All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads;
English Standard Version (ESV)
The repeated physical gestures—shooting out the lip and shaking the head—aren't just random acts of meanness; they are specific, ancient expressions of utter contempt and mockery, laying bare the depth of the Psalmist's (and ultimately Christ's) suffering as a public spectacle of scorn.
All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads;
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist is in deep distress, feeling utterly abandoned and despised by everyone around him. He's describing a scene of public humiliation where people aren't just ignoring him, but actively mocking him with gestures of contempt like sticking out their lips and shaking their heads in scorn. This intense feeling of being a reviled outcast sets the stage for the deeper cry to God that follows.
Ever feel like the world is just staring and mocking your struggles? The Psalmist describes very specific, visceral actions that show just how exposed and ridiculed he feels.
The Body Language of Scorn
This verse paints a picture of intense public humiliation. The Psalmist isn't just being insulted with words; his suffering is met with physical gestures of derision.
These aren't subtle digs; they are open, public displays of contempt designed to dehumanize the sufferer. They leave the person feeling completely exposed and judged.
This ancient psalm doesn't just speak of general suffering. It uses language that echoes through history, pointing to a future, ultimate fulfillment.
Foreshadowing the Messiah's Humiliation
What's striking about Psalm 22 is how directly it's applied to Jesus Christ in the New Testament. The detailed description of mockery and scorn here isn't just David's personal lament; it's prophetic.
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While Psalm 22 describes the deep suffering and public humiliation of its author, its prophetic nature is powerfully highlighted by the fulfillment of its imagery in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ centuries later, where onlookers mocked him with the very gestures described.
c. 1000 BC— this verse
David's Reign as King
David, the likely author of Psalm 22, reigned as king of Israel during a period of both triumph and intense personal struggle.
c. 750-700 BC
Assyrian Empire's Dominance
The powerful Assyrian Empire loomed large, posing a significant threat to the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, creating an atmosphere of anxiety and potential conflict.
c. 605-586 BC
Babylonian Exile Begins
The Babylonian Empire conquered Jerusalem, initiating the exile of Jewish people from their homeland, a deeply traumatic event that profoundly shaped Jewish identity and religious practice.
c. 500 BC - 1st Century AD
Second Temple Period
Following the return from exile, the Second Temple was built and served as the center of Jewish worship, a period marked by various forms of Roman and Greek influence.
c. AD 30-33
Crucifixion of Jesus
Jesus Christ was crucified in Jerusalem, an event during which the taunts and gestures described in Psalm 22:7 were widely reported by Gospel writers to have occurred.
This passage directly quotes the imagery of Psalm 22:7, showing the mockery and head-shaking directed at Jesus on the cross, highlighting the prophetic nature of the Psalm.
Luke 23:35This Gospel account describes the rulers and soldiers deriding Jesus during His crucifixion, using a Greek word that echoes the 'mockery' described in Psalm 22:7, reinforcing the fulfillment of this prophetic suffering.
Job 16:10This passage from Job also describes a person being subjected to public scorn and mockery, using similar language of gaping mouths and gestures of derision, demonstrating this type of suffering has been a theme throughout biblical history.
Lamentations 2:15This book describes the people of Jerusalem mocking the suffering inhabitants during their downfall, including the gesture of shaking their heads, showing a parallel in communal suffering and public derision.
Isaiah 53:3This prophetic passage describes the 'Suffering Servant' as despised and rejected by men, a concept that aligns with the deep humiliation and scorn detailed in Psalm 22:7, pointing to a shared theme of divine suffering.
pulpitPsalms 22:7: "All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,"
Verse 7. - All they that see me laugh me to scorn; ἐξεμυκτήρισάν με, LXX. (comp. Luke 23:35, "The people stood beholding;and the rulers also with them derided him (ἐξεμυκτήριζον)"). They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying (see Matthew 27:39; Mark 15:29: "They that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads," where the expression of the Septuagint is again used).
poolePsalms 22:7: "All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,"
Laugh me to scorn; instead of pitying or helping, deride me, and insult over me; such is their inhumanity. They shoot out the lip; they gape with their mouths, and put forth their tongues, in mockery. See Job 16:10 Isaiah 57:4 . They shake the head; another posture of scoffers. See Job 16:4 Psalm 44:14 Isaiah 37:22 . This and the next verse are applied to Christ, Matthew 27:39,43 . Saying…
The repeated physical gestures—shooting out the lip and shaking the head—aren't just random acts of meanness; they are specific, ancient expressions of utter contempt and mockery, laying bare the depth of the Psalmist's (and ultimately Christ's) suffering as a public spectacle of scorn.
The psalmist is in deep distress, feeling utterly abandoned and despised by everyone around him. He's describing a scene of public humiliation where people aren't just ignoring him, but actively mocking him with gestures of contempt like sticking out their lips and shaking their heads in scorn. This intense feeling of being a reviled outcast sets the stage for the deeper cry to God that follows.
The psalmist is in deep distress, feeling utterly abandoned and despised by everyone around him. He's describing a scene of public humiliation where people aren't just ignoring him, but actively mocking him with gestures of contempt like sticking out their lips and shaking their heads in scorn. This intense feeling of being a reviled outcast sets the stage for the deeper cry to God that follows.
"All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads;" — The repeated physical gestures—shooting out the lip and shaking the head—aren't just random acts of meanness; they are specific, ancient expressions of utter contempt and mockery, laying bare the dep…
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Last reviewed October 2026