Psa 22:7-8 | NETfull | STEP | All who see me taunt me; they mock me and shake their heads.

Psalms 22:7-8

7 All who see me taunt ^{▼▼ Or “scoff at, deride, mock.”} me;
they mock me ^{▼▼ Heb “they separate with a lip.” Apparently this refers to their verbal taunting.} and shake their heads. ^{▼▼ Shake their heads. Apparently this refers to a taunting gesture. See also Job 16:4; Ps 109:25; Lam 2:15.}
8 They say, ^{▼▼ The words “they say” are supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons. The psalmist here quotes the sarcastic taunts of his enemies.}
“Commit yourself ^{▼▼ Heb “roll [yourself].” The Hebrew verb גלל here has the sense of “commit” (see Prov 16:3). The imperatival form in the Hebrew text indicates the enemies here address the psalmist. Since they refer to him in the third person in the rest of the verse, some prefer to emend the verb to a perfect, “he commits himself to the Lord.”} to the Lord!
Let the Lord ^{▼▼ Heb “Let him”; the referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} rescue him!
Let the Lord ^{▼▼ Heb “Let him”; the referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} deliver him, for he delights in him.” ^{▼▼ That is, “for he [the Lord] delights in him [the psalmist].” For other cases where the expression “delight in” refers to God’s delight in a person, see Num 14:8; 1 Kgs 10:9; Pss 18:19; 40:8.} ^{▼▼ This statement does not necessarily reflect the enemies’ actual belief, but it does reflect the psalmist’s confession. The psalmist’s enemies sarcastically appeal to God to help him, because he claims to be an object of divine favor. However, they probably doubted the reality of his claim.}