What Does Psalm 22:8 Mean in the King James?
He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The Hebrew word rendered “trusted” pictures rolling yourself onto the LORD, and the taunt turns that reliance into a demand that he prove his delight by rescuing you.
THE MEANING
Your reliance on the LORD appears as rolling yourself onto him, while the same line gives voice to those who ridicule that trust. Their challenge treats rescue as the test of whether he delights in you.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It exposes the mockers’ test that the LORD’s delight must show itself as immediate rescue; their demand is not a settled verdict on the one being mocked.
THE ROOT
גֹּל
gōl
GROWS FROM
גלל
galal
To roll, roll away, or roll something onto another.
The word rendered “trusted” is גֹּל (gōl, “roll yourself onto”), from גלל (galal, “to roll”). Reliance becomes a picture of placing your weight on the LORD, which the taunt turns into a demand for rescue.
ALSO GROWS
galal: To roll or roll away.
גָּלַל
This is the verb’s fuller form and makes the physical motion beneath reliance visible.
galgal: Wheel, or something that rolls.
גַּלְגַּל
This related form carries the same rolling motion, turning trust into an image of movement and transfer.
megillah: Scroll, a rolled writing.
מְגִלָּה
A scroll preserves the same root image: something rolled up and carried.
יַצִּילֵהוּ
yatsilehu
GROWS FROM
נצל
natsal
To take away, snatch out, or rescue from danger.
“deliver” in this verse is yatsilehu. The verse stacks two rescue verbs: יְפַלְּטֵהוּ (yefalletehu, “may he let him escape”) and יַצִּילֵהוּ (yatsilehu, “may he rescue him”). נצל (natsal, “take away or rescue”) gives the demand the force of being pulled out of peril, not receiving a vague favor.
ALSO GROWS
natsal: To take away, snatch away, or rescue.
נָצַל
The verb holds rescue together with removal from whatever threatens or confines.
hatsalah: Rescue or deliverance.
הַצָּלָה
The noun names the act being demanded: a person is brought out of danger.
חָפֵץ
chafets
GROWS FROM
חפץ
chafats
To desire or take pleasure in.
“delighted” in this verse is chafets. This word names active desire or pleasure, not merely polite approval. Spoken as mockery, it twists intimacy into a challenge: if the LORD takes pleasure in him, let him show it by rescuing him.
ALSO GROWS
chefets: Desire, pleasure, or something desired.
חֵפֶץ
The noun makes delight concrete as something wanted or held precious.
chafatsim: Desires or things one takes pleasure in.
חֲפָצִים
The plural carries the same root into the things a person values, opening the force of “he delighted in him.”
THE PATTERN
Trust is pictured as rolling what you carry onto the LORD.
Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.THE THREAD
Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.Psalm 22 uses גֹּל (gōl, “roll yourself onto”) for the trust that is being mocked. Psalm 37:5 repeats that same Hebrew verb and names what is rolled, the way, making the reliance beneath the taunt visible.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us