Psalms 22:8
“He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The enemies twist the Psalmist's trust into an act of foolish self-reliance, taunting him to "roll" his care onto God, as if this were a desperate gamble rather than a profound act of faith. Their sneers reveal a deep misunderstanding of true reliance, which isn't about hoping God will always intervene as we expect, but about committing ourselves fully to Him, knowing He delights in us even in suffering.
This passage describes the taunts of enemies directed at someone in deep distress, who has placed their trust in God. These adversaries mock the sufferer's faith, urging God to rescue him if he truly delights in him, implying that his current suffering proves God has abandoned him. This scene is famously fulfilled when Jesus, on the cross, is mocked with these very words by those who witnessed his crucifixion.
The enemies of the suffering one mock his deepest act of faith. What does it mean to 'roll' your cares onto God, and why did it infuriate his tormentors?
The original Hebrew word translated here as 'He trusted' is more literally 'He rolled'. This isn't just passive trust; it's an active 'rolling' of one's entire burden, cares, and circumstances onto God. Imagine literally pushing a massive, heavy stone uphill – that's the weight of life's troubles. To 'roll it' onto God means to actively transfer that weight, believing He can bear it and will handle it.
This was exactly what the enemies of the suffering one couldn't stand. They saw his precarious situation and scoffed at his claim to have handed it all over to God. Their taunt, 'Let him deliver him, for he delights in him!', was designed to expose his faith as foolish and false. They wanted him to feel abandoned, to experience the crushing weight of his problems without any divine help, proving their point that God wasn't there, or worse, didn't care.
The taunt ends with a sharp barb: 'for he delights in him!' How is this supposed to wound, and why does it ultimately reveal God’s unwavering love?
The enemies' taunt, 'for he delights in him!', wasn't just a random jab. It directly targeted the sufferer's core belief: that God not only heard him but took pleasure in him. This wasn't just about divine favor; it was about a deep, affectionate relationship.
For the suffering one, knowing God delighted in him was meant to be an anchor. It was the reason for his trust, the basis of his hope. The enemies, however, used this very truth as a weapon. Their mockery implied: 'If God truly delighted in you, you wouldn't be in this mess! Your claims of his favor are obviously false.' They twisted God's pleasure in His beloved into proof of abandonment.
But beneath their scorn lies a profound truth: God does delight in His beloved Son (and by extension, in us through Him). This delight isn't based on our performance, but on His eternal love. Even in the deepest suffering, that divine delight remains unchanged, a truth that ultimately turns the enemies' jests into a testament to God's steadfast faithfulness.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God revealed to Israel, signifying His self-existence, eternal nature, and faithfulness to His people.
batach · Hebrew Verb
To rely completely upon God's character, promises, and power; it involves a relational commitment and firm confidence in the face of circumstances.
natsal · Hebrew Verb
To set free or preserve from danger, distress, or enemies; it frequently describes God’s intervention on behalf of those who are weak or oppressed.
chaphets · Hebrew Verb
To find great pleasure or favor in someone; in a theological sense, it often refers to God's sovereign choice and affectionate regard for His people.
The enemies of the suffering psalmist mockingly challenge God to intervene, highlighting the deep despair of the moment. The New Testament reveals that these very words were hurled at Jesus during his crucifixion, transforming this ancient cry of anguish into a profound prophecy of the Messiah's suffering and trust in God.
c. 1000 BC
Reign of King David
The Psalms are traditionally attributed to various authors, with many, including Psalm 22, associated with King David. This psalm reflects deep suffering and a cry for deliverance.
c. 500 BC
Septuagint Translation
Greek-speaking Jews translated the Hebrew scriptures into Greek. This translation (the Septuagint) rendered some phrases differently, influencing later quotations of the Psalms.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Crucifixion of Jesus
The Gospel of Matthew records that Jesus' mockers at the cross quoted Psalm 22:8, applying it to him in derision. This event makes the verse a prophecy fulfilled.
c. AD 60-70
Writing of the Gospels
Matthew records the taunts against Jesus at the cross, citing Psalm 22:8. This shows how early Christians understood the verse as a prophetic declaration about Jesus.
This passage is a direct quote from Psalm 22:8, spoken by the enemies of Jesus at the cross, showing how this verse was seen as a prophecy of His suffering and abandonment.
Psalm 37:5This verse uses the same Hebrew verb translated as 'trust' in Psalm 22:8, emphasizing the idea of committing or 'rolling' one's burdens and cares onto the Lord, highlighting the depth of reliance.
This passage from the Apocrypha presents a striking parallel, where the ungodly mock a righteous man by saying his claims of God being his father mean God will deliver him, mirroring the scornful words in Psalm 22:8.
This verse describes the suffering servant as despised and rejected by men, a concept that resonates with the anguish and mockery David (or Jesus) experiences in Psalm 22:8.
Psalm 18:19This verse speaks of God bringing the psalmist out into a broad place and delivering him because He delighted in him, offering a contrast to the mockery in Psalm 22:8 by showing God's favor towards those He loves.
pulpitPsalms 22:8: "He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him."
Verse 8. - He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him. This is a translation of the Septuagint Version rather than of the Hebrew text, which runs, Trust in the Lord (literally, Roll [thy care] upon the Lord): let him deliver him. Let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him. St. Matthew has put it on record that this text was actually cited by the scribes and elders who wit…
poolePsalms 22:8: "He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him."
He trusted on the Lord; he rolled himself upon the Lord; where they seem to scoff not only at the thing, but at the expression. Their sense is, He pretended that he did wholly lean, and rest himself, and cast his cares upon God, and quietly and confidently commit all his affairs to his providence, assuring himself of a happy issue from him. That he would deliver him; or, without any…
The enemies twist the Psalmist's trust into an act of foolish self-reliance, taunting him to "roll" his care onto God, as if this were a desperate gamble rather than a profound act of faith. Their sneers reveal a deep misunderstanding of true reliance, which isn't about hoping God will always intervene as we expect, but about committing ourselves fully to Him, knowing He delights in us even in suffering.
This passage describes the taunts of enemies directed at someone in deep distress, who has placed their trust in God. These adversaries mock the sufferer's faith, urging God to rescue him if he truly delights in him, implying that his current suffering proves God has abandoned him. This scene is famously fulfilled when Jesus, on the cross, is mocked with these very words by those who witnessed his crucifixion.
This passage describes the taunts of enemies directed at someone in deep distress, who has placed their trust in God. These adversaries mock the sufferer's faith, urging God to rescue him if he truly delights in him, implying that his current suffering proves God has abandoned him. This scene is famously fulfilled when Jesus, on the cross, is mocked with these very words by those who witnessed his crucifixion.
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"“He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”" — The enemies twist the Psalmist's trust into an act of foolish self-reliance, taunting him to "roll" his care onto God, as if this were a desperate gamble rather than a profound act of faith. Their sn…
