Psalms 22:13

KJV

They gaped upon me [with] their mouths, [as] a ravening and a roaring lion.

KJV (with Strong's)

They gaped {H6475} upon me with their mouths {H6310}, as a ravening {H2963} and a roaring {H7580} lion {H738}.

Complete Jewish Bible

They open their mouths wide against me, like ravening, roaring lions.

Berean Standard Bible

They open their jaws against me like lions that roar and maul.

American Standard Version

They gape upon me with their mouth, Asa ravening and a roaring lion.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 22:13 vividly portrays the psalmist's overwhelming sense of vulnerability and terror in the face of relentless adversaries. The imagery of enemies "gaping" with open mouths, likened to a "ravening and a roaring lion," communicates an intense, predatory hostility aimed at devouring and destroying. This verse captures the profound psychological and physical threat experienced by the suffering righteous, foreshadowing the ultimate suffering of the Messiah.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 22:13 appears within a profound lament psalm, often considered the most significant Messianic psalm in the Old Testament. The psalm opens with the agonizing cry, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" ([Psalms 22:1](/psalms/22-1 "Psalms 22:1 - The Cry of Abandonment")), setting a tone of deep suffering and abandonment. Prior to verse 13, the psalmist describes being scorned and mocked by people ([Psalms 22:6-8](/psalms/22-6 "Psalms 22:6-8 - Scorn and Mockery")), feeling utterly alone and helpless. Following verse 13, the imagery intensifies, detailing physical torment and the piercing of hands and feet ([Psalms 22:16](/psalms/22-16 "Psalms 22:16 - Pierced Hands and Feet")) and the dividing of garments ([Psalms 22:18](/psalms/22-18 "Psalms 22:18 - Dividing Garments")), culminating in a dramatic shift to praise and confidence in God's deliverance from [Psalms 22:22](/psalms/22-22 "Psalms 22:22 - From Lament to Praise") onwards, indicating that despite the overwhelming opposition, God ultimately hears and saves.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** While traditionally attributed to David, describing his own experiences of persecution (e.g., from Saul or Absalom), the psalm's language transcends a purely historical account, pointing to a greater suffering. In ancient Israel, lions were a very real and terrifying threat, symbolizing immense power, ferocity, and destructive capability. To be compared to a "ravening and roaring lion" was to be depicted as facing an enemy utterly bent on your destruction, with no hope of escape through human means. The "gaping" mouth could also evoke the public spectacle of mockery and scorn, where enemies would literally open their mouths wide in derision or to shout insults, adding a layer of public humiliation to the physical threat. This imagery would have been immediately understood by an Israelite audience as the epitome of overwhelming, predatory evil.

* **Key Themes:** Psalms 22:13 contributes to several key themes within the psalm and broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it powerfully illustrates the theme of **intense suffering and vulnerability** of the righteous, highlighting how God's chosen ones can face extreme malice and opposition. Secondly, it underscores the theme of **predatory evil**, depicting adversaries not merely as opponents, but as destructive forces seeking to devour and annihilate. This theme resonates with the broader biblical understanding of spiritual warfare, where evil forces seek to destroy faith and life. Thirdly, within the context of Psalm 22 as a whole, it contributes to the profound theme of **Messianic prophecy**, as the suffering described here finds its ultimate and most vivid fulfillment in the passion of Jesus Christ, who faced precisely this kind of ravening, roaring hostility from His persecutors, as seen in the accounts of His trial and crucifixion in the Gospels (e.g., [Matthew 27](/matthew/27 "Matthew 27 - The Crucifixion of Jesus")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Gaped (Hebrew, _patsû_):** Derived from the root פָּצָה (patsah), meaning "to open wide," "to gape," or "to split open." In this context, it describes the enemies opening their mouths in a hostile manner. This can signify mockery, scorn, or a predatory action, as if to swallow or devour the victim. It conveys a terrifying, aggressive display, indicating both verbal assault and destructive intent.
* **Ravening (Hebrew, _ṭōrēf_):** From the verb טָרַף (ṭāraph), meaning "to tear," "to rend," or "to prey upon." This term vividly describes the destructive and violent nature of the lion, emphasizing its intent to tear apart and consume its victim. It highlights the brutal, merciless character of the adversaries, who are not merely threatening but actively seeking to dismember and destroy.
* **Roaring (Hebrew, _šōʾēg_):** From the verb שָׁאַג (sha'ag), meaning "to roar" (specifically of a lion). The roar of a lion is a sound of immense power, intimidation, and a prelude to a deadly attack. It signifies an open, terrifying threat designed to instill fear, paralyze its prey, and assert dominance. In this verse, it underscores the overwhelming, terrifying nature of the opposition, whose very presence is designed to demoralize and terrify.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"They gaped upon me [with] their mouths":** This clause describes the immediate, visceral action of the adversaries. "Gaped" suggests a wide, open mouth, which can signify several things:
* **Mockery and Scorn:** As seen in other psalms, enemies often "open their mouth wide" in derision (e.g., [Psalms 35:21](/psalms/35-21 "Psalms 35:21 - Enemies Mocking")). This implies verbal abuse, taunts, and public humiliation.
* **Predatory Intent:** The open mouth is also the primary tool of a predator, ready to seize and devour its prey. This conveys a profound sense of vulnerability and imminent danger.
* **"[as] a ravening and a roaring lion":** This simile provides the powerful imagery that defines the nature of the adversaries.
* **"a ravening... lion":** The term "ravening" (or "tearing") emphasizes the destructive, violent, and consuming nature of the enemy. They are not just hostile; they are actively seeking to tear apart and destroy the psalmist, much like a lion tears its prey.
* **"and a roaring lion":** The "roaring" aspect adds an element of terror and intimidation. A lion's roar is meant to paralyze its prey with fear before the attack. This suggests that the enemies' actions and words are designed to instill overwhelming dread and helplessness in the psalmist, signifying a public, terrifying display of power and intent to destroy.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 22:13 is rich in **imagery** and **simile**, powerfully conveying the psalmist's dire situation. The central literary device is the **simile** comparing the adversaries to "a ravening and a roaring lion." This comparison is incredibly effective because the lion was a universally recognized symbol of power, ferocity, and destructive capability in the ancient world. The use of the adjectives "ravening" and "roaring" intensifies the imagery, adding layers of meaning: "ravening" (or tearing) emphasizes the violent, destructive intent, while "roaring" highlights the terrifying, intimidating aspect of the enemies' presence and actions. The phrase "gaped upon me [with] their mouths" uses **synecdoche**, where "mouths" represent the full aggressive posture and verbal assault of the enemies, while also preparing the reader for the predatory lion imagery. The vividness of these devices evokes a strong emotional response, allowing the reader to viscerally feel the psalmist's terror and vulnerability.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 22:13, with its terrifying imagery of predatory enemies, connects deeply with the biblical understanding of suffering, evil, and divine deliverance. The "ravening and roaring lion" serves as a potent metaphor for overwhelming, destructive forces, whether human adversaries driven by malice or the spiritual forces of evil. Theologically, it highlights the reality of intense opposition faced by the righteous, often without apparent human recourse. Yet, within the broader context of Psalm 22, which moves from profound lament to triumphant praise, this verse ultimately points to God's ultimate sovereignty over all such destructive powers. The suffering described, though real and terrifying, is not the final word; God's salvation is.

* [Psalms 7:2](/psalms/7-2 "Psalms 7:2 - Deliverance from the Lion")
* [Jeremiah 50:17](/jeremiah/50-17 "Jeremiah 50:17 - Israel as Scattered Sheep")
* [1 Peter 5:8](/1_peter/5-8 "1 Peter 5:8 - The Roaring Lion, Our Adversary")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The raw vulnerability expressed in Psalms 22:13 resonates deeply with the human experience of facing overwhelming opposition, whether from malicious individuals, societal pressures, or spiritual attacks. It reminds us that the Christian walk is not always one of ease, but often involves encountering hostility that seeks to devour our peace, faith, or even our very lives. This verse calls us to acknowledge the reality of such predatory evil, both human and spiritual, without succumbing to despair. Instead, it invites us to identify with the suffering of the psalmist and, ultimately, with Christ, who endured the ultimate "ravening and roaring" hostility. In recognizing the intensity of the threat, we are then better positioned to appreciate the magnitude of God's deliverance and the power of His ultimate victory, finding courage to stand firm even when surrounded by seemingly insurmountable threats, knowing that our trust is in a God who triumphs over all adversaries.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways do you experience "gaping mouths" or "roaring lions" in your own life, whether through criticism, opposition, or spiritual attack?**
* **How does understanding the intensity of the psalmist's (and Christ's) suffering in this verse deepen your empathy and faith?**
* **What specific actions can you take to trust in God's deliverance when you feel vulnerable and overwhelmed by adversarial forces?**

### FAQ
**What is the primary meaning of the "ravening and roaring lion" imagery in this verse?**

Answer: The "ravening and roaring lion" imagery primarily signifies overwhelming, predatory, and destructive hostility. "Ravening" (or tearing) emphasizes the intent to violently tear apart and consume, highlighting the brutal nature of the adversaries. "Roaring" signifies intimidation, power, and a prelude to a terrifying attack, designed to instill fear and paralyze the victim. Together, they depict enemies who are not merely opposing but actively seeking to annihilate the psalmist, both physically and psychologically. This imagery powerfully conveys the psalmist's sense of extreme vulnerability and imminent destruction at the hands of relentless, animalistic foes.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 22:13 finds its most profound and direct Christ-centered fulfillment in the passion of Jesus Christ. While the psalmist, likely David, experienced personal persecution, the language here transcends his individual trials, becoming a prophetic blueprint for the Messiah's suffering. The "gaping mouths" vividly prefigure the verbal abuse, mockery, and scorn directed at Jesus by the crowds, religious leaders, and Roman soldiers during His trial and crucifixion, as recorded in the Gospels (e.g., [Matthew 27:39-44](/matthew/27-39 "Matthew 27:39-44 - Mockery at the Cross") and [Mark 15:29-32](/mark/15-29 "Mark 15:29-32 - Those Who Passed By Reviled Him")). The "ravening and roaring lion" imagery powerfully depicts the relentless, predatory malice of those who sought His death, not merely as human enemies but as instruments of spiritual evil. This verse underscores the brutal, dehumanizing nature of the opposition Jesus faced, culminating in His ultimate sacrifice. It reminds us that the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), willingly endured the full force of this "lion-like" hostility to secure our salvation, demonstrating His unparalleled suffering and His ultimate triumph over all the forces of darkness, including the true "roaring lion" who seeks to devour souls ([1 Peter 5:8](/1_peter/5-8 "1 Peter 5:8 - The Roaring Lion, Our Adversary")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Peter 5:8

¶ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Psalms 35:21

Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, [and] said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen [it].

Lamentations 2:16

All thine enemies have opened their mouth against thee: they hiss and gnash the teeth: they say, We have swallowed [her] up: certainly this [is] the day that we looked for; we have found, we have seen [it].

Psalms 17:12

Like as a lion [that] is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.

Lamentations 3:46

All our enemies have opened their mouths against us.

Job 16:10

They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.

Matthew 26:59

Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;