Learn more about Eli Lema Sabachthani

Introduction to Eli, Eli, Lema Sabachthani

“Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” are some of the most haunting and theologically significant words spoken by Jesus on the cross, recorded in the New Testament Gospels. This phrase, originally in Aramaic (a Semitic language closely related to Hebrew), translates to “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” It is a direct quotation from Psalm 22:1 and stands as a deeply emotional expression of anguish, fulfillment of prophecy, and profound theological depth about Jesus' suffering.

Eli, Eli, Lema Sabachthani Pronunciation

The phrase is pronounced as: AY-lee, AY-lee, LEH-mah sah-BAHKH-tah-nee. Some Gospel manuscripts render the opening word as "Eloi" instead of "Eli", reflecting dialectal variation in Aramaic.

Eli, Eli, Lema Sabachthani in the Bible

This phrase appears in two of the Synoptic Gospels:

• Matthew 27:46: "And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?’” (ESV). Matthew preserves the Hebrew-Aramaic form “Eli.”
• Mark 15:34: “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” Mark uses the slightly different form “Eloi.”

Both accounts clearly highlight that Jesus was quoting Psalm 22:1, a psalm of David that begins with a cry of abandonment but ultimately ends in vindication and hope. By uttering this, Jesus was not only expressing his anguish but also pointing the audience to the entirety of the psalm, which details the sufferings of a righteous individual and God's eventual deliverance.

Related Themes and Meanings to Eli, Eli, Lema Sabachthani

• Messianic Fulfillment: Jesus’ cry aligns with prophetic imagery in Psalm 22, including references to mocking, pierced hands and feet, and casting lots for garments—all elements seen in the crucifixion narrative.
• Human Suffering and Divine Silence: This cry captures a moment where the fully human Jesus experiences the depth of alienation and suffering, resonating with the human condition.
• Divine Abandonment and Atonement: Theologically, some interpret this as Jesus bearing the weight of humanity's sin and experiencing temporary separation from the Father, fulfilling the demands of divine justice.
• Liturgical and Devotional Use: The phrase has been used throughout Christian liturgy and music, especially in Good Friday services, as a symbol of Christ’s suffering for humanity.

Historical and Linguistic Notes

Aramaic was the everyday spoken language of Jews in 1st-century Palestine. Jesus likely spoke Aramaic regularly, making this outcry linguistically authentic. The word "sabachthani" is a transliteration of the Aramaic verb “šəbaqṭanî,” meaning "you have forsaken me." The original Psalm was written in Hebrew, but Jesus quotes a well-known Aramaic version, highlighting the deep liturgical and cultural memory of the psalm.

Trivia and Interesting Facts about Eli, Eli, Lema Sabachthani

• Some bystanders in Matthew 27:47 mistakenly thought Jesus was calling for Elijah, due to the similarity between “Eli” and the Hebrew name “Eliyahu.” This further fulfills elements of mockery predicted in Psalm 22.
• The phrase is one of the so-called “Seven Last Words of Christ” and often emphasized in sermons, plays, and artistic representations of the Crucifixion.
• Psalm 22, from which this line comes, transitions from despair to hope. The quotation on the cross may have been intended to signal not just the beginning of the psalm but its entire redemptive arc.
• This is the only recorded moment in the Gospels where Jesus addresses God without calling Him “Father,” emphasizing the sense of abandonment in that moment.

Conclusion

“Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” is a powerful and multifaceted expression that encapsulates the theological mystery of Jesus’ suffering and the fulfillment of Scripture. It is a deeply human cry, rich with prophetic fulfillment and spiritual reflection, reminding believers of both the cost of redemption and the hope of deliverance that Psalm 22 ultimately proclaims.