PsaumesChapitre 22

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Show propheciesDavid describes Christ's suffering 1,000 years before the cross

Psalm 22 is the most detailed Messianic prophecy about the crucifixion. David describes sufferings he himself never experienced—but which Jesus fulfilled literally. Jesus quoted the opening words of this psalm from the cross.

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

[psa 22:1-2]

v.1, 2

Despised by people

[psa 22:7-8]

v.7, 8

"Trust in the Lord!"

[psa 22:9]

v.9

Surrounded by enemies

[psa 22:13-14]

v.13, 14

Poured out like water

[psa 22:15]

v.15

My tongue sticks to my jaws

[psa 22:16]

v.16

Hands and feet pierced

[psa 22:17]

v.17

All my bones can be counted

[psa 22:18]

v.18

They divide my garments among them

[psa 22:19]

v.19

The turning point—answer to prayer

[psa 22:20-22]

v.20, 21, 22

Praise in the assembly

[psa 22:23]

v.23

All the ends of the earth

[psa 22:28-32]

v.28, 29, 30, 31, 32

For the choirmaster. To the tune of "The Doe of the Dawn." A psalm of David.

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?

My God, I call by day, and you do not answer; by night, and I find no rest.

Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.

In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you rescued them.

To you they cried out and were delivered; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.

But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people.

All who see me mock me; they sneer and shake their heads:

"He trusted in the LORD—let him rescue him! Let him deliver him, since he delights in him!"

Yet you drew me from the womb; you made me secure at my mother's breast.

From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother's womb you have been my God.

Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.

Many bulls surround me; the strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.

They open their mouths wide against me like a lion, ripping and roaring.

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it melts within me.

My strength is dried up like a shard of pottery, my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me down in the dust of death.

Dogs surround me; a pack of evildoers closes in on me. They have pierced my hands and my feet.

I can count all my bones. They stare at me and gloat.

They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.

But you, LORD, do not be far off. You are my strength; come quickly to help me.

Deliver my life from the sword, my only life from the paw of the dog.

Save me from the lion's mouth, from the horns of the wild oxen—you have answered me.

I will proclaim your name to my brothers; in the midst of the assembly I will praise you.

You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, honor him! Stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!

For he has not despised or scorned the affliction of the afflicted; he has not hidden his face from him, but has listened to his cry for help.

From you comes my praise in the great assembly; I will fulfill my vows before those who fear him.

The humble will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the LORD will praise him. May your hearts live forever!

All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before you.

For the kingdom belongs to the LORD; he rules over the nations.

All the prosperous of the earth will eat and bow down; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—those who cannot keep themselves alive.

Their descendants will serve him; future generations will be told of the Lord.

They will come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn: he has done it!

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Résumé2

Chapitre 22

Main Theme: A lament psalm that moves from deep despair and a sense of God-forsakenness to praise and universal worship.

Content: David opens with the desperate cry, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" and describes intense physical and emotional suffering. He is surrounded by enemies compared to bulls, lions, and dogs, while his body breaks down. In the midst of distress, he holds fast to trust in God who has been with him from birth. The psalm turns to praise: God has heard the sufferer, and all the ends of the earth shall turn and worship the Lord.

Key Words/Images:

"My God, why have you forsaken me" – The opening cry expresses the experience of being abandoned by God, quoted by Jesus on the cross (Matt 27:46).
Bulls, lions, and dogs – Predatory images describing the wickedness and threat of the enemies (vv.13–17).
Pierced hands and feet – Description of the sufferer's condition, traditionally understood as messianic (v.17).
Casting lots for garments – The enemies divide the sufferer's clothes, fulfilled at the crucifixion (v.19; cf. John 19:24).
All nations shall worship – The climax of the psalm: God's kingdom extends to all nations (vv.28–32).

Contexte historique

Musical Direction

The expression "ajjélet hasjachar" (אַיֶּלֶת הַשַּׁחַר) in the heading literally means "the hind of the dawn" or "the deer of the morning." This is likely the name of a well-known melody to which the psalm was sung. In the ancient Near East, it was common to give melodies poetic names, often based on the opening words of a popular song. The image of the dawn may also point to the psalm's movement from deep distress to deliverance—from the darkness of night to the light of day.

Events and Customs

The description of the enemies as "strong bulls of Bashan" (v. 13) draws its imagery from the powerful oxen raised in the fertile region of Bashan east of the Sea of Galilee. These animals were known for their strength and aggression and were used throughout the ancient Near East as symbols of mighty, threatening foes.

The dividing of garments and the casting of lots (v. 19) reflects a widespread practice in antiquity in which the possessions of a condemned person were distributed among executioners or onlookers. Casting lots was a common method for deciding how to divide valuable items, and this custom is documented in several cultures throughout the region.

The conclusion with promises of a communal meal and praise (vv. 23–27) points to the thank offering practice in Israelite worship. After deliverance from distress, the saved person was to bring a thank offering, and the meat was shared in a festive meal with family, friends, and the poor as an expression of gratitude and community.

Key Terms

The Hebrew word "tola'at" (תּוֹלַעַת, "worm," v. 7) describes the deepest form of degradation and contempt for humanity. The word is also used for the crimson color extracted from a certain type of insect, creating a double association with both lowliness and blood.

The expression in verse 17 concerning hands and feet is textually disputed. The Masoretic Text has "ka'ari" (כָּאֲרִי, "like a lion"), while other textual traditions (the Septuagint, some Dead Sea Scrolls) support the reading "ka'aru" ("they pierced"). This variation has been central to discussions about the messianic interpretation of the psalm.

"Jechidati" (יְחִידָתִי, "my only one," v. 21) is a rare poetic expression for the soul or life, literally "my only [one]." The word emphasizes that each person has only one soul, one life, which must be protected.

Personnages1

David1

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Mots-clés7

Crucifixion — An execution method where a person is nailed or bound to a cross, often used in Roman times and mentioned as a prophecy about Jesus in Psalm 22.
Helpless — A feeling of being without strength or ability to change a situation, expressed by the psalmist when he prays to God for help.
Despised — To be looked down upon or treated with disgust, as the psalmist describes his own experience among people.
Deliver — To save or rescue someone from a difficult situation, as the psalmist asks God to do.
Praise — A song or poem that expresses worship and gratitude to God, which the psalmist encourages believers to join in.
Tribe — A group of people connected through common ancestors, culture, or language, mentioned in Psalm 22 as part of God's people.
Fear — A feeling of worry, anxiety, or reverence, which can be directed toward God or situations in life.