Psalms 22:7

All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, [saying],

All they that see {H7200} me laugh me to scorn {H3932}: they shoot out {H6358} the lip {H8193}, they shake {H5128} the head {H7218}, saying,

All who see me jeer at me; they sneer and shake their heads:

All who see me mock me; they sneer and shake their heads:

All they that see me laugh me to scorn: They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,

Psalm 22:7 vividly describes the intense public ridicule and scorn faced by the suffering servant, a passage deeply prophetic of the Messiah's crucifixion.

Context

Psalm 22 is a profound Messianic Psalm, often referred to as "The Psalm of the Cross." Though written by David, it speaks with remarkable prophetic accuracy about the physical and emotional agony, as well as the public humiliation, that Jesus Christ would endure during His crucifixion. The psalmist expresses feelings of abandonment and intense suffering, mirroring Christ's cry from the cross, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46). This verse specifically highlights the verbal and non-verbal mockery directed at the suffering individual.

Key Themes

  • Prophetic Suffering: This verse, along with others in Psalm 22 (e.g., Psalm 22:16, Psalm 22:18), paints a detailed picture of the Messiah's suffering. It emphasizes the public nature of His humiliation, where He was not only physically tortured but also subjected to psychological torment through mockery.
  • Public Humiliation and Scorn: The phrase "laugh me to scorn" emphasizes the derision and contempt hurled at the suffering one. This was precisely the experience of Jesus as He hung on the cross, reviled by passersby, chief priests, scribes, and elders (Matthew 27:39-43).
  • Gestures of Contempt: "Shoot out the lip" and "shake the head" are vivid, non-verbal expressions of extreme disdain and mockery. These actions communicate a profound lack of respect and an active effort to belittle and degrade the one being mocked.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrases "shoot out the lip" and "shake the head" are powerful idiomatic expressions of contempt in ancient Near Eastern culture.

  • "Shoot out the lip" (Hebrew: יַפְטִּירוּ בְשָׂפָה, yaftiru b'saphah): This imagery suggests thrusting out the lower lip in a gesture of scorn or derision, or perhaps opening the mouth wide in a sneer. It's a physical act of belittling, often accompanied by verbal taunts.
  • "Shake the head" (Hebrew: יָנִיעוּ רֹאשׁ, yaniau rosh): This gesture typically signifies disapproval, disdain, or a dismissive attitude. In the context of mockery, it conveys a sense of triumph over the suffering individual, as if to say, "Look at him now, he's helpless and pathetic." This gesture is specifically mentioned in the New Testament accounts of Christ's crucifixion (Mark 15:29).

Practical Application

Psalm 22:7 reminds believers of the immense suffering and humiliation Christ willingly endured for humanity's sake. It deepens our appreciation for His sacrifice, knowing He faced not only physical pain but also profound emotional and psychological torment from those He came to save. For those who experience mockery or scorn for their faith, this verse offers solidarity: Jesus understands and experienced it first-hand. It encourages perseverance and reminds us that true vindication comes from God, not from the approval of the world, echoing the sentiment of 1 Peter 2:23, where Christ "when he was reviled, reviled not again."

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.

  • Mark 15:29

    And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest [it] in three days,

  • Matthew 27:39

    And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,

  • Matthew 27:40

    And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest [it] in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

  • Psalms 109:25

    I became also a reproach unto them: [when] they looked upon me they shaked their heads.

  • Mark 15:20

    And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.

  • Matthew 26:66

    What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.

  • Matthew 26:68

    Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?
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