What does “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” mean?

This cry shows a believer who feels deeply abandoned, yet still clings to God as “my God.” David is not turning away from God, but bringing his fear and pain honestly to him. These same words were later spoken by Jesus on the cross, as he bore the weight of sin and felt the horror of God’s face turned away. It shows that even when God feels far, faith still calls on him and wrestles with him in prayer.

How does this passage relate to the suffering of Jesus?

Many details in this passage match what happened to Jesus when he was crucified: the opening cry of being forsaken, the mocking words about trusting God, the picture of pierced hands and feet, and people casting lots for clothing. David speaks from his own pain, but his words also look ahead to a deeper suffering. In Jesus, this prayer is lived out fully, showing the cost of bearing sin and the faith that still calls on God in the darkest hour.

Why does the prayer move from despair to praise by the end?

At first the writer feels alone, weak, and surrounded by enemies. As he prays, he remembers God’s holiness and past faithfulness to his ancestors and to himself from the womb. He keeps asking for help and comes to trust that God has heard him. This leads him to promise public praise, to call others to worship, and to see a future where all nations turn to the Lord. Honest lament leads, in time, to renewed confidence and worship.

What does “I am a worm, and no man” tell us about this suffering?

That phrase shows how low and worthless the sufferer feels. He is mocked, despised, and treated as if he is beneath other people. It fits David’s deep humiliation and also the way Jesus was treated, as crowds laughed at him and leaders sneered. It reminds us that God’s servant was willing to be brought to the very bottom, bearing shame as well as pain, so that those who feel crushed and small can know that God understands their misery.

What is meant by “they pierced my hands and my feet”?

Here the sufferer describes his body as exposed and wounded while enemies surround and stare. The wording fits someone fixed in place and helpless. For David, it pictures extreme danger and pain. In Jesus, these words match what happened when his hands and feet were nailed at the cross. The image shows both physical agony and the sense of being completely at the mercy of enemies, while still crying out to God for rescue.

What does this passage teach about God when he seems silent?

The prayer shows that God’s people can feel unheard for a time. The writer cries day and night and does not sense an answer. Yet he still calls God holy, remembers how God saved earlier generations, and keeps praying. Later in the passage, he affirms that God has not despised the afflicted and did hear when he cried. This teaches that God may seem far for a season, but he does not truly abandon those who trust him and call on his name.

How can someone today use this passage when feeling forsaken?

This passage gives words for times when you feel forgotten, mocked, or weighed down by trouble. You can pray honestly, even asking “why,” while still saying “my God.” You can remind yourself of how God has been faithful in the past, both in Scripture and in your own life. Like the writer, you can keep asking God to come near and choose to praise him, trusting that he hears the afflicted and will bring help, even if you cannot see it yet.

What does this passage say about God’s plan for the nations?

In the closing verses, the writer looks beyond his own pain to a wide promise: people at the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and families from many nations will worship him. He says the kingdom belongs to the Lord, who rules over all. Both the poor and the rich, the living and those near death, are pictured bowing before him. A future “seed” will serve God and tell coming generations that God has done this saving work.

Ps.22.1

Psalm 22:1

KJV Jesus

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

The Psalm of the Cross

For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Doe of the Dawn.” A Psalm of David.

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

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

3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.

5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.

6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,

8 He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts.

10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother’s belly.

11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.

12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.

13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.

14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.

15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.

18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

19 But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me.

20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.

21 Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.

22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.

23 Ye that fear the Lord, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.

24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.

25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.

26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.

27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.

28 For the kingdom is the Lord’S: and he is the governor among the nations.

29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.

30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.

31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.