Verse

Psalm 22:13

ESV they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion.
NIV Roaring lions that tear their prey open their mouths wide against me.
NASB They open their mouths wide at me, As a ravening and roaring lion.
CSB They open their mouths against me -- lions, mauling and roaring.
NLT Like lions they open their jaws against me, roaring and tearing into their prey.
KJV They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.

What does Psalm 22:13 mean?

David describes his foes as a roaring lion that tears its prey into pieces. This continues his symbolic depiction of his struggle as if he is being mocked and executed (Psalm 22:1–7, 16–18). That symbolism becomes fulfilled prophecy when Jesus experiences those same events, in reality (Matthew 27:46; Psalm 22:22).

In Psalm 35:17 David prays: "How long, O Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their destruction, my precious life from the lions!" Jesus' foes, too, acted like wild lions. They could not wait to devour Him. Although they were motivated by jealousy to kill Jesus, the Messiah, undoubtedly Satan orchestrated Jesus' arrest, fake trial, and crucifixion.

At the dawn of human history Satan tried to disrupt God's rule in the lives of Adam and Eve by tempting them to throw off God's rule. He also tried many times to destroy the race from which Messiah would be born. Peter describes Satan as the adversary who "prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). However, God is infinitely more powerful than Satan. He raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 4:24).
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