Psalms 22:21 Meaning and Explanation
“Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The psalmist appeals to God's past rescue and asks for deliverance from the mouth of the lion.
The Context of Psalms 22:21
Appending a claim of past rescue to the present plea for deliverance.
What Does Psalms 22:21 Mean?
The metaphors of predators return (lion, 'horns of the unicorns'—perhaps a wild ox or antelope, powerful and dangerous). But now the appeal is to testimony: 'for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.' God has heard and rescued before. The psalmist claims a past deliverance that gives warrant to present petition. If God heard and saved from the 'horns'—the weapons and goring power of other beasts—He can save from the lion.
This verse bridges suffering and hope through memory of God's prior intervention. The psalmist's argument is: God has heard me before. Therefore, God will hear me now. The petition is not hope without grounds but is grounded in the testimony that God is a hearing and saving God.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 22:21
What does Psalms 22:21 mean?
The psalmist appeals to God's past rescue and asks for deliverance from the mouth of the lion.
What is the context of Psalms 22:21?
Appending a claim of past rescue to the present plea for deliverance.