They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
Psalm 22:13 continues the prophetic description of the enemies surrounding the suffering Messiah. The psalm began with the cry Jesus Christ uttered from the cross: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (v.1; Matthew 27:46). It has already described the mockery of men who laughed Him to scorn, shot out the lip, shook the head, and taunted His trust in Jehovah (vv.7-8; Matthew 27:39-43). Verse 13 now presents their cruelty under the figure of ravening and roaring lions.
“They.” The word points to the enemies gathered around the suffering Messiah as He moved through the hatred, mockery, trial, condemnation, and cross appointed for Him. Verse 12 has called them “many bulls” and “strong bulls of Bashan,” showing their strength, number, and surrounding hostility. Verse 13 adds another figure to describe their appetite and noise. These were not quiet observers of Christ’s suffering. They were active enemies, using their presence, gestures, and mouths against Him.
“Gaped upon me.” To gape is to open wide the mouth. In this setting it is not innocent surprise, but hostile expression. Their mouths are opened wide in contempt, accusation, mockery, and desire to devour. David elsewhere used similar language: “Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it” (Psalm 35:21). The open mouth of the wicked is often the sign of cruel delight at another’s trouble.
This was fulfilled around the cross. They that passed by reviled Him, wagging their heads (Matthew 27:39). The chief priests, scribes, and elders mocked Him, saying, “He saved others; himself he cannot save” (Matthew 27:41-42). They used their mouths to ridicule His person, His trust, His claim, His power, and His relation to God. Psalm 22:13 shows that their mouths were not restrained by pity, reverence, fear, or shame.
“Upon me.” The open mouths were aimed at Christ Himself. Their words were personal. He was the target. They did not speak as humble seekers asking to understand. They attacked the Holy One in His lowest visible condition. He was wounded, exposed, mocked, forsaken by men, and suffering under the weight of the cross; yet they opened their mouths upon Him. Sin is never more vile than when it adds verbal cruelty to another’s affliction.
“With their mouths.” The mouth is named for speech, mockery, and verbal assault. Their cruelty did not require swords at this point; their mouths did the work. Words can strike a suffering man when his body is already afflicted. Christ suffered nails, thirst, shame, and bodily pain; He also suffered reproach, taunts, false accusations, and scornful mouths. Psalm 69:20 says, “Reproach hath broken my heart.”
This verse therefore belongs with many Scriptures about wicked speech against Christ. Psalm 109:2 says, “the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me.” Psalm 109:3 adds, “They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.” At Calvary these passages stand together. The enemies of Christ fought with words before, during, and after their hands brought Him to the cross.
“As a ravening.” Ravening describes a tearing, devouring appetite. The figure is not of an animal resting, but one eager to seize and consume. These men were not satisfied to see Christ suffer; they desired His destruction. Their speech had appetite in it. The rulers had already taken counsel to put Him to death (Matthew 26:3-4). The people were persuaded to ask Barabbas and destroy Jesus (Matthew 27:20). Their mouths at the cross revealed the same devouring spirit.
The word also helps explain the nature of persecuting speech. Some words are not spoken to correct, heal, warn, or teach. They are spoken to tear. A ravening mouth seeks to consume another’s name, peace, influence, comfort, or life. False prophets are called “ravening wolves” under sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15). Paul warned that grievous wolves would enter among the churches, not sparing the flock (Acts 20:29). Ravening speech may wear religious dress, but its appetite is destruction.
“And a roaring lion.” The lion adds terror, noise, power, and threat. A roaring lion announces danger. The sound itself creates fear before the devouring comes. So it was around Christ. Their voices were loud, confident, and cruel. “Crucify him, crucify him” was the roar of men against the innocent Lamb (Luke 23:21). Their mockery at the cross continued the same spirit. They roared with scorn because they thought Him helpless.
Scripture uses the lion for violent enemies. David also prayed, “Save me from the lion’s mouth” (v.21). Peter warns that the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). At the cross, wicked men acted with that devouring spirit. They surrounded the Saviour with open mouths, hateful words, and roaring contempt. Yet they did not know that the Lamb they mocked was stronger than every lion.
The comparison is striking because Christ is elsewhere called “the Lion of the tribe of Juda” (Revelation 5:5). The enemies roared like lions, but He is the true Lion. They appeared powerful while He appeared weak. They opened their mouths while He endured in silence. They sought to devour Him, but He would rise to reign. Their roaring could not change His identity, His obedience, His resurrection, or His dominion.
Christ’s restraint under such mouths is glorious. When He was reviled, He reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not, but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously (1 Peter 2:23). He could have answered every mouth with immediate judgment. He could have called more than twelve legions of angels (Matthew 26:53). Instead He endured the roar, bore the reproach, fulfilled Scripture, and finished the work given Him.
This verse also shows the dreadful wickedness of religious hatred. Many of those who opened their mouths against Christ were religious rulers. They knew words of Scripture, yet mocked the Scripture’s fulfilment before their eyes. They spoke of God while scorning the Son of God. They used language of trust and deliverance from Psalm 22:8, but used it as cruelty rather than worship. A man may quote true words with a lion’s mouth.
The saints should learn not to measure truth by the noise of enemies. At Calvary the roaring mouths were many, and Christ appeared alone. But the multitude was wrong, and the suffering Christ was right. Loud speech is not truth. Religious scorn is not discernment. Public agreement is not righteousness. The roaring lion may frighten the ear, but Jehovah judges by truth.
Psalm 22:13 also comforts believers who suffer under hostile words. The servant is not greater than his Lord (John 15:20). If enemies opened their mouths against Christ, His people should not marvel when mouths open against them. Wicked words may be loud, cruel, and surrounding, but they are not final. Christ has gone through the roar before His people, and God heard Him from the horns of the unicorns (v.21).
The end of the psalm proves that the mouths of enemies did not prevail. The suffering Messiah declares God’s name unto His brethren (v.22). All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD (v.27). The kingdom is the LORD’s (v.28). A seed shall serve Him (v.30). The enemies gaped and roared at the cross, but the gospel went forth after the resurrection. Their mouths opened against Him; His praise filled the earth.
Psalm 22:13 therefore reveals the verbal cruelty surrounding the Christ during His passion. His enemies opened their mouths wide against Him, not with pity or truth, but with ravening appetite and roaring hatred. Let every reader fear the sin of cruel speech, especially against Christ, His truth, and His servants. Let every sufferer remember the silent Lamb who endured the roar. And let every saint rejoice that the mouths of lions could not devour the Messiah whom God raised, exalted, and gave a serving seed for ever.
They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
Psalm 22:13 continues the prophetic description of the enemies surrounding the suffering Messiah. The psalm began with the cry Jesus Christ uttered from the cross: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (v.1; Matthew 27:46). It has already described the mockery of men who laughed Him to scorn, shot out the lip, shook the head, and taunted His trust in Jehovah (vv.7-8; Matthew 27:39-43). Verse 13 now presents their cruelty under the figure of ravening and roaring lions.
“They.” The word points to the enemies gathered around the suffering Messiah as He moved through the hatred, mockery, trial, condemnation, and cross appointed for Him. Verse 12 has called them “many bulls” and “strong bulls of Bashan,” showing their strength, number, and surrounding hostility. Verse 13 adds another figure to describe their appetite and noise. These were not quiet observers of Christ’s suffering. They were active enemies, using their presence, gestures, and mouths against Him.
“Gaped upon me.” To gape is to open wide the mouth. In this setting it is not innocent surprise, but hostile expression. Their mouths are opened wide in contempt, accusation, mockery, and desire to devour. David elsewhere used similar language: “Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it” (Psalm 35:21). The open mouth of the wicked is often the sign of cruel delight at another’s trouble.
This was fulfilled around the cross. They that passed by reviled Him, wagging their heads (Matthew 27:39). The chief priests, scribes, and elders mocked Him, saying, “He saved others; himself he cannot save” (Matthew 27:41-42). They used their mouths to ridicule His person, His trust, His claim, His power, and His relation to God. Psalm 22:13 shows that their mouths were not restrained by pity, reverence, fear, or shame.
“Upon me.” The open mouths were aimed at Christ Himself. Their words were personal. He was the target. They did not speak as humble seekers asking to understand. They attacked the Holy One in His lowest visible condition. He was wounded, exposed, mocked, forsaken by men, and suffering under the weight of the cross; yet they opened their mouths upon Him. Sin is never more vile than when it adds verbal cruelty to another’s affliction.
“With their mouths.” The mouth is named for speech, mockery, and verbal assault. Their cruelty did not require swords at this point; their mouths did the work. Words can strike a suffering man when his body is already afflicted. Christ suffered nails, thirst, shame, and bodily pain; He also suffered reproach, taunts, false accusations, and scornful mouths. Psalm 69:20 says, “Reproach hath broken my heart.”
This verse therefore belongs with many Scriptures about wicked speech against Christ. Psalm 109:2 says, “the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me.” Psalm 109:3 adds, “They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.” At Calvary these passages stand together. The enemies of Christ fought with words before, during, and after their hands brought Him to the cross.
“As a ravening.” Ravening describes a tearing, devouring appetite. The figure is not of an animal resting, but one eager to seize and consume. These men were not satisfied to see Christ suffer; they desired His destruction. Their speech had appetite in it. The rulers had already taken counsel to put Him to death (Matthew 26:3-4). The people were persuaded to ask Barabbas and destroy Jesus (Matthew 27:20). Their mouths at the cross revealed the same devouring spirit.
The word also helps explain the nature of persecuting speech. Some words are not spoken to correct, heal, warn, or teach. They are spoken to tear. A ravening mouth seeks to consume another’s name, peace, influence, comfort, or life. False prophets are called “ravening wolves” under sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15). Paul warned that grievous wolves would enter among the churches, not sparing the flock (Acts 20:29). Ravening speech may wear religious dress, but its appetite is destruction.
“And a roaring lion.” The lion adds terror, noise, power, and threat. A roaring lion announces danger. The sound itself creates fear before the devouring comes. So it was around Christ. Their voices were loud, confident, and cruel. “Crucify him, crucify him” was the roar of men against the innocent Lamb (Luke 23:21). Their mockery at the cross continued the same spirit. They roared with scorn because they thought Him helpless.
Scripture uses the lion for violent enemies. David also prayed, “Save me from the lion’s mouth” (v.21). Peter warns that the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). At the cross, wicked men acted with that devouring spirit. They surrounded the Saviour with open mouths, hateful words, and roaring contempt. Yet they did not know that the Lamb they mocked was stronger than every lion.
The comparison is striking because Christ is elsewhere called “the Lion of the tribe of Juda” (Revelation 5:5). The enemies roared like lions, but He is the true Lion. They appeared powerful while He appeared weak. They opened their mouths while He endured in silence. They sought to devour Him, but He would rise to reign. Their roaring could not change His identity, His obedience, His resurrection, or His dominion.
Christ’s restraint under such mouths is glorious. When He was reviled, He reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not, but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously (1 Peter 2:23). He could have answered every mouth with immediate judgment. He could have called more than twelve legions of angels (Matthew 26:53). Instead He endured the roar, bore the reproach, fulfilled Scripture, and finished the work given Him.
This verse also shows the dreadful wickedness of religious hatred. Many of those who opened their mouths against Christ were religious rulers. They knew words of Scripture, yet mocked the Scripture’s fulfilment before their eyes. They spoke of God while scorning the Son of God. They used language of trust and deliverance from Psalm 22:8, but used it as cruelty rather than worship. A man may quote true words with a lion’s mouth.
The saints should learn not to measure truth by the noise of enemies. At Calvary the roaring mouths were many, and Christ appeared alone. But the multitude was wrong, and the suffering Christ was right. Loud speech is not truth. Religious scorn is not discernment. Public agreement is not righteousness. The roaring lion may frighten the ear, but Jehovah judges by truth.
Psalm 22:13 also comforts believers who suffer under hostile words. The servant is not greater than his Lord (John 15:20). If enemies opened their mouths against Christ, His people should not marvel when mouths open against them. Wicked words may be loud, cruel, and surrounding, but they are not final. Christ has gone through the roar before His people, and God heard Him from the horns of the unicorns (v.21).
The end of the psalm proves that the mouths of enemies did not prevail. The suffering Messiah declares God’s name unto His brethren (v.22). All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD (v.27). The kingdom is the LORD’s (v.28). A seed shall serve Him (v.30). The enemies gaped and roared at the cross, but the gospel went forth after the resurrection. Their mouths opened against Him; His praise filled the earth.
Psalm 22:13 therefore reveals the verbal cruelty surrounding the Christ during His passion. His enemies opened their mouths wide against Him, not with pity or truth, but with ravening appetite and roaring hatred. Let every reader fear the sin of cruel speech, especially against Christ, His truth, and His servants. Let every sufferer remember the silent Lamb who endured the roar. And let every saint rejoice that the mouths of lions could not devour the Messiah whom God raised, exalted, and gave a serving seed for ever.