And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus isn't just quoting a sad verse; he's deliberately invoking Psalm 22, a powerful prophetic cry that begins with this very lament but moves towards ultimate triumph. This exclamation, far from being one of despair, is a profound declaration that he is fulfilling the ancient scriptures concerning the suffering Messiah, even as he experiences the deepest agony.
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
As darkness falls over the land for three hours, Jesus endures the agonizing culmination of his suffering on the cross. This profound cry of desolation, drawn from the Psalms, marks the peak of his agony, echoing the deepest human experience of abandonment. It occurs just before his final breath, and immediately after, the earth shakes and the temple veil tears.
The time of Jesus' death wasn't just a random moment – it held deep significance in Jewish tradition. Understanding this context helps us grasp the weight of his final hours.
A Sacred Time
The 'ninth hour' (around 3 PM) was a specific time in the Jewish day, marked by important religious observances.
This timing wasn't accidental. It placed Jesus' suffering within the rhythm of Israel's worship and the sacred calendar, highlighting its redemptive purpose.
Jesus' cry, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' sounds like pure anguish. But what was truly at the heart of this profound statement?
The Weight of Sin and Separation
Jesus' words, drawn from Psalm 22, point to a suffering that transcended the physical agony of the cross.
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Jesus' final words on the cross weren't just a private lament; they were a powerful declaration with lasting impact. How do we see this?
The Psalm's Prophetic Echo
Jesus’ cry wasn't just an original utterance of pain, but a deliberate reference to Psalm 22, a prophetic song about the Messiah's suffering.
Understand the original words
Eli · Hebrew Noun
A formal title referring to the Creator and Sovereign of all, often used in prayer to express dependency, covenant relationship, or, as in this cry, the experience of divine abandonment.
sebhaqthani · Aramaic Verb
To abandon, leave behind, desert, or withdraw favor or presence. In this context, it describes the profound spiritual reality of the Son bearing the Father's judgment against sin.
Jesus' cry, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?', directly echoes Psalm 22, a Messianic psalm foretelling the suffering of the Messiah. This cry, uttered at the precise time of the evening sacrifice and amidst supernatural darkness, highlights the profound depth of His suffering and the immense weight of sin He bore for humanity.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Jesus' Crucifixion
Jesus is crucified on Golgotha, the Place of the Skull, outside Jerusalem. This event occurs during the Passover festival, a time of immense religious significance for the Jewish people.
c. 30 AD, Friday afternoon
Darkness Over the Land
A supernatural darkness covers the land from the sixth hour (noon) until the ninth hour (3 p.m.), an event noted by the Gospel writers as a sign of divine displeasure or cosmic upheaval.
c. 30 AD, Friday, 3 p.m.
Jesus' Final Cry and Death
At the ninth hour, Jesus cries out His final words, quoting Psalm 22:1, and then breathes His last. The temple veil is torn from top to bottom, signifying a new, direct access to God.
c. 30 AD, Friday afternoon
Roman Soldiers' Actions
Roman soldiers cast lots for Jesus' garments, fulfilling prophecy. They also mock Jesus, misunderstanding His cries and His identity, demonstrating a profound lack of spiritual insight.
c. 30 AD, Friday evening
Jesus' Burial
Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy disciple, asks for Jesus' body and lays it in his own new tomb, sealing it and placing a guard. This fulfills further prophecies and secures the tomb.
This is the direct source of Jesus' cry. It's a lament that begins with feelings of abandonment but moves towards hope and trust in God's faithfulness, mirroring Jesus' own experience on the cross.
Isaiah 53:10This passage speaks of the Suffering Servant's 'soul being made an offering for sin.' It illuminates Jesus' cry by pointing to the theological weight of his suffering – he was bearing the penalty for sin, which involved experiencing a sense of separation from God.
Hebrews 2:9This verse states that Jesus tasted death for everyone, and that he did so by the grace of God. It helps explain that his suffering, including this cry, was a voluntary act of obedience where he fully experienced the bitterness of death, even the sting of perceived abandonment.
Lamentations 3:1This verse expresses a similar feeling of being afflicted and cast into darkness. It shows that even faithful servants of God can experience profound moments of desolation, making Jesus' cry relatable to those who have felt forsaken.
Luke 22:53Here, Jesus tells his captors that this is 'your hour, and the power of darkness.' This connects to his cry by highlighting that his suffering was also a spiritual battle, a moment when the forces of evil were permitted to exert their influence, contributing to his agony.
vincentMatthew 27:46: "And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"
Ninth hour"Early on Friday afternoon the new course of priests, of Levites, and of the 'stationary men' who were to be the representatives of all Israel, arrived in Jerusalem, and having prepared themselves for the festive season went up to the temple. The approach of the Sabbath, and then its actual commencement, were announced…
barnesMatthew 27:46: "And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"
Eli, Eli ... - This language is not pure Hebrew nor Syriac, but a mixture of both, called commonly "Syro-Chaldaic." This was probably the language which the Saviour commonly spoke. The words are taken from Psalm 22:1 . My God, my God ... - This expression is one denoting intense suffering. It has been difficult to understand in w…
Jesus isn't just quoting a sad verse; he's deliberately invoking Psalm 22, a powerful prophetic cry that begins with this very lament but moves towards ultimate triumph. This exclamation, far from being one of despair, is a profound declaration that he is fulfilling the ancient scriptures concerning the suffering Messiah, even as he experiences the deepest agony.
As darkness falls over the land for three hours, Jesus endures the agonizing culmination of his suffering on the cross. This profound cry of desolation, drawn from the Psalms, marks the peak of his agony, echoing the deepest human experience of abandonment. It occurs just before his final breath, and immediately after, the earth shakes and the temple veil tears.
As darkness falls over the land for three hours, Jesus endures the agonizing culmination of his suffering on the cross. This profound cry of desolation, drawn from the Psalms, marks the peak of his agony, echoing the deepest human experience of abandonment. It occurs just before his final breath, and immediately after, the earth shakes and the temple veil tears.
"And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”" — Jesus isn't just quoting a sad verse; he's deliberately invoking Psalm 22, a powerful prophetic cry that begins with this very lament but moves towards ultimate triumph. This exclamation, far from be…
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Last reviewed October 2026