Psalm-22

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Tanakh versions:

Throughout this site I may use any of the following three versions of the TaNaKh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. Mechon-Mamre.org” (MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org” (SEF).

Colour coded details of the - TaNaKh:

1. Torah = History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.

*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.

Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold

wondrous things out of Thy Law!

Tehillim - Psalm 119:18..

(JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).

Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.

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Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!

“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).

However, sadly both the later priests as well as our rabbis of long ago have shamefully disobeyed this command of אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם קָדוֹשׁוֹ - ‘Baruch Shem Kadosho’ – ‘Blessed be His Holy Name!’

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“Tehillim - Psalm 22”

With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

Introduction:

Tehillim - Psalm 22 is a powerful lament that begins with the cry “My אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, my אֱלֹהִים, why hast Thou forsaken me?” And it moves from despair through vivid images of suffering to trust, vindication, and universal praise, useful for teaching about suffering, honest prayer, and hope.

Let us read Tehillim - Psalm Chapter 22: (JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).

1. “For the Leader; upon Aijeleth ha-Shahar. A Psalm of David”.
2. My אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, my אֱלֹהִים, why hast Thou forsaken me, and art far from my help at the words of my cry?
3. O my אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, I call by day, but Thou answerest not; and at night, and there is no surcease for me.
4. Yet Thou art holy, O Thou that art enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
5. In Thee did our fathers trust; they trusted, and Thou didst deliver them.
6. Unto Thee they cried, and escaped; in Thee did they trust, and were not ashamed.
7. But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
8. All they that see me laugh me to scorn; they shoot out the lip, they shake the head:
9. 'Let him commit himself unto יְהוָה - the LORD! let Him rescue him; let Him deliver him, seeing He delighteth in him.'
10. For Thou art He that took me out of the womb; Thou madest me trust when I was upon my mother's breasts.
11. Upon Thee I have been cast from my birth; Thou art my אֱלֹהִים - Elohim from my mother’s womb.
12. Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
13. Many bulls have encompassed me; strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
14. They open wide their mouth against me, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
15. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint;
my heart is become like wax; it is melted in mine inmost parts.
16. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my throat; and Thou layest me in the dust of death.
17. For dogs have encompassed me; a company of evil-doers have inclosed me; like a lion, they are at my hands and my feet.
18. I may count all my bones; they look and gloat over me.
19. They part my garments among them, and for my vesture do they cast lots.
20. But Thou, O יְהוָה - LORD, be not far off; O Thou my strength, hasten to help me.
21. Deliver my soul from the sword; mine only one from the power of the dog.
22. Save me from the lion's mouth; yea, from the horns of the wild-oxen do Thou answer me.
23. I will declare Thy Name unto my brethren; in the midst of the congregation will I praise Thee.
24. ‘Ye that fear יְהוָה - the LORD, praise Him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify Him;
and stand in awe of Him, all ye the seed of Israel.
25. For He hath not despised nor abhorred the lowliness of the poor; neither hath He hid His face from him;
but when he cried unto Him, He heard’.
26. From Thee cometh my praise in the great congregation; I will pay my vows before them that fear Him.
27. Let the humble eat and be satisfied; let them praise יְהוָה - the LORD that seek after Him;
may your heart be quickened for ever!
28. All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn unto יְהוָה - the LORD;
and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before Thee.
29. For the kingdom is יְהוָה - the LORD’s; and He is the ruler over the nations.
30. All the fat ones of the earth shall eat and worship; all they that go down to the dust shall kneel before Him,
even he that cannot keep his soul alive.
31. A seed shall serve him; it shall be told of יְהוָה - the LORD unto the next generation.
32. They shall come and shall declare His righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that He hath done it”.

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Let us now view the ‘verse by verse’ that has texts and brief explanations.

1. “For the Leader; upon Aijeleth ha-Shahar. A Psalm of David”.

2. “My אֱלֹהִים -Elohim my אֱלֹהִים, why hast Thou forsaken me?”

Explanation: The psalm opens with raw abandonment, modelling honest address to אֱלֹהִים.

3. “O my אֱלֹהִים, I cry by day, but Thou answerest not; and at night, and there is no surcease for me”.

Explanation: Persistent prayer meets apparent silence.

4. “Yet Thou art holy ... enthroned upon the praises of Israel”.

Explanation: Even in silence the psalmist affirms אֱלֹהִים -Elohim’s holiness.

5. “In Thee did our fathers trust ... Thou didst deliver them”.

Explanation: Memory of past deliverance grounds present plea.

6. “Unto Thee they cried, and escaped...”

Explanation: The tradition of trust and rescue is recalled.

7. “But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men ...”

Explanation: Self-abasement highlights extreme suffering.

8. “All they that see me laugh me to scorn ...”

Explanation: Public mockery compounds the pain.

9. “‘Let Him commit himself unto יְהוָה - the LORD; let Him rescue him’”.

Explanation: Taunting irony from onlookers.

10. “For Thou art He that took me out of the womb ...”

Explanation: Intimate dependence on אֱלֹהִים - Elohim from birth is affirmed.

11. “Upon Thee I was cast from my birth; Thou art my אֱלֹהִים - Elohim from my mother’s womb”.

Explanation: Repeats lifelong reliance on אֱלֹהִים - Elohim.

12: Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.

Explanation: Urgent plea for אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s nearness.

13. “Many bulls have compassed me ...”

Explanation: Enemies are pictured as powerful beasts.

14. “They open wide their mouth against me, as a ravening and roaring lion”.

Explanation: Threat is both verbal and physical.

15. “I am poured out like water ... my heart is become like wax”.

Explanation: Physical collapse and utter weakness.

16. “My strength is dried up ... and Thou layest me in the dust of death”.

Explanation: Near‑death imagery intensifies the lament.

17. “For dogs have compassed me ...”

Explanation: Degrading surround and assault.

18. “I may count all my bones; they look and gloat over me”.

Explanation: Enemies gloat over the sufferer’s ruin.

19. “They part my garments among them ...”

Explanation: Humiliation and stripping are foretold.

20. “But be not Thou far from me, O יְהוָה - LORD; O my strength, haste to help me”.

Explanation: Repeated urgent appeal for rescue.

21. Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog”.

Explanation: Specific petitions for life and loved ones.

22. Save me from the lion’s mouth...”

Explanation: Prayer for rescue from mortal danger.

23. I will declare Thy name unto my brethren...”

Explanation: Promise of public testimony after deliverance.

24. “Ye that fear יְהוָה - the LORD, praise Him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify Him”.

Explanation: Call to communal praise.

25. “For He hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted...”

Explanation: Assurance that אֱלֹהִים - Elohim hears the humble.

26. “My praise shall be of Thee in the great congregation...”

Explanation: Vow to praise publicly.

27. The meek shall eat and be satisfied...”

Explanation: Promise of provision for the humble.

28. “All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto יְהוָה - the LORD...”

Explanation: Universal scope of future worship.

29. “For the kingdom is יְהוָה - the LORD’s...”

Explanation: Cosmic claim of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s sovereignty.

30. “All the fat ones of the earth shall eat and worship...”

Explanation: Even the powerful will bow.

31. “Posterity shall serve Him; it shall be told of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim the LORD to the coming generation”.

Explanation: Legacy of testimony.

32. “They shall come and shall declare His righteousness unto a people that shall be born...”

Explanation: Final note of enduring proclamation and hope!

My Closing message:

Psalm 22 teaches that honest lament can coexist with memory, trust, and eventual praise; it guides us to bring raw suffering before אֱלֹהִים - Elohim while anchoring hope in אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s past faithfulness and promised vindication.

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Please Note: “hebraicstudies” links are located down the page!

This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!

Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following via several of our prophets...

“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).

And Remember ...

Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!

אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ אוֹתָם

וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem; walk in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem”. Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).

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“Hebraic Studies” motto is as follows;

“The More Torah, the More Life”

For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, Blessed be His Sanctified Name,

He is the one who gave us our Life!”

May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s (Prayers) and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s (blessings) before food and drinks, etc!

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!

Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

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