TRV
Study This Verse
Commentary on Psalms 22 verses 11–21
In these verses we have Christ suffering and Christ praying, by which we are directed to look for crosses and to look up to God under them.
I. Here is Christ suffering. David indeed was often in trouble, and beset with enemies; but many of the particulars here specified are such as were never true of David, and therefore must be appropriated to Christ in the depth of his humiliation.
1.He is here deserted by his friends: Trouble and distress are near, and there is none to help, none to uphold, Psa 22:11. He trod the wine-press alone; for all his disciples forsook him and fled. It is God's honour to help when all other helps and succours fail.
2.He is here insulted and surrounded by his enemies, such as were of a higher rank, who for their strength and fury, are compared to bulls, strong bulls of Bashan (Psa 22:12), fat and fed to the full, haughty and sour; such were the chief priests and elders that persecuted Christ; and others of a lower rank, who are compared to dogs (Psa 22:16), filthy and greedy, and unwearied in running him down. There was an assembly of the wicked plotting against him (Psa 22:16); for the chief priests sat in council, to consult of ways and means to take Christ. These enemies were numerous and unanimous: "Many, and those of different and clashing interests among themselves, as Herod and Pilate, have agreed to compass me. They have carried their plot far, and seem to have gained their point, for they have beset me round, Psa 22:12. They have enclosed me, Psa 22:16. They are formidable and threatening (Psa 22:13): They gaped upon me with their mouths, to show me that they would swallow me up; and this with as much strength and fierceness as a roaring ravening lion leaps upon his prey."
3.He is here crucified. The very manner of his death is described, though never in use among the Jews: They pierced my hands and my feet (Psa 22:16), which were nailed to the accursed tree, and the whole body left so to hang, the effect of which must needs be the most exquisite pain and torture. There is no one passage in all the Old Testament which the Jews have so industriously corrupted as this, because it is such an eminent prediction of the death of Christ and was so exactly fulfilled.
4.He is here dying (Psa 22:14, Psa 22:15), dying in pain and anguish, because he was to satisfy for sin, which brought in pain, and for which we must otherwise have lain in everlasting anguish. Here is, (1.) The dissolution of the whole frame of his body: I am poured out like water, weak as water, and yielding to the power of death, emptying himself of all the supports of his human nature. (2.) The dislocation of his bones. Care was taken that not one of them should be broken (Joh 19:36), but they were all out of joint by the violent stretching of his body upon the cross as upon a rack. Or it may denote the fear that seized him in his agony in the garden, when he began to be sore amazed, the effect of which perhaps was (as sometimes it has been of great fear, Dan 5:6), that the joints of his loins were loosed and his knees smote one against another. His bones were put out of joint that he might put the whole creation into joint again, which sin had put out of joint, and might make our broken bones to rejoice. (3.) The colliquation of his spirits: My heart is like wax, melted to receive the impressions of God's wrath against the sins he undertook to satisfy for, melting away like the vitals of a dying man; and, as this satisfied for the hardness of our hearts, so the consideration of it should help to soften them. When Job speaks of his inward trouble he says, The Almighty makes my heart soft, Job 23:16, and see Psa 58:2. (4.) The failing of his natural force: My strength is dried up; so that he became parched and brittle like a potsherd, the radical moisture being wasted by the fire of divine wrath preying upon his spirits. Who then can stand before God's anger? Or who knows the power of it? If this was done in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry? (5.) The clamminess of his mouth, a usual symptom of approaching death: My tongue cleaveth to my jaws; this was fulfilled both in his thirst upon the cross (Joh 19:28) and in his silence under his sufferings; for, as a sheep before the shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth, nor objected against any thing done to him. (6.) His giving up the ghost: "Thou hast brought me to the dust of death; I am just ready to drop into the grave;" for nothing less would satisfy divine justice. The life of the sinner was forfeited, and therefore the life of the sacrifice must be the ransom for it. The sentence of death passed upon Adam was thus expressed: Unto dust thou shalt return. And therefore Christ, having an eye to that sentence in his obedience to death, here uses a similar expression: Thou hast brought me to the dust of death.
5.He was stripped. The shame of nakedness was the immediate consequence of sin; and therefore our Lord Jesus was stripped of his clothes, when he was crucified, that he might clothe us with the robe of his righteousness, and that the shame of our nakedness might not appear. Now here we are told, (1.) How his body looked when it was thus stripped: I may tell all my bones, Psa 22:17. His blessed body was lean and emaciated with labour, grief, and fasting, during the whole course of his ministry, which made him look as if he was nearly 50 years old when he was yet but 33, as we find, Joh 8:57. His wrinkles now witnessed for him that he was far from being what was called, a gluttonous man and a wine-bibber. Or his bones might be numbered, because his body was distended upon the cross, which made it easy to count his ribs. They look and stare upon me, that is, my bones do, being distorted, and having no flesh to cover them, as Job says (Job 16:8), My leanness, rising up in me, beareth witness to my face. Or "the standers by, the passers by, are amazed to see my bones start out thus; and, instead of pitying me, are pleased even with such a rueful spectacle." (2.) What they did with his clothes, which they took from him (Psa 22:18): They parted my garments among them, to every soldier a part, and upon my vesture, the seamless coat, do they cast lots. This very circumstance was exactly fulfilled, Joh 19:23, Joh 19:24. And though it was no great instance of Christ's suffering, yet it is a great instance of the fulfilling of the scripture in him. Thus it was written, and therefore thus it behoved Christ to suffer. Let this therefore confirm our faith in him as the true Messiah, and inflame our love to him as the best of friends, who loved us and suffered all this for us.
II. Here is Christ praying, and with that supporting himself under the burden of his sufferings. Christ, in his agony, prayed earnestly, prayed that the cup might pass from him. When the prince of this world with his terrors set upon him, gaped upon him as a roaring lion, he fell upon the ground and prayed. And of that David's praying here was a type. He calls God his strength, Psa 22:19. When we cannot rejoice in God as our song, yet let us stay ourselves upon him as out strength, and take the comfort of spiritual supports when we cannot come at spiritual delights. He prays, 1. That God would be with him, and not set himself at a distance from him: Be not thou far from me (Psa 22:11), and again, Psa 22:19. "Whoever stands aloof from my sore, Lord, do not thou." The nearness of trouble should quicken us to draw near to God and then we may hope that he will draw near to us. 2. That he would help him and make haste to help him, help him to bear up under his troubles, that he might not fail nor be discouraged, that he might neither shrink from his undertaking no sink under it. And the Father heard him in that he feared (Heb 5:7) and enabled him to go through with his work. 3. That he would deliver him and save him, Psa 22:20, Psa 22:21. (1.) Observe what the jewel is which he is in care for, "The safety of my soul, my darling; let that be redeemed from the power of the grave, Psa 49:15. Father, into thy hands I commit that, to be conveyed safely to paradise." The psalmist here calls his soul his darling, his only one (so the word is): "My soul is my only one. I have but one soul to take care of, and therefore the greater is my shame if I neglect it and the greater will the loss be if I let it perish. Being my only one, it ought to be my darling, for the eternal welfare of which I ought to be deeply concerned. I do not use my soul as my darling, unless I take care to preserve it from every thing that would hurt it and to provide all necessaries for it, and be entirely tender of its welfare." (2.) Observe what the danger is from which he prays to be delivered, from the sword, the flaming sword of divine wrath, which turns every way. This he dreaded more than any thing, Gen 3:24. God's anger was the wormwood and the gall in the bitter cup that was put into his hands. "O deliver my soul from that. Lord, though I lose my life, let me not lose thy love. Save me from the power of the dog, and from the lion's mouth." This seems to be meant of Satan, that old enemy who bruised the heel of the seed of the woman, the prince of this world, with whom he was to engage in close combat and whom he saw coming, Joh 14:30. "Lord, save me from being overpowered by his terrors." He pleads, "Thou hast formerly heard me from the horns of the unicorn," that is, "saved me from him in answer to my prayer." This may refer to the victory Christ had obtained over Satan and his temptations (Mt. 4), when the devil left him for a season (Luk 4:13), but now returned in another manner to attack him with his terrors. "Lord, thou gavest me the victory then, give it me now, that I may spoil principalities and powers, and cast out the prince of this world." Has God delivered us from the horns of the unicorn, that we be not tossed? Let that encourage us to hope that we shall be delivered from the lion's mouth, that we be not torn. He that has delivered doth and will deliver. This prayer of Christ, no doubt, was answered, for the Father heard him always. And, though he did not deliver him from death, yet he suffered him not to see corruption, but, the third day, raised him out of the dust of death, which was a greater instance of God's favour to him than if he had helped him down from the cross; for that would have hindered his undertaking, whereas his resurrection crowned it.
In singing this we should meditate on the sufferings and resurrection of Christ till we experience in our own souls the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings.
"Save Me from the lion's mouth:" save Me from the mouth of the kingdom of this world: "and my humility from the horns of the unicorns" [Psalm 22:21]. And from the loftiness of the proud, exalting themselves to special pre-eminence, and enduring no partakers, save My humility.
Continue studying Psalms 22:21 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
SUMMARY
Psalms 22:21 is a profound and pivotal cry for immediate divine rescue, seamlessly interwoven with a steadfast declaration of confidence in God's past and assured deliverance. The psalmist, facing overwhelming and deadly threats symbolized by ferocious predatory beasts, implores God for urgent salvation, grounding this desperate petition in the unwavering conviction that the Lord has previously heard and effectively delivered him from equally formidable dangers, thereby anticipating the psalm's dramatic transition from deep lament to triumphant praise.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: Psalms 22:21 stands as a critical turning point within one of the most significant Messianic psalms in the Hebrew Bible. The preceding verses Psalms 22:1-20 vividly portray the psalmist's agonizing suffering, profound sense of abandonment by God, and the relentless mockery and aggression of his enemies. This section is dominated by intense imagery of being surrounded by "strong bulls of Bashan" and "roaring lions," graphically depicting the psalmist's dire and vulnerable state. Verse 21, with its urgent plea for salvation and its declaration of past deliverance, serves as a crucial bridge, foreshadowing the dramatic shift that occurs in Psalms 22:22-31, where the psalmist transitions from the depths of despair to a powerful expression of praise, confidence in God's ultimate vindication, and the universal recognition of His reign. The "lion's mouth" and "horns of the unicorns" represent the final, culminating images of peril before this profound narrative and emotional pivot.
Historical & Cultural Context: Traditionally attributed to King David, Psalm 22 reflects the intense experiences of a righteous individual facing severe persecution and mortal danger in ancient Israel. The vivid imagery of lions and wild oxen (re'em) was deeply resonant in a pastoral society where such animals posed genuine, life-threatening dangers to shepherds, their flocks, and even human settlements. These formidable creatures were also common symbols of powerful, untamed, and hostile forces, whether representing oppressive nations, tyrannical rulers, or spiritual adversaries in the ancient Near East. The psalmist's desperate situation would have been understood against a backdrop of potential political enemies, physical threats, or even spiritual attacks, all of which could feel as overwhelming and deadly as a predatory beast. The plea for deliverance from such forces was a pervasive theme in ancient laments, underscoring the profound vulnerability of individuals in a world often perceived as chaotic and dangerous without divine protection.
Key Themes: This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Psalm 22 and the broader Psalter. Firstly, it underscores the theme of Desperate Plea and Divine Deliverance, as the psalmist cries out from the brink of destruction, trusting in God as his sole rescuer from overwhelming odds. Secondly, it highlights God's Unwavering Faithfulness, emphasizing that past deliverances provide a firm foundation for present hope and future assurance, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, as seen in the psalmist's confident declaration that God has "heard" him. Thirdly, it is integral to the Messianic Prophecy of the psalm, foreshadowing the intense suffering and ultimate triumph of Jesus Christ, who faced the ultimate "lion's mouth" in the form of sin, death, and the powers of darkness, as detailed in Matthew 27:46. Finally, it touches on the theme of Suffering and Vindication, illustrating how profound suffering can ultimately lead to a deeper experience of God's saving power and an outpouring of praise, as the psalm progresses from lament to a declaration of God's universal dominion and the salvation of all generations Psalms 22:27-31.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalms 22:21 is rich in Symbolism and Metaphor, employing vivid animalistic imagery to represent the psalmist's overwhelming adversaries. The "lion's mouth" and "horns of the unicorns" are not literal animals but potent symbols of fierce, predatory enemies, whether human, spiritual, or circumstantial, that threaten to destroy the psalmist. This use of Zoomorphism effectively conveys the raw, untamed, and deadly nature of the threats. The verse also utilizes Parallelism, though not strictly synonymous, as both clauses present distinct but equally terrifying images of danger, reinforcing the intensity of the psalmist's distress. The structure of a direct plea followed by a declarative statement of past deliverance also creates a subtle Contrast between the present state of peril and the enduring faithfulness of God, hinting at the psalm's larger movement from lament to praise. The psalmist's cry is a classic example of a Lament, a direct address to God expressing profound distress and seeking His urgent intervention.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse encapsulates a fundamental theological tension: the stark reality of profound suffering and the unwavering conviction in God's power to deliver. It affirms that even when facing the most terrifying and seemingly insurmountable dangers—symbolized by the "lion's mouth" and "horns of the unicorns"—the believer can confidently appeal to God. This confidence is not born of naive optimism but from a remembered history of God's active intervention and faithfulness. The psalmist's declaration, "for thou hast heard me," points to a God who is not distant or indifferent but intimately involved in the lives of His people, actively responding to their cries for help. This theological truth undergirds the entire biblical narrative of redemption, where God consistently acts to save His people from oppression, sin, and death. It teaches us that our past experiences of God's faithfulness are vital anchors for our hope in present and future trials, reminding us that the God who delivered yesterday is the same God who can deliver today.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 22:21 offers a powerful and enduring message for believers navigating the complexities and perils of life. It reminds us that our spiritual journey will inevitably include moments where we feel surrounded by "lions" and "unicorns"—whether these are overwhelming anxieties, relentless temptations, physical ailments, relational betrayals, spiritual attacks, or the oppressive forces of injustice. In such moments of profound vulnerability, this verse invites us to emulate the psalmist: to cry out to God with raw honesty and desperate urgency, acknowledging our helplessness and utter dependence on Him. More profoundly, it calls us to ground our present pleas in the bedrock of God's past faithfulness. Just as God "heard" and delivered the psalmist from previous, equally terrifying threats, so too can we trust in His unchanging character and unfailing power to rescue us. This verse is a call to courageous faith, reminding us that even when deliverance feels distant, God's ear is attentive, and His arm is not too short to save. It encourages us to cultivate a memory of God's past interventions in our lives and in the lives of His people throughout history, allowing those testimonies to fuel our hope and perseverance in current struggles, knowing that our ultimate deliverance is secured in Christ.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "unicorns" mean in this verse?
Answer: The term "unicorns" in the King James Version (KJV) of Psalms 22:21 is a translation of the Hebrew word re'em (רְאֵם). This word does not refer to the mythical one-horned horse of folklore, but rather to a powerful, wild bovine, most likely the now-extinct aurochs (Bos primigenius). The aurochs was a large, formidable animal known for its immense strength and dangerous horns. The Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament) rendered re'em as monokeros (μονόκερως), meaning "one-horned," which led to the KJV's "unicorn." Therefore, the imagery of "horns of the unicorns" powerfully conveys a threat of overwhelming, untamed, and destructive strength, symbolizing fierce and dangerous enemies or forces.
Is this verse only about physical danger?
Answer: While the imagery of lions and wild oxen certainly evokes physical danger, the threats described in the Psalms often extend beyond the purely physical. The "lion's mouth" and "horns of the unicorns" can symbolize any overwhelming, hostile force that seeks to destroy the psalmist—whether spiritual attacks, emotional torment, social persecution, or the oppressive actions of human adversaries. The psalmist's plea is for holistic deliverance from all forms of existential threat, recognizing that true well-being encompasses more than just physical safety. This broad interpretation allows the verse to resonate with believers facing diverse forms of peril in their lives, reminding them that God is capable of delivering from every kind of "mouth" or "horn" that threatens their well-being.
How does "for thou hast heard me" relate to the plea "Save me"?
Answer: The phrase "for thou hast heard me" (Hebrew: 'anita'ni) serves as the foundational reason for the psalmist's urgent plea for salvation. It's not merely a statement of God having listened, but rather a declaration of God having answered or delivered the psalmist in past instances of extreme danger. This past faithfulness forms the basis for the psalmist's present confidence. In essence, the psalmist is saying, "Save me now, because I know from experience that You are a God who hears and delivers, and You have done so for me before, even from equally terrifying threats like the horns of the wild oxen." It transforms the plea from a desperate cry into a confident assertion of God's consistent character as a rescuer, even while the danger remains immediate. This dynamic highlights the biblical principle that past divine interventions are a powerful anchor for present faith.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 22:21 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The entire Psalm 22 is a prophetic blueprint of the Messiah's suffering, and this verse, positioned at the climax of the lament, powerfully foreshadows Christ's experience on the cross. Jesus truly faced the ultimate "lion's mouth"—the relentless onslaught of Satan, the crushing weight of human sin, and the very power of death itself. His cry of dereliction, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Matthew 27:46, directly quotes the opening of this psalm, demonstrating His full identification with the psalmist's agony. Yet, just as the psalmist declares, "for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns," so too was Jesus "heard" and delivered. His resurrection from the dead is God's ultimate answer, His triumphant deliverance from the "horns of the unicorns" (the power of the grave and the dominion of death, as seen in Acts 2:24). Through His victory, Jesus, the true Lion of the Tribe of Judah, utterly vanquished the one who held the power of death, the devil Hebrews 2:14-15, and triumphed over all principalities and powers Colossians 2:15. Thus, Christ's experience is the perfect embodiment of this verse: a desperate plea for salvation met with the Father's ultimate, glorious deliverance, securing eternal salvation for all who believe and demonstrating God's faithfulness in the most profound way.