3.6.6 — The Righteous Sufferer
“They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.”
— Psalm 22:18
The Passage
Psalm 22 is a lament traditionally attributed to King David.
It opens with a cry of anguish:
“My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1)
From there, the psalm describes intense suffering, public humiliation, mockery from onlookers, physical exhaustion, and enemies surrounding the speaker. Yet the lament does not end in despair. The closing verses turn toward deliverance, praise, and confidence in God’s faithfulness.
One verse in particular, Psalm 22:16, has been the subject of longstanding discussion. Some translations describe the speaker’s hands and feet as being pierced, while others render the Hebrew differently based on the surviving manuscript traditions. Regardless of that textual question, the psalm as a whole portrays a righteous sufferer who endures profound affliction before being delivered by God.
Comparison with Jesus
The New Testament records several events surrounding Jesus’ crucifixion that Christians believe closely parallel the imagery found throughout Psalm 22.
| Psalm 22 | New Testament Presentation |
| “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” | Jesus quotes these opening words while on the cross. |
| The sufferer is mocked by those watching. | Jesus is publicly mocked during His crucifixion. |
| The sufferer endures intense physical suffering. | The Gospels describe Jesus’ suffering during the crucifixion. |
| Garments are divided and lots are cast. | Roman soldiers divide Jesus’ clothing and cast lots for it. |
| The lament ends in deliverance and praise. | The New Testament presents Jesus’ resurrection as God’s vindication of Him. |
Evaluation
Psalm 22 differs from the other prophecies in this chapter by presenting the Messiah’s suffering through the language of personal lament. Rather than emphasizing lineage, birthplace, or a sequence of events, it gives voice to the experience of rejection, anguish, and eventual deliverance, creating another perspective from which the New Testament presents the death and resurrection of Jesus.
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→ 3.7 — Evaluating the Evidence
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Explore This Section
→ 3.2 — What Makes a Prophecy Meaningful?
→ 3.3 — Were the Prophecies Really Written Before Jesus?
→ 3.4 — Messianic Expectations Before Jesus
→ 3.5 — Could Jesus Have Deliberately Fulfilled the Prophecies?
→ 3.6 — Exploring the Messianic Prophecies
→ 3.6.1 — The Suffering Servant
→ 3.6.2 — A Descendant of David
→ 3.6.5 — Betrayed for Thirty Pieces of Silver
A Light to Follow 