Psalms 22 · Verse 17

Psalms 22:17

I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
Psalms 22:17, King James Version

Psalms 22:17 in other translations

BSBI can count all my bones; they stare and gloat over me.
WEBI can count all of my bones. They look and stare at me.
ASVI may count all my bones. They look and stare upon me;
YLTI count all my bones--they look expectingly, They look upon me,
DARBYI may count all my bones. They look, they stare upon me;
BBEI am able to see all my bones; their looks are fixed on me:
WebsterI may number all my bones: they look and stare upon me.

What does Psalms 22:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
17. His emaciated frame, itself an item of his misery, is rendered more so as the object of delighted contemplation to his enemies. The verbs, "look" and "stare," often occur as suggestive of feelings of satisfaction (compare Psa 27:13; 54:7; 118:7).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 17 I may tell all my bones - This may refer to the violent extension of his body when the whole of its weight hung upon the nails which attached his hands to the transverse beam of the cross. The body being thus extended, the principal bones became prominent, and easily discernible.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 22:11-21

In these verses we have Christ suffering, and Christ praying; by which we are directed to look for crosses, and to look up to God under them. The very manner of Christ's death is described, though not in use among the Jews. They pierced his hands and his feet, which were nailed to the accursed tree, and his whole body was left so to hang as to suffer the most severe pain and torture. His natural force failed, being…

Read the full comment on Psalms 22:11-21 →

Psalms 22:17 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

אֲסַפֵּ֥ר'a.sa.PerI countH5608
כָּל\־kol-allH3605
עַצְמוֹתָ֑יatz.mo.Taibones myH6106
הֵ֥מָּהHe.mahtheyH1992
יַ֝בִּ֗יטוּya.Bi.tuthey lookH5027
יִרְאוּ\־yir.'u-they lookH7200
בִֽי\׃Vion me

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 22:17

  • Luke 23:35

    And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.

  • Job 33:21

    His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.

  • Matthew 27:39-41

    And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,

  • Isaiah 52:14

    As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:

  • Luke 23:27

    And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.

  • Mark 15:29-32

    And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, Save thyself, and come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save. Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.

  • Psalms 102:3-5

    For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth. My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread. By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.

  • Matthew 27:36

    And sitting down they watched him there;

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
I may.
102:3-5; Job 33:21; Isa 52:14
look.
Mt 27:36,39-41; Mr 15:29-32; Lu 23:27,35

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 22:16

    For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

  • Psalms 22:17

    I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.

  • Psalms 22:18

    They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

Read all of Psalms 22

Psalms 22:17 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Contar puedo todos mis huesos; ellos miran, considéranme.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car des chiens m’ont environné, une assemblée de méchants m’a entouré; ils ont percé mes mains et mes pieds;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Alle meine Gebeine könnte ich zählen. Sie schauen und sehen mich an;