Matthew 27:46

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

And {G1161} about {G4012} the ninth {G1766} hour {G5610} Jesus {G2424} cried {G310} with a loud {G3173} voice {G5456}, saying {G3004}, Eli {G2241}, Eli {G2241}, lama {G2982} sabachthani {G4518}? that {G5123} is to say, My {G3450} God {G2316}, my {G3450} God {G2316}, why {G2444} hast thou forsaken {G1459} me {G3165}?

At about three, Yeshua uttered a loud cry, "Eli! Eli! L'mah sh'vaktani? (My God! My God! Why have you deserted me?)"

About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Matthew 27:46 captures one of the most profound and heart-wrenching moments of Jesus' crucifixion: His cry from the cross, expressing a sense of divine abandonment. This verse is central to understanding the depth of Christ's suffering and the theological significance of His atoning work.

Context

This pivotal cry occurs "about the ninth hour" (approximately 3 PM), marking the culmination of six hours Jesus had endured on the cross. Prior to this, a supernatural darkness had covered the entire land from the sixth hour (noon) until this moment (Matthew 27:45). This period of darkness likely symbolized God's judgment on sin and the spiritual agony Jesus was undergoing as He bore the weight of humanity's transgressions. Jesus' words are not a cry of despair, but rather a profound expression of His experience of being utterly separated from the Father due to the sin He carried.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" is a transliteration of Aramaic (with "Eli" being Hebrew for "My God"). This powerful declaration directly quotes Psalm 22:1, a messianic psalm that vividly describes the suffering of the righteous one. By quoting this psalm, Jesus not only verbalized His agony but also subtly pointed to the prophetic fulfillment of His suffering recorded centuries earlier. The word sabachthani means "you have forsaken me" or "you have left me." This "forsaking" is not a rupture of the Trinity or a loss of Jesus' divine nature, but rather the Father turning away from the Son who, at that moment, was identified with all human sin, bearing the full wrath and judgment against it.

Key Themes

  • Divine Abandonment (for Sin's Sake): The core message is Jesus experiencing separation from God the Father as He became the ultimate sin offering. This is the essence of the atonement, where the sinless Son took on the full penalty for humanity's sin, enduring the spiritual death (separation from God) that sin causes.
  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: Jesus' cry explicitly fulfills Psalm 22:1, underscoring the divine plan behind His suffering and death. His entire crucifixion narrative aligns with Old Testament prophecies.
  • The Humanity of Christ: This cry highlights Jesus' genuine human suffering. He truly experienced the pain, isolation, and spiritual desolation that comes from being forsaken, demonstrating His full humanity alongside His divinity.
  • The Cost of Redemption: Matthew 27:46 reveals the immense cost of salvation. God's love for humanity was so great that He allowed His Son to endure this ultimate separation, ensuring that those who believe would never be truly forsaken (Hebrews 13:5).

Practical Application

This verse offers profound insights for believers today. It assures us that Jesus fully comprehends the deepest human suffering, including feelings of abandonment or isolation. More importantly, it reminds us of the terrible consequence of sin and the incredible, sacrificial love of God. Because Jesus was forsaken on the cross, believers can have the confidence that they will never be truly forsaken by God. His cry secures our eternal reconciliation and communion with the Father.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 22:1

    ¶ To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? [why art thou so] far from helping me, [and from] the words of my roaring?

  • Hebrews 5:7

    Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

  • Isaiah 53:10

    ¶ Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put [him] to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see [his] seed, he shall prolong [his] days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

  • Mark 15:34

    And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

  • Psalms 71:11

    Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for [there is] none to deliver [him].

  • John 19:28

    After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.

  • John 19:30

    When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

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