The Meaning of Psalms 22:15 Explained

Psalms 22:15

KJV: My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

YLT: Dried up as an earthen vessel is my power, And my tongue is cleaving to my jaws.

Darby: My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue cleaveth to my palate; and thou hast laid me in the dust of death.

ASV: My strength is dried up like a potsherd; And my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; And thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

My strength  is dried up  like a potsherd;  and my tongue  cleaveth  to my jaws;  and thou hast brought  me into the dust  of death. 

What does Psalms 22:15 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 22:1-15 - The Cry Of The Forsaken
The Hebrew inscription of this exquisite ode is, "The hind of the morning." The hind is the emblem of loveliness; see Song of Solomon 2:7; Song of Solomon 2:9. The cruel persecutors are designated as bulls, lions, and dogs. Perhaps the allusion to the morning refers to the daybreak of resurrection-hope.
Of course our blessed Lord is in every syllable. Indeed, the psalm reads more as history than as prophecy. The divine Sufferer seems to have recited it to Himself when on the Cross; for it begins with "My God, my God," etc., and ends, according to some, with a word in the Hebrew, meaning "It is finished." The psalm is indeed a photograph of Calvary, a memorial of the heartbreak of Jesus.
Sometimes to the soul in agony God seems not to hear; but through those hours of darkness the Easter day is hastening to break in resplendent glory. He will not suffer His holy one to see corruption, Psalms 16:10. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 22

1  David complains in great discouragement
9  He prays in great distress
23  He praises God

What do the individual words in Psalms 22:15 mean?

Is dried up like a potsherd My strength and My tongue clings to My jaws and to the dust of death You have brought Me
יָ֘בֵ֤שׁ כַּחֶ֨רֶשׂ ׀ כֹּחִ֗י וּ֭לְשׁוֹנִי מֻדְבָּ֣ק מַלְקוֹחָ֑י וְֽלַעֲפַר־ מָ֥וֶת תִּשְׁפְּתֵֽנִי

יָ֘בֵ֤שׁ  Is  dried  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָבֵשׁ  
Sense: to make dry, wither, be dry, become dry, be dried up, be withered.
כַּחֶ֨רֶשׂ ׀  like  a  potsherd 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֶרֶשׂ  
Sense: earthenware, clay pottery, shard, potsherd, earthen vessel.
כֹּחִ֗י  My  strength 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: כֹּחַ 
Sense: strength, power, might.
וּ֭לְשׁוֹנִי  and  My  tongue 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, common singular construct, first person common singular
Root: לָשֹׁון  
Sense: tongue.
מֻדְבָּ֣ק  clings 
Parse: Verb, Hofal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: דָּבַק  
Sense: to cling, stick, stay close, cleave, keep close, stick to, stick with, follow closely, join to, overtake, catch.
מַלְקוֹחָ֑י  to  My  jaws 
Parse: Noun, mdc, first person common singular
Root: מַלְקֹוחַ 
Sense: booty, prey.
וְֽלַעֲפַר־  and  to  the  dust 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: עָפָר  
Sense: dry earth, dust, powder, ashes, earth, ground, mortar, rubbish.
מָ֥וֶת  of  death 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָוֶת  
Sense: death, dying, Death (personified), realm of the dead.
תִּשְׁפְּתֵֽנִי  You  have  brought  Me 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: שָׁפַת  
Sense: to set, place, put, ordain.