Psalms 22:17–19
The psalmist says they divide his clothes and cast lots; John quotes these words at the cross
Study it word by word17I count all my bones; they look, they gaze at me.
18They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.
19But you, YHWH, do not be far; my strength, hurry to my help.
In its context
15My strength has dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my palate; and in the dust of death you lay me.
16For dogs have surrounded me; a community of evildoers has encircled me; like a lion, my hands and my feet.
…
20Deliver my soul from the sword, from the hand of the dog my only one.
21Save me from the mouth of the lion, and from the horns of the wild bulls you have answered me.
Its words in the original
- אֲסַפֵּרasaper· count, tell
Count (numbers) and also tell (relate, recount). From here comes the word for "scribe".
- עַצְמוֹתָatsmota· bone
Bone. "Bone of my bones" is the Hebrew way of saying "of my own family", "like me". It also means "very", "self" ("that very day").
- יַבִּיטוּyabitu· look
Look intently, gaze; regard, pay attention to.
- יִרְאוּyiru· see
See. Also look, observe, notice, consider; in some forms, "appear" or "show".
- יְחַלְּקוּyechalku· divide
Divide, share out, apportion; also be smooth (flatter).
- בְגָדַvegada· garment, clothing
Garment, clothing, cloth. (A word with the same letters means "treachery".)
- לְבוּשִׁlevushi· garment
Garment, clothing.
- יַפִּילוּyapilu· fall
Fall; also fall upon (attack), lie down, desert to someone. In the causative form, "make fall", throw down, cast (lots).
- גוֹרָלgoral· lot
Lot: a pebble or object used to decide by drawing; also what falls to someone by lot, a share.
- יְהוָהyehva· YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
- תִּרְחָקtirchak· be far
Be far, go far away; in the causative form, remove far away.
- אֱיָלוּתִeyaluti· strength
Strength: the source from which vigor and help come to someone.
- עֶזְרָתִezrati· help
Help, aid.
- חוּשָׁchusha· hurry; be ready
Hurry, be quick: go in haste or with a willing spirit.