Psalm 22:6–8

Footnotes

1. 8 The grammatical construction (conjunction + pronoun) highlights the contrast between the psalmist’s experience and that of his ancestors. When he considers God’s past reliability, it only heightens his despair and confusion, for God’s present silence stands in stark contrast to his past saving acts.
2. 9 The metaphor expresses the psalmist’s self-perception, which is based on how others treat him (see the following line).
3. 10 Or “not a human being.” The psalmist perceives himself as less than human.
4. 11 Heb “a reproach of man and despised by people.”
5. 12 Or “scoff at, deride, mock.”
6. 13 Heb “they separate with a lip.” Apparently this refers to their verbal taunting.
7. 14 Shake their heads. Apparently this refers to a taunting gesture. See also Job 16:4; Ps 109:25; Lam 2:15.
8. 15 The words “they say” are supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons. The psalmist here quotes the sarcastic taunts of his enemies.
9. 16 Heb “roll [yourself].” The Hebrew verb גלל here has the sense of “commit” (see Prov 16:3). The imperatival form in the Hebrew text indicates the enemies here address the psalmist. Since they refer to him in the third person in the rest of the verse, some prefer to emend the verb to a perfect, “he commits himself to the Lord.”
10. 17 Heb “Let him”; the referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
11. 18 Heb “Let him”; the referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
12. 19 That is, “for he [the Lord] delights in him [the psalmist].” For other cases where the expression “delight in” refers to God’s delight in a person, see Num 14:8; 1 Kgs 10:9; Pss 18:19; 40:8. This statement does not necessarily reflect the enemies’ actual belief, but it does reflect the psalmist’s confession. The psalmist’s enemies sarcastically appeal to God to help him, because he claims to be an object of divine favor. However, they probably doubted the reality of his claim.