This is a continuing look into Psalm 22 as the music in Jesus’ heart as He endured the cross.
Masoretic Text |
Septuagint | ||
Psalm 22:17 (Tanakh/KJV) | Psalm 22:17 (NET) | Psalm 21:18 (NETS) |
Psalm 21:18 (Elpenor English) |
I may tell (אֲסַפֵּ֥ר) all my bones: they look and stare upon me. | I can count (sāp̄ar, אספר) all my bones; my enemies are gloating over me in triumph. | I counted (ἐξηρίθμησα) all my bones, but they took note and observed me; | They counted (ἐξηρίθμησαν) all my bones; and they observed and looked upon me. |
In the Tanakh and KJV אֲסַפֵּ֥ר was translated I may tell. It was translated I can count in the NET. It can mean both. Consider the first occurrences of forms of סָפַר in the KJV translation (Genesis 15:5 KJV):
And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell (sāp̄ar, וספר) the stars, if thou be able to number (sāp̄ar, לספר) them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
I’m not sure what the translators thought Abraham should tell the stars. Rashi’s commentary on Psalm 22:17 (22:18) read:
I tell about all my bones: The pain of my bones.
I could understand better if the Lord told Abraham to tell [about] the stars, especially their great number. But the KJV translation of Genesis 15:5 was unique among the Bible versions I use.
Masoretic Text |
Septuagint | ||
Genesis 15:5 (Tanakh) Table | Genesis 15:5 (NET) | Genesis 15:5 (NETS) Table |
Genesis 15:5 (English Elpenor) |
And He brought him forth abroad, and said: ‘Look now toward heaven, and count (וּסְפֹר֙) the stars, if thou be able to count (לִסְפֹּ֣ר) them’; and He said unto him: ‘So shall thy seed be.’ | The Lord took him outside and said, “Gaze into the sky and count (sāp̄ar, וספר) the stars—if you are able to count (sāp̄ar, לספר) them!” Then he said to him, “So will your descendants be.” | Then he brought him outside and said to him, “Look up to the sky, and number (ἀρίθμησον) the stars, if you will be able to count (ἐξαριθμῆσαι) them.” And he said, “So shall your offspring be.” | And he brought him out and said to him, Look up now to heaven, and count (ἀρίθμησον) the stars, if thou shalt be able to number (ἐξαριθμῆσαι) them fully, and he said, Thus shall thy seed be. |
The relationship between count, number and tell is perhaps easiest to understand when Abraham’s servant returned and recounted to Isaak all the matters (τὰ ῥήματα) that he had carried out.[1]
Masoretic Text |
Septuagint | ||
Genesis 24:66 (Tanakh/KJV) | Genesis 24:66 (NET) | Genesis 24:66 (NETS) |
Genesis 24:66 (English Elpenor) |
And the servant told (וַיְסַפֵּ֥ר) Isaac all the things that he had done. | The servant told (sāp̄ar, ויספר) Isaac everything that had happened. | And the servant recounted (διηγήσατο) to Isaak all the matters that he had carried out. | And the servant told (διηγήσατο) Isaac all that he had done. |
Abraham had commanded this servant: 1) You must not acquire a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living.[2] 2) You must go instead to my country 3) and to my relatives 4) to find a wife for my son Isaac.[3] 5) Be careful never to take my son back there![4] In the NETS translation I can practically hear the servant recalling his master’s instructions (ῥήματα, a form of ῥῆμα; NETS: matters) one by one and recounting for Isaac all that he had done to fulfill them.
Exposure is the theme of Psalm 22:17 whether They counted (ἐξηρίθμησαν, a form of ἐξαριθμέω) all my bones (English Elpenor) or Jesus counted (ἐξηρίθμησα a form of ἐξαριθμέω) all [his own] bones (NETS), whether his bones look and stare upon him (Tanakh) or his enemies are gloating over [him] in triumph (NET). Rashi, too, understood “They look:” as “They rejoice at my misfortune” without specifying whether They were Jesus’ own bones mocking Him as they were stretched by hanging on a cross or the crowd standing around him.
None of the Gospel narratives cover these few moments of Jesus’ crucifixion in quite the cinematic detail of these two verses: For dogs have compassed me.[5] I can hear this as action description in a screenplay:
Jesus lies naked on his back on the cross. A knot of Roman soldiers surround him like a pack of wild dogs devouring their prey.
The assembly of the wicked have inclosed me.[6] Here we see the action from Jesus’ point-of-view.
Jesus sees the faces of his executioners as they fasten him to the cross: one is stoic, another perfunctory, one revels in the cruelty of his task as another winces at the pain of his victim.
They pierced my hands and my feet.[7]
Jesus’ hand spasms as a nail pierces his flesh between his ulna and radius just below the wrist.
He groans as a nail pins both of his feet, one on top of the other, through his insteps flat to the cross.
I may tell all my bones.[8]
As the soldiers raise the cross Jesus sees the bones of his arms as his body stretches, suspended by his nailed wrists.
They counted all my bones.[9]
As Jesus’ body rises above the heads of the soldiers, bystanders see his ribs pressed against his flesh as if his chest is about to burst.
They look and stare upon me.[10]
From his clawed hand to his radius, ulna and humerus wrenching his shoulders, from his rib cage to his pelvis twisting, the sagging flesh of his legs barely disguises his femur, tibia and fibula.
His bloodied toes arch back as he presses upward on the spike impaling his feet, seeking a moment’s relief from the ache of his arms and shoulders.
Jesus, staring down at the agony of his own body, lifts his eyes.
And they observed and looked upon me.[11]
Every writhing and twisting, every twitch and flutter, every bodily function is displayed for all to see.
The next verse follows:
Masoretic Text |
Septuagint |
||
Psalm 22:18 (Tanakh/KJV) | Psalm 22:18 (NET) | Psalm 21:19 (NETS) |
Psalm 21:19 (English Elpenor) |
They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. | They are dividing up my clothes among themselves; they are rolling dice for my garments. | they divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots. | They are dividing up my clothes among themselves; they are rolling dice for my garments. |
Here Jesus, suspended on an upright cross, sees what happens beneath him. These shots were described fairly well in the Gospel narratives:
Matthew 27:35, 36 (NET) | Mark 15:24, 25 (NET) | Luke 23:34 (NET) Table | John 19:23, 24 (NET) |
When they had crucified him, | Then they crucified[12] him | Now when the soldiers crucified Jesus, | |
they took his clothes | |||
But Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” | |||
they divided his clothes | and[13] divided[14] his clothes, | ||
and made four shares, one for each soldier, and the tunic remained. (Now the tunic was seamless,[15] woven from top to bottom as a single piece.) [Table] So the soldiers said[16] to one another, “Let’s not tear it, | |||
by throwing dice.[17] | throwing dice for them, | Then they threw dice[18] | but throw dice |
to divide his clothes. | |||
to decide what each would take. | |||
to see who will get it.” This took place to fulfill the scripture that says, “They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they threw dice.” So the soldiers did these things. | |||
Then they sat down and kept guard over him there. | |||
It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. |
Crucifixion was designed that the body and soul of the victim cry out, “This is wrong!” The torture for most of us would be that there is nothing we could do to end it but die. Jesus always had another option (John 10:17, 18 NET).
This is why the Father loves me—because I lay down my life, so that I may take it back again. No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down of my own free will. I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it back again. This commandment I received from my Father.”
The detail in this psalm must have been quite helpful to the One intent on fulfilling the Scriptures: everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled,[19] Jesus reminded his disciples after his resurrection. For I am reasonably convinced that the last temptation of Christ had much more to do with enduring the cross than any fantasy of domestic bliss.
A table comparing the Greek of Matthew 27:35b in the Stephanus Textus Receptus and the Septuagint follows:
Matthew 27:35b (Stephanus Textus Receptus) | Psalm 22:18 (Septuagint BLB) | Psalm 21:19 (Septuagint Elpenor) |
διεμερισαντο τα ιματια μου εαυτοις και επι τον ιματισμον μου εβαλον κληρον | διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτιά μου ἑαυτοῗς καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ἱματισμόν μου ἔβαλον κλῆρον | διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτιά μου ἑαυτοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ἱματισμόν μου ἔβαλον κλῆρον |
Matthew 27:35b (KJV) | Psalm 21:19 (NETS) | Psalm 21:19 (English Elpenor) |
They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. | they divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots. | They parted my garments [among] themselves, and cast lots upon my raiment. |
According to a note (63) in the NET Matthew alluded to Psalm 22:18 (21:19). A table comparing the Greek of Matthew’s allusion with that of the Septuagint follows.
Matthew 27:35b (NET Parallel Greek) | Psalm 22:18 (Septuagint BLB) | Psalm 21:19 (Septuagint Elpenor) |
διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ βάλλοντες κλῆρον | διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτιά μου ἑαυτοῗς καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ἱματισμόν μου ἔβαλον κλῆρον | διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτιά μου ἑαυτοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ἱματισμόν μου ἔβαλον κλῆρον |
Matthew 27:35b (NET) | Psalm 21:19 (NETS) | Psalm 21:19 (English Elpenor) |
they divided his clothes by throwing dice | they divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots. | They parted my garments [among] themselves, and cast lots upon my raiment. |
According to a note (42) in the NET Mark alluded to Psalm 22:18 (21:19). A table comparing the Greek of Mark’s allusion with that of the Septuagint follows.
Mark 15:24b (NET Parallel Greek) | Psalm 22:18 (Septuagint BLB) | Psalm 21:19 (Septuagint Elpenor) |
διαμερίζονται τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ, βάλλοντες κλῆρον | διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτιά μου ἑαυτοῗς καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ἱματισμόν μου ἔβαλον κλῆρον | διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτιά μου ἑαυτοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ἱματισμόν μου ἔβαλον κλῆρον |
Mark 15:24b (NET) | Psalm 21:19 (NETS) | Psalm 21:19 (English Elpenor) |
divided his clothes, throwing dice | they divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots. | They parted my garments [among] themselves, and cast lots upon my raiment. |
According to a note (84) in the NET Luke alluded to Psalm 22:18 (21:19). A table comparing the Greek of Luke’s allusion with that of the Septuagint follows.
Luke 23:34b (NET Parallel Greek) | Psalm 22:18 (Septuagint BLB) | Psalm 21:19 (Septuagint Elpenor) |
διαμεριζόμενοι δὲ τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ ἔβαλον |κλήρους| | διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτιά μου ἑαυτοῗς καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ἱματισμόν μου ἔβαλον κλῆρον | διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτιά μου ἑαυτοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ἱματισμόν μου ἔβαλον κλῆρον |
Luke 23:34b (NET) | Psalm 21:19 (NETS) | Psalm 21:19 (English Elpenor) |
Then they threw dice to divide his clothes. | they divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots. | They parted my garments [among] themselves, and cast lots upon my raiment. |
According to a note (77) in the NET John quoted Psalm 22:18 (21:19). A table comparing the Greek of John’s quotation with that of the Septuagint follows.
John 19:24b (NET Parallel Greek) | Psalm 22:18 (Septuagint BLB) | Psalm 21:19 (Septuagint Elpenor) |
διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτια μου ἑαυτοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ἱματισμόν μου ἔβαλον κλῆρον | διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτιά μου ἑαυτοῗς καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ἱματισμόν μου ἔβαλον κλῆρον | διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτιά μου ἑαυτοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ἱματισμόν μου ἔβαλον κλῆρον |
John 19:24b (NET) | Psalm 21:19 (NETS) | Psalm 21:19 (English Elpenor) |
They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they threw dice. | they divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots. | They parted my garments [among] themselves, and cast lots upon my raiment. |
Tables comparing Psalm 22:17; Genesis 24:66; 24:3; 24:4; 24:6 and Psalm 22:18 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Psalm 22:17 (21:18); Genesis 24:66; 24:3; 24:4; 24:6 and Psalm 22:18 (21:19) in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24 and John 19:24 in the NET and KJV follow.
Psalm 22:17 (Tanakh) | Psalm 22:17 (KJV) | Psalm 22:17 (NET) |
I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. | I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. | I can count all my bones; my enemies are gloating over me in triumph. |
Psalm 22:17 (Septuagint BLB) | Psalm 21:18 (Septuagint Elpenor) |
ἐξηρίθμησα πάντα τὰ ὀστᾶ μου αὐτοὶ δὲ κατενόησαν καὶ ἐπεῗδόν με | ἐξηρίθμησαν πάντα τὰ ὀστᾶ μου, αὐτοὶ δὲ κατενόησαν καὶ ἐπεῖδόν με |
Psalm 21:18 (NETS) | Psalm 21:18 (English Elpenor) |
I counted all my bones, but they took note and observed me; | They counted all my bones; and they observed and looked upon me. |
Genesis 24:66 (Tanakh) | Genesis 24:66 (KJV) | Genesis 24:66 (NET) |
And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. | And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done. | The servant told Isaac everything that had happened. |
Genesis 24:66 (Septuagint BLB) | Genesis 24:66 (Septuagint Elpenor) |
καὶ διηγήσατο ὁ παῗς τῷ Ισαακ πάντα τὰ ῥήματα ἃ ἐποίησεν | καὶ διηγήσατο ὁ παῖς τῷ ᾿Ισαὰκ πάντα τὰ ρήματα, ἃ ἐποίησεν |
Genesis 24:66 (NETS) | Genesis 24:66 (English Elpenor) |
And the servant recounted to Isaak all the matters that he had carried out. | And the servant told Isaac all that he had done. |
Genesis 24:3 (Tanakh) | Genesis 24:3 (KJV) | Genesis 24:3 (NET) |
And I will make thee swear by HaShem, the G-d of heaven and the G-d of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell. | And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: | so that I may make you solemnly promise by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of the earth: You must not acquire a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living. |
Genesis 24:3 (Septuagint BLB) | Genesis 24:3 (Septuagint Elpenor) |
καὶ ἐξορκιῶ σε κύριον τὸν θεὸν τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ τὸν θεὸν τῆς γῆς ἵνα μὴ λάβῃς γυναῗκα τῷ υἱῷ μου Ισαακ ἀπὸ τῶν θυγατέρων τῶν Χαναναίων μεθ᾽ ὧν ἐγὼ οἰκῶ ἐν αὐτοῗς | καὶ ἐξορκιῶ σε Κύριον τὸν Θεὸν τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ τὸν Θεὸν τῆς γῆς, ἵνα μὴ λάβῃς γυναῖκα τῷ υἱῷ μου ᾿Ισαὰκ ἀπὸ τῶν θυγατέρων τῶν Χαναναίων, μεθ᾿ ὧν ἐγὼ οἰκῶ ἐν αὐτοῖς |
Genesis 24:3 (NETS) | Genesis 24:3 (English Elpenor) |
and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of the sky and the God of earth, so that you do not get a wife for my son Isaak from the daughters of the Chananites, whom I live among, | and I will adjure thee by the Lord the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou take not a wife for my son Isaac from the daughters of the Chananites, with whom I dwell, in the midst of them. |
Genesis 24:4 (Tanakh) | Genesis 24:4 (KJV) | Genesis 24:4 (NET) |
But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son, even for Isaac.’ | But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac. | You must go instead to my country and to my relatives to find a wife for my son Isaac.” |
Genesis 24:4 (Septuagint BLB) | Genesis 24:4 (Septuagint Elpenor) |
ἀλλὰ εἰς τὴν γῆν μου οὗ ἐγενόμην πορεύσῃ καὶ εἰς τὴν φυλήν μου καὶ λήμψῃ γυναῗκα τῷ υἱῷ μου Ισαακ ἐκεῗθεν | ἀλλ᾿ ἢ εἰς τὴν γῆν μου, οὗ ἐγεννήθην, πορεύσῃ καὶ εἰς τὴν φυλήν μου καὶ λήψῃ γυναῖκα τῷ υἱῷ μου ᾿Ισαὰκ ἐκεῖθεν |
Genesis 24:4 (NETS) | Genesis 24:4 (English Elpenor) |
but you shall go to my country, where I was born, and to my tribe, and get a wife for my son Isaak from there.” | But thou shalt go instead to my country, where I was born, and to my tribe, and thou shalt take from thence a wife for my son Isaac. |
Genesis 24:6 (Tanakh) | Genesis 24:6 (KJV) | Genesis 24:6 (NET) |
And Abraham said unto him: ‘Beware thou that thou bring not my son back thither. | And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again. | “Be careful never to take my son back there!” Abraham told him. |
Genesis 24:6 (Septuagint BLB) | Genesis 24:6 (Septuagint Elpenor) |
εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν Αβρααμ πρόσεχε σεαυτῷ μὴ ἀποστρέψῃς τὸν υἱόν μου ἐκεῗ | εἶπε δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν ῾Αβραάμ· πρόσεχε σεαυτῷ, μὴ ἀποστρέψῃς τὸν υἱόν μου ἐκεῖ |
Genesis 24:6 (NETS) | Genesis 24:6 (English Elpenor) |
But Abraham said to him, “Take heed to yourself; do not bring my son back there. | And Abraam said to him, Take heed to thyself that thou carry not my son back thither. |
Psalm 22:18 (Tanakh) | Psalm 22:18 (KJV) | Psalm 22:18 (NET) |
They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. | They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. | They are dividing up my clothes among themselves; they are rolling dice for my garments. |
Psalm 22:18 (Septuagint BLB) | Psalm 21:19 (Septuagint Elpenor) |
διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτιά μου ἑαυτοῗς καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ἱματισμόν μου ἔβαλον κλῆρον | διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτιά μου ἑαυτοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ἱματισμόν μου ἔβαλον κλῆρον |
Psalm 21:19 (NETS) | Psalm 21:19 (English Elpenor) |
they divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots. | They parted my garments [among] themselves, and cast lots upon my raiment. |
NET Parallel Greek | Stephanus Textus Receptus | Byzantine Majority Text |
Σταυρώσαντες δὲ αὐτὸν διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ βάλλοντες κλῆρον | σταυρωσαντες δε αυτον διεμερισαντο τα ιματια αυτου βαλλοντες κληρον ινα πληρωθη το ρηθεν υπο του προφητου διεμερισαντο τα ιματια μου εαυτοις και επι τον ιματισμον μου εβαλον κληρον | σταυρωσαντες δε αυτον διεμερισαντο τα ιματια αυτου βαλλοντες κληρον |
NET Parallel Greek | Stephanus Textus Receptus | Byzantine Majority Text |
Καὶ σταυροῦσιν αὐτὸν καὶ διαμερίζονται τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ, βάλλοντες κλῆρον ἐπ᾿ αὐτὰ τίς τί ἄρῃ | και σταυρωσαντες αυτον διεμεριζον τα ιματια αυτου βαλλοντες κληρον επ αυτα τις τι αρη | και σταυρωσαντες αυτον διαμεριζονται τα ιματια αυτου βαλλοντες κληρον επ αυτα τις τι αρη |
NET Parallel Greek | Stephanus Textus Receptus | Byzantine Majority Text |
εἶπαν οὖν πρὸς ἀλλήλους· μὴ σχίσωμεν αὐτόν, ἀλλὰ λάχωμεν περὶ αὐτοῦ τίνος ἔσται· ἵνα ἡ γραφὴ πληρωθῇ [ἡ λέγουσα]· διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτια μου ἑαυτοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ἱματισμόν μου ἔβαλον κλῆρον. Οἱ μὲν οὖν στρατιῶται ταῦτα ἐποίησαν. | ειπον ουν προς αλληλους μη σχισωμεν αυτον αλλα λαχωμεν περι αυτου τινος εσται ινα η γραφη πληρωθη η λεγουσα διεμερισαντο τα ιματια μου εαυτοις και επι τον ιματισμον μου εβαλον κληρον οι μεν ουν στρατιωται ταυτα εποιησαν | ειπον ουν προς αλληλους μη σχισωμεν αυτον αλλα λαχωμεν περι αυτου τινος εσται ινα η γραφη πληρωθη η λεγουσα διεμερισαντο τα ιματια μου εαυτοις και επι τον ιματισμον μου εβαλον κληρον οι μεν ουν στρατιωται ταυτα εποιησαν |
[5] Psalm 22:16a (Tanakh) Table
[6] Psalm 22:16b (Tanakh) Table
[7] Psalm 22:16c (Tanakh) Table
[9] Psalm 21:18a (English Elpenor)
[11] Psalm 21:18b (English Elpenor)
[12] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had σταυροῦσιν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had σταυρωσαντες (KJV: when they had crucified).
[13] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had καὶ here. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.
[14] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had διαμερίζονται here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had διεμεριζον (KJV: they parted).
[15] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had ἄραφος here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had αρραφος (KJV: without seam).
[16] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had εἶπαν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ειπον (KJV: They said).
[17] The Stephanus Textus Receptus had ινα πληρωθη το ρηθεν υπο του προφητου διεμερισαντο τα ιματια μου εαυτοις και επι τον ιματισμον μου εβαλον κληρον (KJV: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots) here. The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text did not.
[18] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had κλήρους here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had κληρον (KJV: lots).
[19] Luke 24:44b (NET) Table