Psalm 22:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people.

NIV: But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people.

NASB: But I am a worm and not a person, A disgrace of mankind and despised by the people.

CSB: But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by people.

NLT: But I am a worm and not a man. I am scorned and despised by all!

KJV: But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

NKJV: But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the people.

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).

Psalm 22:1–21 depicts David's questioning of God's silence and estrangement from him in his desperate situation. The structure of this prayer, and the images it evokes, are prophecies of Messiah's sufferings. Isaiah 53:3–8 likewise predicts these experiences and explains that Messiah endured them for us sinners. Matthew 27:46 reports that Jesus quoted Psalm 22:1 when he was suffering on the cross. First Peter 2:24 –25 refers to the sufferings of Jesus the Messiah and calls Jesus ''the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.''

This psalm may be divided into two parts. The first part, verses 1–21, contains an urgent prayer, in which the suppliant questions a holy God's distance from him in his time of suffering. It also contains a graphic description of the Messiah's suffering. Messiah's suffering included humiliation, the taunts of unbelievers, a distressful sense of loneliness, and intense physical pain. The second part of the psalm continues a prayer to be delivered, and includes a glimpse of resurrection and exaltation. The psalm praises God and announces a future time when God will receive worldwide acclaim and worship.

This psalm of David should be understood in association with Psalms 23 and 24. Psalm 22 describes the sufferings of the Good Shepherd, Jesus, for His sheep. Psalm 23 describes His care for His sheep. Psalm 24 describes His return in glory to reward His sheep. Psalm 22 includes prophetic sayings which Jesus uttered from the cross. It also predicts the afflictions he endured there (Matthew 27:27–56; Luke 22:63–65; 23:18–49). Isaiah 53 also prophesies the sufferings that Jesus suffered on the cross.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.