Psalms 22:15

KJV

My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

KJV (with Strong's)

My strength {H3581} is dried up {H3001} like a potsherd {H2789}; and my tongue {H3956} cleaveth {H1692} to my jaws {H4455}; and thou hast brought {H8239} me into the dust {H6083} of death {H4194}.

Complete Jewish Bible

my mouth is as dry as a fragment of a pot, my tongue sticks to my palate; you lay me down in the dust of death.

Berean Standard Bible

My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You lay me in the dust of death.

American Standard Version

My strength is dried up like a potsherd; And my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; And thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 22:15 graphically portrays a state of profound physical and existential collapse, depicting the psalmist's strength as utterly depleted, his body ravaged by extreme dehydration, and his very being brought to the precipice of death. This verse, embedded within a deeply moving lament, serves as a poignant expression of human vulnerability in the face of overwhelming suffering, while simultaneously carrying immense prophetic weight, foreshadowing the ultimate agony of the Messiah.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 22 is a remarkable lament psalm, often categorized as a psalm of individual complaint, yet it transitions powerfully from deep despair to confident praise. The psalm opens with the iconic cry of abandonment in [Psalms 22:1](/psalms/22-1 "Psalm 22:1 - My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"), setting a tone of profound suffering. Verse 15 falls within the initial section of intense lament (verses 1-21), where the psalmist describes his physical and emotional deterioration in vivid, visceral terms. It follows descriptions of being poured out like water and bones being out of joint ([Psalms 22:14](/psalms/22-14 "Psalm 22:14 - Poured out like water, bones out of joint")), escalating the imagery of physical dissolution and imminent death. This verse specifically details the internal, drying agony that precedes the final surrender to the grave, leading directly into the plea for deliverance from the power of the dog and the lion ([Psalms 22:16-21](/psalms/22-16 "Psalm 22:16 - Dogs have compassed me")). The shift to praise and global worship in the latter half of the psalm ([Psalms 22:22-31](/psalms/22-22 "Psalm 22:22 - I will declare thy name unto my brethren")) provides a dramatic contrast, highlighting God's ultimate faithfulness despite the depths of suffering.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** While traditionally attributed to David, the specific historical circumstances that prompted such a profound lament are not explicitly stated. However, David's life was marked by numerous periods of intense persecution, betrayal, and near-death experiences (e.g., flight from Saul, Absalom's rebellion). The imagery used in the psalm, such as being surrounded by "dogs" or "bulls of Bashan," reflects the real and perceived threats from enemies in ancient Near Eastern society. The reference to "potsherd" evokes common household items, emphasizing the fragility and worthlessness of a broken vessel. The "dust of death" is a potent ancient Israelite metaphor for the grave and the state of mortality, recalling the creation narrative where humanity is formed from dust and returns to it upon death ([Genesis 3:19](/genesis/3-19 "Genesis 3:19 - To dust thou shalt return")). The experience of extreme thirst and its debilitating effects would have been a common and terrifying reality in the arid climate of the ancient Near East, making the description of the tongue cleaving to the jaws particularly relatable and horrifying to the original audience.
* **Key Themes:** Psalms 22:15 powerfully contributes to several key themes within the psalm and broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **extreme human suffering and vulnerability**, portraying a body utterly failing under duress, stripped of strength and vitality. Secondly, it highlights the theme of **divine abandonment (or perceived abandonment)**, as the psalmist feels God has brought him to this point, even as he cries out to God. This paradox of divine sovereignty in suffering is central. Thirdly, the verse deepens the theme of **imminent death and the grave**, emphasizing the psalmist's desperate proximity to the end of life. Finally, and most significantly, it serves as a crucial element in the psalm's overarching **Messianic prophecy**, providing remarkably specific details of physical agony that find their ultimate fulfillment in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The vivid portrayal of thirst, weakness, and the descent into death in this verse contributes to the profound and detailed prophetic picture of the suffering servant that permeates the entire psalm, connecting it to later prophetic texts like [Isaiah 53](/isaiah/53 "Isaiah 53 - The Suffering Servant").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Potsherd (Hebrew, _ḥeresh_):** This word refers to a broken piece of pottery, typically dry, brittle, and without any moisture or intrinsic value. The simile "dried up like a potsherd" vividly conveys a complete loss of vitality, moisture, and strength. It suggests a state of utter desiccation, where the body's life-giving fluids have evaporated, leaving it as fragile and useless as a shattered clay vessel.
* **Cleaveth (Hebrew, _dabaq_):** This verb means to cling, stick, or adhere strongly. When applied to the tongue cleaving to the jaws, it describes an extreme and agonizing state of dehydration where the mouth is so parched that the tongue literally sticks to the roof of the mouth and the inside of the cheeks, making speech and swallowing incredibly difficult or impossible. It signifies a profound physical distress, a common symptom of severe thirst and impending death.
* **Dust of death (Hebrew, _ʿaphar mawet_):** This powerful phrase combines "dust" (referring to the earth from which humanity was formed and to which it returns) with "death." It is a poetic and profound way of saying "the grave" or the state of being utterly dead and buried. The psalmist is not merely near death, but has been brought into the very realm or condition of death, emphasizing the finality and helplessness of his situation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"My strength is dried up like a potsherd":** This clause initiates the physical description of extreme suffering. The psalmist's vital energy, vigor, and physical power are depicted as completely evaporated, leaving him brittle and frail like a discarded shard of pottery. This imagery conveys a profound loss of internal moisture and life force, indicating a body on the verge of collapse.
* **"and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws":** Following the general description of dryness, this clause provides a specific, agonizing detail of severe dehydration. The tongue, essential for speech and consumption, is rendered useless, stuck to the mouth due to an absolute lack of moisture. This highlights intense thirst and physical torment, making even the most basic bodily functions excruciating or impossible.
* **"and thou hast brought me into the dust of death":** This final clause attributes the psalmist's dire state directly to God's agency ("thou hast brought me"). Despite the psalmist's cries, he perceives God as the one who has led him to this ultimate point of vulnerability – the very threshold of the grave. "Dust of death" profoundly symbolizes the return to the earth, the ultimate end of mortal life, emphasizing the psalmist's complete helplessness and imminent demise.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 22:15 is rich with compelling literary devices that amplify its message of profound suffering. The most prominent is **Simile**, evident in "My strength is dried up like a potsherd," which draws a powerful comparison between the psalmist's depleted vitality and a dry, brittle piece of pottery. This effectively conveys a sense of utter desiccation and fragility. **Hyperbole** is also at play, as the descriptions of strength being "dried up" and the tongue "cleaving to the jaws" exaggerate natural symptoms of distress to emphasize the extreme, almost unbearable agony. While the psalmist is not literally a potsherd, the imagery evokes a complete and total loss of life-sustaining moisture. Furthermore, the phrase "thou hast brought me into the dust of death" employs **Divine Agency** or **Theodicy**, where the psalmist directly attributes his suffering, even to the point of death, to God's sovereign hand. This highlights a theological tension common in laments, where the sufferer grapples with God's perceived role in their affliction. The overall effect of these devices is a vivid, visceral portrayal of a body and spirit pushed to the absolute limit, teetering on the brink of extinction.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 22:15 serves as a profound theological statement on the nature of human suffering and divine sovereignty. It illustrates that even the most righteous can experience the depths of physical and existential agony, to the point of feeling utterly abandoned and on the brink of death. The psalmist's cry, while deeply personal, resonates with the universal human experience of vulnerability and the fear of mortality. Theologically, the verse raises questions about God's presence in suffering: Is God absent, or is God actively bringing one into such a state? The psalmist's raw honesty in attributing his condition to God ("thou hast brought me") underscores a deep, albeit struggling, faith that acknowledges God's ultimate control, even over the processes of life and death. This verse, therefore, is not merely a description of pain but a theological grappling with the divine hand in human affliction, setting the stage for the psalm's eventual turn to praise and the affirmation of God's deliverance.

* [Psalms 69:21](/psalms/69-21 "Psalm 69:21 - For they gave me gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.")
* [Lamentations 4:4](/lamentations/4-4 "Lamentations 4:4 - The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst.")
* [Isaiah 53:3](/isaiah/53-3 "Isaiah 53:3 - He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 22:15 offers a stark, unvarnished look at the reality of human suffering, portraying a level of physical and emotional desolation that many can relate to in their own moments of deep distress, illness, or despair. It reminds us that vulnerability is an intrinsic part of the human condition, and that even the most faithful can feel their strength evaporate, their spirit parched, and the shadow of death loom large. For the believer, this verse provides a profound sense of solidarity with the psalmist, and more importantly, with Christ Himself, who perfectly embodied this suffering. It teaches us that our moments of weakness, thirst, and feeling "brought to the dust of death" are not outside the scope of divine understanding or experience. Instead, they are opportunities to lean into the God who knows our frame and remembers that we are dust, yet also the God who promises resurrection and life beyond the grave. It calls us to acknowledge our limitations, to cry out honestly in our pain, and to trust that even in our deepest valleys, there is a path to ultimate hope and restoration, mirroring the psalm's own journey from lament to praise.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the imagery of "strength dried up like a potsherd" resonate with your own experiences of physical or emotional depletion?**
* **In what ways have you felt "brought into the dust of death," either literally or metaphorically, and how did you respond?**
* **How does understanding the depth of this suffering, both in the psalmist and in Christ, deepen your empathy for others who are suffering?**
* **What does it mean to attribute your suffering to God's hand ("thou hast brought me") while still crying out for deliverance?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of the "potsherd" imagery in Psalms 22:15?**

Answer: The "potsherd" (a broken piece of pottery) is significant because it represents extreme dryness, brittleness, and a complete lack of moisture or vitality. Pottery is formed from clay and then fired, making it hard and dry. A broken piece is discarded and useless. By comparing his strength to a potsherd, the psalmist vividly conveys a total loss of internal moisture, energy, and life force, as if his very being has become parched and fragile, on the verge of crumbling. This imagery emphasizes the severity of his physical and spiritual exhaustion, indicating a near-fatal condition where all life-sustaining vigor has been drained away.

**Does "thou hast brought me into the dust of death" imply God is causing the suffering?**

Answer: This phrase reflects the psalmist's raw and honest lament, attributing his dire state directly to God's sovereign hand. In ancient Israelite theology, God was understood as ultimately sovereign over all things, including life and death, blessing and suffering. While this does not necessarily imply God is maliciously causing the suffering, it acknowledges that nothing happens outside of His ultimate permission or plan. The psalmist is not blaming God in a rebellious sense, but rather expressing his deep distress and seeking to understand God's role in his affliction. It's a cry of profound vulnerability and a desperate plea to the One who holds the power of life and death, even when feeling abandoned. This wrestling with God's sovereignty in suffering is a common theme throughout the Psalms and other wisdom literature (e.g., [Job 1:21](/job/1-21 "Job 1:21 - The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 22:15 finds its most profound and complete fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, particularly during His crucifixion. The agonizing physical descriptions in this verse precisely prefigure the suffering of the Messiah. The psalmist's cry, "My strength is dried up like a potsherd," perfectly encapsulates the utter physical depletion Jesus experienced on the cross, His body ravaged by scourging, beatings, and the excruciating process of crucifixion. The subsequent phrase, "and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws," is a direct and chilling prophecy of Jesus' intense thirst, explicitly fulfilled when He declared, "I thirst," from the cross, as recorded in [John 19:28](/john/19-28 "John 19:28 - Jesus said, 'I thirst'"). This was not merely a physical sensation but a profound expression of His complete human vulnerability and the depth of His suffering for humanity's sin. Finally, "and thou hast brought me into the dust of death" powerfully foreshadows Jesus' ultimate sacrifice: His descent into death, His burial, and His return to the dust of the earth, as He truly "humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death")). Through this verse, we see the Messiah, the sinless Son of God, fully embracing the human experience of suffering and mortality, even to the point of death, so that by His suffering ([Isaiah 53:5](/isaiah/53-5 "Isaiah 53:5 - He was wounded for our transgressions")), humanity might find life and redemption. He endured this ultimate agony, not for His own sin, but for ours, demonstrating His perfect empathy as our High Priest ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - A high priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses")) and the immeasurable love of God ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us")).

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

John 19:28

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

Psalms 69:3

I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.

Isaiah 53:12

Therefore will I divide him [a portion] with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Psalms 38:10

My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.

Psalms 69:21

They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

1 Corinthians 15:3

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

Psalms 32:3

When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.