Psalms 22:1–3
David cries out, “why have you abandoned me?”, words Jesus also speaks on the cross
Study it word by word1For the director. On The Doe of the Dawn. A psalm of David. My El, my El, why have you abandoned me? Far from my salvation are the words of my roaring.
2My Elohim, I call by day, and you do not answer; and by night, and there is no silence for me.
3But you are holy, dwelling in the praises of Israel.
In its context
…
4In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you brought them to safety.
5To you they cried out and escaped; in you they trusted and were not ashamed.
Its words in the original
- מְנַצֵּחַmenatseach· direct, oversee
Direct: be in charge of a work or of the music of worship. From this word comes the title "for the director" of many psalms.
- אַיֶּלֶתayelet· doe
Doe: the female deer. In the title of Psalm 22, "The doe of the dawn" is probably the name of a tune.
- שַּׁחַרshachar· dawn
Dawn, daybreak.
- מִזְמוֹרmizmor· psalm
Psalm: a song sung with instruments. It is the title of many of the poems in the book of Psalms.
- דָוִדdavid· David
David, youngest son of Jesse, of Bethlehem; the second king of Israel. The name means "beloved."
- אֵלִeli· El, God, god
"El", an ancient Hebrew word for "God". Alone or with another title it is a name of the God of Israel: El Elyon (God Most High), El Shaddai (God Almighty). Neighboring peoples used the same word for their gods; then this translation writes "god" in lower case. It also means "mighty".
- עֲזַבְתָּazavta· leave, forsake
Leave, forsake, abandon; also let go, leave behind for someone.
- רָחוֹקrachok· far, distant
Far, distant, remote, in place or in time; often "from afar".
- ישׁוּעָתִyshuati· salvation
Salvation: the help with which God delivers from danger; also victory. The name "Jesus" (Yeshua) comes from the same root.
- דִּבְרֵיdivre· word, matter, thing
Word; what is said. Also "matter" or "thing": what is spoken about, an affair, an event.
- שַׁאֲגָתִshaagati· roaring, groaning
A roar, like a lion's; also the loud groan of a person in distress.
- אֱלֹהַeloha· Elohim, God, gods
The Hebrew word usually translated "God". This translation keeps "Elohim" when it speaks of the one true God, the Creator, the God of Israel. The word ends like a plural, but it does not mean several: for him the verb is singular ("Elohim created"); the plural form expresses greatness. The same word as a common noun names the "gods" of other peoples, and there it is a true plural, translated "gods". It is also used of mighty ones or judges.
- אֶקְרָאekra· call, proclaim
Call: speak out to someone, summon, invite, give a name, proclaim; also read aloud. "Call on the name of YHWH" is to pray to him and worship him.
- יוֹמָםyomam· by day
By day, in the daytime.
- תַעֲנֶהtaane· answer
Answer, reply; also speak up, testify, or sing in response.
- לַיְלָהlayla· night
Night.
- דוּמִיָּהdumiya· silence, stillness
Silence, stillness: being quiet and calm; also the rest of one who waits trustingly.
- קָדוֹשׁkadosh· holy, Holy One
Holy: set apart for God, different from what is common. As a noun, "the Holy One" (God) or holy ones.
- יוֹשֵׁבyoshev· sit, dwell
Sit, sit down; from there stay in a place, live, dwell. In the causative form, settle someone, make to dwell. Also sit as judge or as king.
- תְּהִלּוֹתtehilot· praise
Praise; deeds worthy of praise; a song of praise.
- יִשְׂרָאֵלyisrael· Israel
Israel, the new name Jacob received from God, explained as "you have striven with God" (Genesis 32:28); then the name of the people that came from him and, after the division, of the northern kingdom.