dead bodies of such female scarlet worms, the commercial scarlet dyes of antiquity were extracted. What a picture this gives of Christ, dying on the tree, shedding his precious blood that He might ‘bring many sons unto glory’ (Hebrews 2:10)! He died for us, that we might live through Him! Psalm 22:6 describes such a worm and gives us this picture of Christ.
At the end of this commentary it references Isaiah 1:18:
Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
It is my understand that this particular worm, when it dies, turns white and falls off the tree. What an amazing picture God gives us in this Psalm!
BULLS OF BASHAN
Bashan was in the northern region of Israel. There are lots of interesting things that happened in this region that are symbolic such as the location of Mount Hermon, the conquering of King Og (a giant) and it was a significant part of the promise land in the days of Moses (Numbers 21, Deuteronomy 3). Curiously, in some semitic languages, such as Ugarit, the word bashan actually means serpent.
Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who say to your husbands, ‘Bring, that we may drink!’ The Lord God has sworn by his holiness that, behold, the days are coming upon you, when they shall take you away with hooks, even the last of you with fishhooks. And you shall go out through the breaches, each one straight ahead; and you shall be cast out into Harmon,” declares the Lord. Amos 4:1-3
What’s interesting about the words ‘hooks’ in this passage is that it brings to mind the Ezekiel 38 and 39, Gog and Magog war, references that the Lord will stir up war to restore Israel. This is a key scripture describing the Lord using hooks to lure the enemy.
And I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great host, all of them with buckler and shield, wielding swords. Ezekiel 38:4
That is a prophecy that is still to be fulfilled and one this is probably not too far off.
WATER, BONES & WAX
Psalm 22:14 is packed full of prophetic language about Jesus. It says: I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast. First, we understand that Jesus is the living water. As stated in Revelation 21:6 – To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. Before Jesus died on the cross, He said ‘I thirst’ (John 19:28). Was that another clue? I can’t fully explain for lack of time but during the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus interrupted the traditional water ceremony to say this:
“If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this He said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:37-39
This scripture connects to Isaiah 44:3, if you want to check that out. The next statement in verse 14 is where we can see a connection to Ezekiel and the end times. Most of us have heard about the dry bones but this can also connect it to Psalm 22:17 where is states he can ‘count all his bones’. Let’s look at Ezekiel 37 which is right before the Gog and Magog war reference discussed above.
And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone.
Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.’ Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel.” Ezekiel 37:7, 37:11-12
As we know, the Israelites are now back in their land. And fittingly, the Psalm then references a heart like wax that is melted within the breast. However, the word for breast is more accurately translated as ‘inward parts’ (like the guts – which is a gross word).
For behold, the Lord is coming out of His place, and will come down and tread upon the high places of the earth. And the mountains will melt under Him, and the valleys will split open, like wax before the fire, like waters poured down a steep place. Micah 1:3-4
I feel like this speaks of Jesus’ return.
LION OR HANDS?
We will talk more about dogs when we get to verse 20. First let’s talk about a weird little dispute among scholars about verse 16 regarding the word pierced. Some have said that the scripture doesn’t translate as pierced but instead is says ‘like a lion’ and try minimize the prophetic nature of Psalm 22 or discount it entirely. One for Israel Ministry does a great job of clearing up the confusion here. They stress that there is ‘no biblical evidence’ that it would say ‘like a lion my hands and feet’ because it would not make contextual sense. I agree with them. I recommend checking out their YouTube video if you have questions, I have referenced their information below.
But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5
DOGS, LIONS & WILD OXEN
What is with all the animals in verses 20-21? And what is the power of the dog? In scripture we understand dogs as gentiles or those not following Jesus.
Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. Revelation 22:14
Being saved from the mouth of the lion reminds me of Daniel in the lions den (Daniel 6:22) and we know that the devil is known to prowl around like a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8). I believe that being rescued from the sword and the horns of the wild oxen (Isaiah 34) could refer to the enemies of Israel.
THE HINGE VERSE 22:22
In the middle of the Psalm we see a shift from lament to praise. King David begins to glorify God. I feel there is a similarity in verse 22 with the great commission (Matthew 28:16).
Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens. 1 Chronicles 16:24-26
And further in we see a reminder of the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:2-3) which parallels verse 27. Is this a full circle moment that will occur in the end times? I hope so!
“I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” Genesis 22:17-18
EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW
As Christians we understand that at the end of the age EVERYONE will know about Jesus. He will fully reveal himself to those who have opposed Him. It is our job to proclaim His righteousness to the coming generations, which is how Psalm 22 ends ‘proclaim His righteousness to a people yet unborn, that He has done it.’ How amazing! Isaiah 45 describes how every knee will bow when the Lord’s timing has come to fulfillment. However, in the chapter before that it states:
Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it; shout, O depths of the earth; break forth into singing, O mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the Lord has redeemed Jacob, and will be glorified in Israel. Isaiah 44:23
THE BIG PICTURE
God’s Word is so beautiful. The way He weaves together connections always blows me away. So overall what does this mean for us today? I believe it is a glaring reminder that Jesus is coming back and that He will redeem Israel. What we are witnessing is biblical and we should all be on red alert. Stay close to the Lord, repent and stay in His presence. I want to encourage everyone to dig into this Psalm because Jesus is teaching us some important truths that are valuable for us right now!
Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. Revelation 22:14-17
I believe this is a big picture of God’s overall plan. We need to be praying for Israel, but also for ourselves, as we are grafted into God’s amazing plan! Blessings to you all.
“H8438 – tôlāʿ – Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon (kjv).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 20 Jun, 2025. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h8438/kjv/wlc/0-1/>.
“Psalm 22 (KJV) – [[To the chief Musician upon.” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 20 Jun, 2025. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/psa/22/1/t_conc_500001>.
Blue Letter Bible, Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon, H365 ayyelet – doe, deer, hind. Interlinear Online Bible, June 17, 2025.
Blue Letter Bible, Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon, H7837 sahar – dawn, morning, wings. Interlinear Online Bible, June 17, 2025.
Wikipedia contributors. “Bashan.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 4 Apr. 2025. Web. 20 Jun. 2025.
One for Israel Ministry, YouTube, “Did the Church Corrupt Psalm 22:17? ‘Pierced’ or ‘Like a Lion’ – The Case for Messiah, December 8, 2022.
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