Psalms 22:13-14
they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast;
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse isn't just about enemies being angry; it's about their intense, predatory eagerness to destroy, like a lion not just roaring, but tearing its prey. The imagery shifts from the "bulls" of verse 12, implying brute force, to the "lion" that implies not just power, but a ravenous hunger and a ferocious readiness to rip and devour.
The psalmist is detailing the intense suffering and persecution he faces. Following descriptions of enemies surrounding him like powerful bulls, this verse intensifies the imagery, portraying them as predatory lions eager to tear him apart with open mouths, shouting and threatening him with violent intent. This picture leads into the psalmist's feeling of utter weakness and near death, highlighting the brutal, ravenous nature of his tormentors.
When the psalmist feels surrounded, he doesn't just describe fear – he paints a picture of pure, predatory hunger. What does this primal image reveal about the nature of his enemies?
The enemies aren't just angry; they are ravenous. The verse uses a powerful image of a lion, not just roaring to intimidate, but ready to tear and devour.
Predatory Intent
This isn't a casual threat. The Hebrew word for 'ravening' speaks of ripping and rending, a raw, violent hunger. It paints a picture of enemies who don't just want the psalmist defeated, but utterly destroyed, consumed.
The Sound of Danger
The 'roaring' adds another layer. It's the sound that accompanies the attack, full of terror and a terrifying eagerness. It's the noise of imminent destruction, meant to paralyze with fear.
This verse isn't just about physical danger. It’s a cry from the brink, where the psalmist feels utterly consumed. What deeper spiritual battle is being fought here?
The intensity of the lion imagery highlights the psalmist's desperate situation, pointing beyond mere physical threat to an existential crisis.
On the Brink of Annihilation
The enemies' open mouths and roaring signify not just a desire to harm, but to utterly consume. This feeling of being on the verge of being devoured leads to a sense of utter helplessness, as if life itself is draining away.
The Ultimate Confrontation
This level of threat often signifies a spiritual battle, where the enemies' actions feel like they are aimed at crushing the psalmist's spirit and relationship with God. The fear isn't just of death, but of being destroyed entirely, with no hope left.
Understand the original words
ari · Hebrew Noun
A predatory animal known for its strength, ferocity, and terrifying roar; frequently used in the Bible to symbolize aggressive persecutors or the devouring nature of death.
shaphak · Hebrew Verb
A metaphor for complete loss of physical strength, stability, or control; suggesting a state of total vulnerability or death.
lebab · Hebrew Noun
The vital organ representing the center of human intellect, will, emotions, and moral character; in Scripture, it is the seat of the soul's inner life.
The imagery of the 'ravening and roaring lion' vividly portrays the terrifying, predatory nature of the enemies surrounding the psalmist, a feeling amplified by the historical realities of powerful, oppressive empires and the intense personal danger faced by Jesus during his crucifixion.
Late 8th century BC
Assyrian Empire's Height
The Assyrian Empire dominated the Near East, known for its brutal military campaigns and deportations. This era of imperial power and fear may have influenced imagery of powerful, predatory forces.
c. 700 BC
Assyrian Influence in Judah
Assyria exerted significant political and military pressure on the Kingdom of Judah, leading to periods of tribute and vassalage. This external threat created an atmosphere of anxiety and vulnerability.
c. 600 BC
Babylonian Rise and Deportations
The Babylonian Empire rose to power, eventually conquering Jerusalem and exiling many Judeans. This profound national trauma shaped much of the prophetic and poetic literature of the time.
c. 587 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar's forces destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple, marking a catastrophic turning point for the Jewish people and initiating the Babylonian Exile.
This passage describes Jerusalem's enemies opening their mouths wide, just like the Psalmist here, signifying their fierce delight in destruction.
Amos 3:4The image of a roaring lion is used here to illustrate a powerful, impending pronouncement, similar to how the lion's roar signifies its imminent attack in Psalm 22.
Matthew 27:20This New Testament passage shows the crowd's fierce, roaring demands for Jesus' crucifixion, echoing the violent, roaring intent described in the Psalm.
Mark 14:64The high priests' condemnation of Jesus as deserving death, accompanied by their shouting, mirrors the roaring, accusatory mouths mentioned in the Psalm.
Psalm 7:2Here, the 'lion' metaphor describes enemies who 'tear' their prey; this aligns with the 'ravening' aspect of the lion in Psalm 22:13, emphasizing the destructive intent.
clarkePsalms 22:13: "They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion."
They gaped upon me - They were fiercely and madly beat on my destruction.
pulpitPsalms 22:13: "They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion."
Verse 13. - They gaped upon me with their mouths. One metaphor is superseded by another. Fierce and threatening as bulls, the adversaries are ravenous as lions. They "gape with their mouths," eager to devour, ready to spring on the prey and crush it in their monstrous jaws. As a ravening and a roaring lion. The tumult and noise made by those who demanded our Lord's death are noted by the evangelist, περισσῶς…
This verse isn't just about enemies being angry; it's about their intense, predatory eagerness to destroy, like a lion not just roaring, but tearing its prey. The imagery shifts from the "bulls" of verse 12, implying brute force, to the "lion" that implies not just power, but a ravenous hunger and a ferocious readiness to rip and devour.
The psalmist is detailing the intense suffering and persecution he faces. Following descriptions of enemies surrounding him like powerful bulls, this verse intensifies the imagery, portraying them as predatory lions eager to tear him apart with open mouths, shouting and threatening him with violent intent. This picture leads into the psalmist's feeling of utter weakness and near death, highlighting the brutal, ravenous nature of his tormentors.
The psalmist is detailing the intense suffering and persecution he faces. Following descriptions of enemies surrounding him like powerful bulls, this verse intensifies the imagery, portraying them as predatory lions eager to tear him apart with open mouths, shouting and threatening him with violent intent. This picture leads into the psalmist's feeling of utter weakness and near death, highlighting the brutal, ravenous nature of his tormentors.
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c. 500 BC
Post-Exilic Period
Following the return from exile, the Jewish community rebuilt Jerusalem and the Temple, but faced ongoing challenges and a continued sense of vulnerability to surrounding hostile powers.
c. 30 BC - AD 30— this verse
Life and Ministry of Jesus
Jesus's life, ministry, persecution, and crucifixion occurred within the context of Roman occupation and intense scrutiny from religious and political authorities.
"they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast;" — This verse isn't just about enemies being angry; it's about their intense, predatory eagerness to destroy, like a lion not just roaring, but tearing its prey. The imagery shifts from the "bulls"…
