What does Psalm 22:6 mean?

The situation in which David felt abandoned by God made him feel as inglorious, humiliated, and inhuman as a worm. He writes that he was "scorned by mankind and despised by the people." This entire psalm depicts an execution, not merely a persecution. Since it matches no events in the life of David, the images used here are symbolic of some unknown trouble. That lack of a literal occurrence in David's life also makes this psalm a potent prophecy about the Messiah (Matthew 27:46; Hebrews 2:12).

The historical account of what happened to Jesus bears this out. The Roman authorities and the Jewish religious leaders placed no value on Him. Even the nation of Israel failed to accept Him as the Messiah, and an angry crowd clamored for His crucifixion. Isaiah prophesied concerning Jesus the Messiah that He would be "deeply despised" and "abhorred by the nation" (Isaiah 49:7). Also, Isaiah 53:3 describes Him as "despised and rejected by men…he was despised, and we esteemed him not."

The apostle John described Jesus as the true light who came to His own people, the Jews, but was rejected by His own people (John 1:9–11). Although mankind at large placed no value on Jesus, believers recognize Him as God's precious cornerstone (1 Peter 2:6).