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Psalms 22:15

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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.

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}.

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.

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.

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

Psalm 22:15 vividly portrays a state of utter physical and emotional collapse, using powerful imagery to convey extreme suffering and proximity to death. This verse is part of a profound lament that has significant prophetic implications.

Context

Psalm 22 is a renowned Messianic Psalm, attributed to David, which expresses deep personal distress and feelings of abandonment. While describing David's own intense suffering, its language and details remarkably prefigure the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The psalm begins with the famous cry, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?," a lament later echoed by Jesus on the cross (Matthew 27:46). Verse 15 specifically describes the physical agony leading to death, making it a powerful verse for understanding Christ's passion.

Key Themes

  • Extreme Physical Degradation: The imagery of "my strength is dried up like a potsherd" and "my tongue cleaveth to my jaws" paints a picture of severe dehydration, exhaustion, and complete physical depletion. It speaks to the body failing under immense pressure and suffering, indicating a near-fatal condition.
  • Nearness to Death: "Thou hast brought me into the dust of death" clearly indicates being on the very brink of dying, a state of utter helplessness where life is ebbing away and returning to the earth from which it came. This phrase emphasizes the severity of the suffering and the imminent threat of mortality.
  • Prophetic Foreshadowing of Christ: This verse is widely interpreted as a direct prophecy of Jesus' suffering on the cross. The intense thirst described ("tongue cleaveth") finds a parallel in Jesus' declaration, "I thirst," during His crucifixion, fulfilling Scripture. The overall picture of utter weakness and descent into death aligns perfectly with Christ's ultimate sacrifice for humanity.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "My strength is dried up like a potsherd" uses a vivid simile. A potsherd is a broken piece of pottery, which is inherently dry, brittle, and without any moisture or life. This powerfully conveys a complete loss of vitality and internal moisture, leading to extreme weakness. The description "my tongue cleaveth to my jaws" is a graphic depiction of severe dehydration, making speech difficult or impossible, a common symptom of extreme physical duress that aligns with the suffering of someone dying of thirst.

Practical Application

For believers, Psalm 22:15 offers several profound insights:

  • Understanding Christ's Suffering: It deepens our appreciation for the immense physical and spiritual agony Jesus endured for humanity's salvation. He truly experienced the depths of human suffering, even unto death, so that we might have life.
  • Comfort in Affliction: When facing personal trials, weakness, or despair, this psalm reminds us that even the Son of God experienced profound suffering. It offers solace that God understands our pain and can relate to our deepest struggles, having endured the ultimate suffering.
  • Hope Beyond Despair: Despite the profound suffering described in this verse, Psalm 22 ultimately moves towards a declaration of God's faithfulness and future deliverance (e.g., Psalm 22:27). This reminds us that even in the "dust of death," there is a promise of resurrection and ultimate triumph through Christ, offering hope in seemingly hopeless situations.
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 (May 20, 2025) 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

  • John 19:28 (14 votes)

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

  • Psalms 69:3 (5 votes)

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

  • Isaiah 53:12 (4 votes)

    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 (4 votes)

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

  • Psalms 69:21 (4 votes)

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

  • 1 Corinthians 15:3 (3 votes)

    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 (3 votes)

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