New Testament · Gospel

Mark 15:34

The Crucifixion

At the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Mark 15:34 · Berean Standard Bible
What It Means

Mark 15:34, in plain English

At three in the afternoon, Jesus cries out loudly, 'My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?'

Why it's here

This is a quote from Psalm 22, which starts with despair but ends with triumph and praise. Even in His darkest moment, Jesus is pointing to hope.

Who's speaking

Jesus cries out from the cross in His moment of deepest agony.

Where it sits in the story

This is the most heartbreaking moment in the Bible. Jesus, who had been with the Father for all eternity, experiences separation from God so that you never have to.

A Closer Look

The scholarly reading

At the ninth hour, Jesus cries with a phone megale (loud voice), 'Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?' Mark preserves the Aramaic and translates it as the opening of Psalm 22.

Language and setting

This is the only saying from the cross in Mark. Citing Psalm 22:1, Jesus expresses the anguish of bearing sin's separation from God. The Psalm moves from lament to vindication and universal worship.

Voice

Jesus cries out from the cross in Aramaic, quoting Psalm 22:1.

Significance

The most haunting cry in Scripture: Jesus experiences the forsakenness of bearing humanity's sin. Yet by quoting Psalm 22, He points to the vindication that follows the suffering.

In context

Mark 15:32–36

32Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and believe!” And even those who were crucified with Him berated Him.

33From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land.

34At the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

35When some of those standing nearby heard this, they said, “Behold, He is calling Elijah.”

36And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine. He put it on a reed and held it up for Jesus to drink, saying, “Leave Him alone. Let us see if Elijah comes to take Him down.”

Read all of Mark 15 — Pilate washes his hands, soldiers mock the King of Kings, and darkness covers the land. The curtain in the temple tears from top to bottom.

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