All things bear record · Psalms

Psalms 22

11 witnesses of Christ here.

Cry from the cross

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? Psalms 22:1–2

Jesus cried these exact words from the cross while the Father withdrew His presence so the Son could finish the Atonement alone. David's psalm gave the words centuries earlier.

AttestedExplicitA prophecy of Him

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

  • fulfilled by Matthew 27:46 — Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?
  • fulfilled by Mark 15:34 — Same cry in Mark.

Mocked on the cross

But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. Psalms 22:6–8

The sufferer is despised, and onlookers shake their heads and taunt that God should rescue him. At the cross passers-by wagged their heads and the chief priests said almost these very words about Jesus.

AttestedProphecy or typeA prophecy of Him

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

  • fulfilled by Matthew 27:39 — They that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads.
  • fulfilled by Matthew 27:43 — He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him.
  • alludes to Isaiah 53:3 — He is despised and rejected of men.

Trusting the Father from birth

But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts. Psalms 22:9–10

The sufferer has belonged to God from birth. For Jesus this was literally true: His whole mortal life, from Mary's womb, was given to His Father.

AttestedProphecy or typeA prophecy of Him

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

  • alludes to Luke 2:49 — The boy Jesus: wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

Surrounded by enemies

Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. Psalms 22:12–13

Powerful enemies surround the sufferer like bulls and lions. The crowd and rulers who pressed around Jesus at His trial and cross fulfilled this picture.

AttestedProphecy or typeA prophecy of Him

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

  • fulfilled by Matthew 27:41 — The chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders.

Poured out and thirsting

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. Psalms 22:14–15

These verses describe the physical agony of crucifixion: bones strained, strength gone, a burning thirst, and death. Jesus said I thirst on the cross and poured out His soul unto death.

AttestedProphecy or typeA prophecy of Him

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

  • fulfilled by John 19:28 — That the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
  • alludes to Isaiah 53:12 — He hath poured out his soul unto death.

Pierced hands and feet

For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. Psalms 22:16

Written long before Rome used crucifixion, this verse foretells the nails through the Savior's hands and feet. The risen Lord showed those very wounds to His disciples and to the Nephites.

AttestedExplicitA prophecy of Him

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

  • fulfilled by John 20:27 — Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands.
  • alludes to Zechariah 12:10 — They shall look upon me whom they have pierced.
  • fulfilled by 3 Nephi 11:14-15 — Feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet.

Garments divided by lot

I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. Psalms 22:17–18

The soldiers at the cross divided Jesus's clothing and gambled for His seamless coat. John says this happened that the scripture might be fulfilled, quoting this verse.

AttestedExplicitA prophecy of Him

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

  • quoted by John 19:23-24 — They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots.
  • fulfilled by Matthew 27:35 — Parted his garments, casting lots.

The Son heard by the Father

But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me. Psalms 22:19–21

The sufferer's cry turns to confidence: thou hast heard me. Hebrews teaches that Jesus prayed with strong crying to the one able to save Him from death and was heard.

AttestedProphecy or typeA prophecy of Him

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

  • fulfilled by Hebrews 5:7 — Offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard.

The risen Son praises among His brethren

I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. Psalms 22:22

Hebrews quotes this verse as Jesus speaking, not ashamed to call us His brethren. After the suffering comes victory and praise, as after the cross came the Resurrection.

AttestedExplicitA prophecy of Him

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

  • quoted by Hebrews 2:11-12 — I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
  • fulfilled by John 20:17 — The risen Jesus: go to my brethren.

All nations worship; the kingdom is the LORD's

All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. Psalms 22:27–29

Because of the Savior's suffering, the whole earth and even the dead will turn to the LORD and bow before Him. This looks ahead to Christ's reign, when every knee shall bow.

AttestedProphecy or typeA prophecy of Him

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

  • alludes to Philippians 2:10-11 — At the name of Jesus every knee should bow... and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
  • alludes to Revelation 11:15 — The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ.

His seed declare that He has done it

A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. Psalms 22:30–31

Future generations who serve Him will be counted as His seed and tell that he hath done this — the finished work. It echoes Isaiah's promise that the suffering Servant shall see his seed, and Jesus's last words, It is finished.

AttestedProphecy or typeA prophecy of Him

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

  • alludes to Isaiah 53:10 — When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed.
  • alludes to Mosiah 15:10-11 — When his soul has been made an offering for sin he shall see his seed... these are his seed.
  • alludes to John 19:30 — It is finished.