Psalms 22:24 Meaning and Explanation
“For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God does not despise the afflicted but hears and responds to their cry.
The Context of Psalms 22:24
God's character affirmed: He does not despise the afflicted but hears their cry.
What Does Psalms 22:24 Mean?
A core affirmation: God does not 'despise nor abhor the affliction of the afflicted.' The very ones the world rejects, God honors. God 'hath not hid his face'—contrary to verse 1's accusation of abandonment, God has not turned away. Rather, when the afflicted cry, 'he heard.' The past tense suggests this is the established pattern: crying leads to God hearing, always.
This verse resolves the tension woven through the psalm. The psalmist has experienced what feels like God's absence (verses 1–2), yet now affirms that God has not despised or hidden. The resolution is not logical but relational: suffering deepens faith that God hears precisely because God cares about the afflicted.
Psalms 22:24 in the Original Language
ani (עָנִי), 'afflicted' — poor, oppressed, brought low; the word encompasses both material suffering and social marginalization.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 22:24
What does Psalms 22:24 mean?
God does not despise the afflicted but hears and responds to their cry.
What is the context of Psalms 22:24?
God's character affirmed: He does not despise the afflicted but hears their cry.