Psalms 22:17 Meaning and Explanation
“I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Extreme emaciation: the psalmist's bones are visible, and enemies stare in mockery.
The Context of Psalms 22:17
The psalmist is so wasted that their bones are visible, displayed before mocking onlookers.
What Does Psalms 22:17 Mean?
The body is so wasted that every bone can be counted and seen from the outside. The emaciation is extreme—malnutrition, blood loss, suffering have stripped away all flesh. And enemies 'look and stare'—they stand and watch the psalmist die, deriving some grim satisfaction from the spectacle. The psalmist is a display, a sight for others' contempt.
This combines physical destruction with social humiliation. The psalmist is not dying in private but before an audience. The stares and watching compound the pain: not merely agony but shame, not merely death but public execution or exposure.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 22:17
What does Psalms 22:17 mean?
Extreme emaciation: the psalmist's bones are visible, and enemies stare in mockery.
What is the context of Psalms 22:17?
The psalmist is so wasted that their bones are visible, displayed before mocking onlookers.