Psalm 22 17

Psalm 22:17 kjv

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

Psalm 22:17 nkjv

I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me.

Psalm 22:17 niv

All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me.

Psalm 22:17 esv

I can count all my bones ? they stare and gloat over me;

Psalm 22:17 nlt

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

Psalm 22 verses

Psalm 22 17 Meaning

Psalm 22:17 describes a state of extreme physical weakness and vulnerability, coupled with the malicious gaze of hostile observers. The psalmist conveys such profound emaciation and distress that his bones are visible and countable, a sign of nearing death. This deep personal suffering is compounded by the active, cruel mockery and contempt from his enemies, who derive satisfaction from his agony.

Psalm 22 17 Context

Psalm 22 is a prophetic psalm, frequently referenced in the New Testament concerning the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It begins with a cry of abandonment ("My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?") by a suffering individual. This lament expresses profound physical agony, extreme emotional distress, and public humiliation at the hands of malevolent enemies. The psalm portrays the suffering one as isolated, weakened to the point of death, and scorned by a hostile crowd. Amidst this suffering, the psalmist expresses a deep trust in God and anticipates a future vindication and global worship. Verse 17 depicts the intensity of the physical torment (visible bones) and the cruel indifference, even pleasure, of the surrounding enemies who mockingly observe the dying man.

Psalm 22 17 Word analysis

• I can count all my bones:
  • This phrase (כָּל־עַצְמוֹתַי אֲסַפֵּר, kol-ʿaṣmōṯay ʾăsappēr, literally "all my bones I can count/recount") paints a vivid picture of extreme emaciation, malnourishment, or severe physical stress/torture. It signifies a body reduced to skin and bone, highlighting ultimate physical vulnerability and proximity to death. It conveys a deep physical agony where the skeletal structure becomes prominent, often associated with starvation, severe illness, or torture, stripping the individual of any protective flesh.
• They stare and gloat over me:
  • They: The subject refers to the collective hostile entity previously mentioned as "dogs," "company of evildoers," or "bulls" in earlier verses of Psalm 22. This refers to the numerous enemies or antagonists surrounding the sufferer.
  • stare and gloat: The Masoretic Text (MT), the authoritative Hebrew text of the Old Testament, for this phrase is הֵם יַבִּיטוּ יִרְאוּ־בִי (hem yabbīṭū yirəʾū-ḇī).
    • יַבִּיטוּ (yabbīṭū): From the root נבט (navat), meaning "to look intently, to gaze, to fix one's eyes upon." It implies a prolonged, penetrating, often critical, or observing gaze.
    • יִרְאוּ־בִי (yirəʾū-ḇī): From the root ראה (ra'ah), meaning "to see, look at, perceive." The suffix –בִי (-ḇī) means "at me" or "upon me." The repetition of two verbs of seeing ("look intently" and "see") intensifies the idea of a fixed and observant gaze. This gaze is not sympathetic; combined with the overall context of mockery in the psalm, it implies malicious satisfaction, voyeurism, or triumph over the suffering individual. The effect is one of being a public spectacle, helpless before the scorn of one's enemies.
• Significance of the "Pierced" Debate: It is crucial to acknowledge a widely debated alternative rendering, especially prominent in Christian theology due to its prophetic link to the crucifixion. The Septuagint (LXX), an ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, renders this phrase as ὤρυξαν χειράς μου καὶ πόδας μου (ōryxan cheiras mou kai podas mou), which translates to "they pierced my hands and my feet."
  • The Hebrew textual basis for the LXX's "pierced" (oryssō, to dig/pierce) is often connected to a rare or non-standard Hebrew root, perhaps stemming from a variant reading of כארי (ka'ari, "like a lion," which fits other animal imagery in Ps 22) or a confusion of very similar-looking Hebrew letters (e.g., yod and vav).
  • While the MT consistently supports "gaze/stare," the LXX rendering of "pierced" became immensely significant in early Christian interpretation as a direct prophecy of Jesus' crucifixion, particularly concerning the nails in His hands and feet. This interpretive tradition, though contested textually by some modern scholarship focused on the MT, underscores the powerful Messianic implications found in this Psalm for believers.

Psalm 22 17 Bonus section

The Masoretic Text's rendering of the latter half of the verse, "כָּאֲרִי יָדַי וְרַגְלָי" (ka'ari yadai ve-raglai), translates to "Like a lion my hands and my feet," suggesting a tearing or attacking of hands and feet as a lion would. This interpretation maintains the animal imagery used elsewhere in Psalm 22 (dogs, bulls, lions). However, the grammatical structure is unusual and has led many to question it. The Septuagint's "they pierced" (ὤρυξαν) relies on interpreting the Hebrew word differently, possibly deriving it from a verbal root related to digging or boring. This difference is a major point of textual critical debate, and the early Christian reliance on the LXX's "pierced" version profoundly shaped the Messianic understanding of Psalm 22 within the church. Despite textual variations, the verse powerfully conveys extreme physical suffering, public vulnerability, and the malicious intent of onlookers, all themes central to the narrative of Christ's crucifixion, making Psalm 22 often referred to as "The Psalm of the Cross."

Psalm 22 17 Commentary

Psalm 22:17 articulates a moment of extreme physical degradation and public scorn. The phrase "I can count all my bones" conveys not only intense suffering and emaciation, akin to one near death, but also a profound vulnerability and exposure, making the individual a spectacle. The image implies that no part of the body, not even its very structure, can be hidden. Following this, "They stare and gloat over me" vividly portrays the cruel psychological torment inflicted by enemies who find perverse satisfaction in the sufferer's misery. Their sustained, scrutinizing gaze is not one of pity but of malice and triumph. From a Christian perspective, this verse resonates deeply with the sufferings of Jesus on the cross, who, in His nakedness and emaciation from torture and blood loss, was gazed upon and mocked by the crowds, soldiers, and religious leaders. The alternate reading, "they pierced my hands and my feet," further cemented this connection in Christian tradition, highlighting the specific act of crucifixion, making Psalm 22:17 a poignant prophecy of the Messiah's passion and public humiliation.