Psalms 22:18

They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

They part {H2505} my garments {H899} among them, and cast {H5307} lots {H1486} upon my vesture {H3830}.

They divide my garments among themselves; for my clothing they throw dice.

They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.

They part my garments among them, And upon my vesture do they cast lots.

Commentary

Commentary on Psalms 22:18 (KJV)

Psalms 22:18: "They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture."

Context

Psalm 22 is a profound and intensely prophetic psalm, often referred to as "The Psalm of the Cross" or "The Messianic Psalm of Suffering." It begins with the agonizing cry, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Psalm 22:1), words famously uttered by Jesus on the cross. The psalm vividly describes the immense suffering, humiliation, and abandonment of a righteous individual surrounded by hostile enemies. Despite the deep despair expressed, it ultimately transitions to a declaration of God's faithfulness and a vision of future worldwide praise.

Key Themes

  • Profound Suffering and Humiliation: The act of stripping someone of their clothing and dividing it among onlookers was a public display of utter degradation and contempt in ancient cultures. It signified complete powerlessness and shame.
  • Prophecy and Divine Foresight: This verse stands out as a remarkably precise foretelling of events that would occur centuries later. It underscores the Bible's unique nature as a book with predictive elements.
  • Loss and Deprivation: The parting of garments symbolizes the complete loss of personal possessions and dignity for the one suffering.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew text uses two distinct words for clothing: "garments" (בְּגָדִים, bəḡāḏîm), referring to outer, more common attire, and "vesture" (לְבוּשׁ, ləḇûš), which can denote a finer, inner garment or tunic. The distinction suggests that all personal belongings, from the outer cloak to the inner tunic, were taken. The phrase "cast lots" (יַפִּילוּ גוֹרָל, yapîlū gôrāl) describes a common method of random distribution, highlighting the callous and indifferent manner in which the sufferer's possessions were divided.

Prophetic Significance

Psalms 22:18 is one of the most direct and compelling Old Testament prophecies concerning the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Its fulfillment is explicitly recorded in the New Testament Gospels:

  • John 19:23-24 states: "Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots."
  • Similar accounts are found in Matthew 27:35, Mark 15:24, and Luke 23:34.

The precise nature of this prophecy, down to the detail of casting lots for a seamless tunic, underscores the divine inspiration of Scripture and the foreknowledge of God regarding the suffering of the Messiah.

Practical Application

  • Confidence in God's Word: The exact fulfillment of this prophecy strengthens our faith in the reliability and truth of the Bible. What God declares will come to pass.
  • Understanding Christ's Sacrifice: This verse deepens our appreciation for the immense suffering and humiliation Jesus endured on our behalf. He was stripped of everything, including His dignity, to provide us with salvation and eternal glory.
  • Enduring Humiliation: When we face moments of shame, injustice, or loss of dignity, we can remember that Christ Himself endured the ultimate humiliation, becoming a powerful example and source of strength for us.

Reflection

Psalms 22:18 is a poignant reminder of the cost of redemption. It points directly to the cross, where the Son of God, in His ultimate act of love, allowed Himself to be stripped bare and subjected to the cruel indifference of humanity, all in fulfillment of divine prophecy. It calls us to marvel at God's intricate plan and the depth of Christ's sacrifice, leading to a greater understanding of God's unconditional love for humanity.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Matthew 27:35

    And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.

  • Luke 23:34

    Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

  • Mark 15:24

    And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.

  • John 19:23

    Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also [his] coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.

  • John 19:24

    They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.
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