Psalm 22:13-14
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The imagery here isn't just about roaring, but about a devouring hunger, a literal "tearing in pieces" intent that goes beyond mere noise. This isn't just about the enemy's words or threats, but their fierce, bloodthirsty desire to completely destroy the psalmist.
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)
The psalmist is vividly describing the intense, violent hatred of his enemies who surround him, comparing them first to powerful bulls and now to predatory lions. These foes are not just menacing but actively seeking to tear him apart, their roars and wide-open mouths expressing a ravenous desire for his destruction. This imagery of fierce, wild beasts highlights the extreme danger and desperate situation the psalmist (and, by extension, Christ) is facing, prompting a plea for divine intervention.
This verse paints a terrifying image of enemies who aren't just angry—they're hungry. What does this primal desire to 'tear in pieces' reveal about their motives?
The imagery here isn't just about noise; it's about intent. The enemies "open wide their mouths" not just to shout, but to devour. This isn't mild dislike; it's a primal, predatory drive.
A Vicious Appetite
Think of a lion that has cornered its prey. Its mouth is open wide, not for conversation, but for the act of tearing and consuming. This is how the Psalmist describes the enemies' attitude – they are "ravening," eager to rip apart and destroy.
More Than Just Anger
This 'hunger' speaks to a deep-seated malice. It's a desire to annihilate, to completely consume the object of their hatred. It goes beyond simple disagreement or even wrath; it's a ferocious need to obliterate.
The enemies aren't silent predators; they're also loud. What does their 'roaring' signify in this desperate moment?
The verse combines the predatory image of a lion with its terrifying roar. This isn't just the sound of a hunt; it's a sound designed to intimidate, to mock, and to signal the impending doom.
A Terrifying Noise
The 'roaring' lion isn't just making noise; it's broadcasting its power and intent. For the Psalmist (and later, for Jesus), this roar represents the overwhelming, terrifying din of opposition. It's the sound of malice made public.
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Public Condemnation
Commentators note that this roar can also represent the loud, clamoring demands for the Psalmist's (or Christ's) condemnation. It's the sound of a mob, fueled by rage and bloodlust, crying out for destruction. Think of the shouts of "Crucify him!"
It's a powerful, multi-layered sound: the terror of a predator, the aggression of a fighter, and the clamor of a condemning crowd.
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 a 'ravening and roaring lion' vividly captures the intense, life-threatening opposition faced by the psalmists during periods of national crisis and spiritual struggle, reflecting the deep sense of vulnerability and desperation experienced by God's people.
Late 8th Century BC
Assyrian Empire's Power
The Assyrian Empire was a dominant military and political force, known for its brutal efficiency in warfare and conquest across the ancient Near East.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Israel
The northern kingdom of Israel fell to the Neo-Assyrian Empire, leading to the exile of many Israelites and a period of deep national trauma.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Under Nebuchadnezzar II, Babylon began its ascent, leading to the first major deportation of Judean elites to Babylon, marking the start of the Babylonian exile.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem
The Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and the First Temple, scattering the remaining population into exile. This was a catastrophic event for the people of Judah.
c. 539 BC
Cyrus the Great's Conquest
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquered Babylon, and soon after, he issued a decree allowing exiled peoples, including the Jews, to return to their homelands.
c. 516 BC
Second Temple Completion
The rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem was completed, a significant event for the returning exiles, though it lacked the grandeur of Solomon's original Temple.
c. 400s - 300s BC— this verse
Post-Exilic Period
The period after the return from exile saw the re-establishment of Jewish community life and religious practice, but also ongoing struggles with poverty, external influences, and internal divisions.
This passage echoes the imagery of enemies opening their mouths wide in a destructive way, mirroring the visual of the lion ready to devour.
Amos 3:4This verse speaks of a lion's roar as a sign of its intent to prey, directly connecting the lion's sound to its predatory and destructive nature, much like the description in Psalm 22.
Matthew 27:23Here, the crowd's fierce and loud demands for Jesus' crucifixion are described, capturing the same roaring, aggressive spirit found in the Psalm's depiction of the enemies.
Psalm 7:2This verse uses the lion metaphor to describe an enemy who 'tears the soul,' providing a conceptual link to the 'ravening' aspect of the lion in Psalm 22, highlighting the intention to destroy.
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…
The imagery here isn't just about roaring, but about a devouring hunger, a literal "tearing in pieces" intent that goes beyond mere noise. This isn't just about the enemy's words or threats, but their fierce, bloodthirsty desire to completely destroy the psalmist.
The psalmist is vividly describing the intense, violent hatred of his enemies who surround him, comparing them first to powerful bulls and now to predatory lions. These foes are not just menacing but actively seeking to tear him apart, their roars and wide-open mouths expressing a ravenous desire for his destruction. This imagery of fierce, wild beasts highlights the extreme danger and desperate situation the psalmist (and, by extension, Christ) is facing, prompting a plea for divine intervention.
The psalmist is vividly describing the intense, violent hatred of his enemies who surround him, comparing them first to powerful bulls and now to predatory lions. These foes are not just menacing but actively seeking to tear him apart, their roars and wide-open mouths expressing a ravenous desire for his destruction. This imagery of fierce, wild beasts highlights the extreme danger and desperate situation the psalmist (and, by extension, Christ) is facing, prompting a plea for divine intervention.
"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;" — The imagery here isn't just about roaring, but about a devouring hunger, a literal "tearing in pieces" intent that goes beyond mere noise. This isn't just about the enemy's words or threats, but th…
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Last reviewed October 2026
