And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
MATTHEW 27:46KJVWhat does Matthew 27:46 mean?
Matthew 27:46 describes Jesus, while on the cross, crying out loudly, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" This is a direct quotation of Psalm 22:1, expressing a deep sense of abandonment and distress as Jesus suffers during his crucifixion.
In this moment, Jesus is speaking to God the Father, voicing his agony and sense of separation as he endures the crucifixion. The words are given in Aramaic ("Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?") and then translated for the reader. This cry highlights both Jesus' suffering and his fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, connecting his experience to the words of the psalmist centuries earlier.
The Hebrew / Aramaic / Greek behind Matthew 27:46
- ἐλωΐ, ἐλωΐ (Eli, Eli): This is Aramaic for "My God, my God." The repetition emphasizes the personal relationship and the intensity of the cry.
- σαβαχθανί (sabachthani): This Aramaic word means "you have forsaken me" or "you have abandoned me." It carries a strong sense of being left alone or deserted, which deepens the emotional weight of Jesus' words.
- θεός (theos): The Greek word for "God" is used in the translation that follows the Aramaic, showing the connection between Jesus' cry and the audience's understanding.
Why Matthew 27:46 matters
- Matthew 27:46 clears up that Jesus' cry is not random despair but a deliberate reference to Psalm 22, signaling fulfillment of prophecy and inviting readers to see the connection.
- The verse emphasizes the real, intense suffering Jesus experienced, showing his full participation in human pain and abandonment.
- This moment stands out in the wider passage as the climax of Jesus' suffering, highlighting both his humanity and the theological depth of his sacrifice.