Psalm 22:13 describes the psalmist’s enemies as fierce predators, lions with open jaws that tear at prey and roar in triumph. The image conveys that he is facing violent, hungry opposition that feels as if it could consume him at any moment. The words are spoken by the psalmist, a suffering worshipper who cries out to God in anguish, and they describe those who surround him in hostility.
They open their mouths wide against me, lions tearing prey and roaring.
Psalm 22:13 (WEB)
What Psalm 22:13 Means
The verse opens with the picture of enemies who “open their mouths wide.” This is the posture of an animal preparing to bite, and it tells you that the psalmist’s opponents are not merely disagreeing with him. They are eager to devour. The comparison to lions makes the threat feel close and physical, while the phrase “tearing prey” shows that they are already doing damage rather than only planning it.
The final words, “and roaring,” add sound to the scene. Roaring is how a lion announces its power and claims its territory, so the enemies are not quietly plotting. They are loud, confident, and celebrating their advantage. The verse does not promise that the psalmist will escape these enemies in this moment. It is a description of distress, and the psalm as a whole moves from this despair toward trust in God.
The Context of Psalm 22:13
Psalm 22 is traditionally attributed to David and belongs to the wisdom and poetry literature of the Old Testament. It is a lament, a prayer of a person in deep trouble who brings that trouble honestly before God. The surrounding verses describe a sufferer who feels abandoned, poured out like water, and surrounded by bulls, dogs, and evildoers. Verse 13 sits in the middle of this crowded picture of attack.
Read in context, the lion imagery is one of several animal images that together convey how overwhelmed the psalmist feels. Verse 10 begins with an appeal to God as the one who has cared for him since birth, and verse 11 pleads with God not to remain distant. Seeing verse 13 within this sequence helps you understand that the danger is pictured as surrounding and relentless, which is why the psalmist keeps calling on God for help.
Key Phrases in Psalm 22:13
Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
(WEB)
This verse declares God to be a refuge and strength, a present help in trouble. It pairs naturally with Psalm 22:13 because it answers the fear of being overwhelmed by pointing to the one who stands between the psalmist and his enemies.
Psalm 22:11
Don’t be far from me, for trouble is near. For there is no one to help.
(WEB)
Psalm 22:11 is the plea that God will not remain far away when trouble is near. It sits just before verse 13 and shows the heart behind the lament: a longing for God to draw close when the threat is at its height.
A Short Prayer From Psalm 22:13
Lord, I bring you the fear that feels like teeth closing in around me. Some days the pressure seems to come from every side, and I cannot see who will help. Be near to me, as you have been since I was born. Guard my heart from despair, and give me steady trust that you see what I am facing. Amen.
