King James Version

What Does Mark 15:34 Mean?

Mark 15:34 in the King James Version says “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, ...” — study this verse from Mark chapter 15 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

Mark 15:34 · KJV

Context

32

Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.

33

And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

34

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

35

And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.

36

And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
This verse records Jesus' cry of dereliction from the cross, quoting Psalm 22:1. The Aramaic "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani" (Ἐλωΐ Ἐλωΐ λεμὰ σαβαχθάνι) means "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?" This represents the climax of Christ's suffering—not merely physical agony but spiritual abandonment as He bears the full weight of God's wrath against sin. The repetition "My God, My God" expresses anguish and emphasizes the personal relationship now ruptured by sin-bearing. The question "why?" reveals the mystery of atonement—the sinless Son experiencing what sinners deserve: separation from God. Second Corinthians 5:21 explains: "He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin." At this moment, Jesus experiences the hell believers will never know—absolute God-forsakenness. Reformed theology emphasizes that this cry demonstrates penal substitutionary atonement: Christ didn't merely die as a martyr but bore God's judicial wrath in sinners' place. The Father forsook the Son so He would never forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). This cry also demonstrates Jesus' humanity—He genuinely suffered, truly experienced abandonment, fully tasted death's horror. Yet even in dereliction, He cries "My God"—maintaining faith in the midst of forsakenness.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This cry occurred at the ninth hour (3 PM), after Jesus had hung on the cross for six hours. Crucifixion was Rome's cruelest execution method, designed to maximize suffering and shame. The phrase "at the ninth hour" is significant—this was the time of the evening sacrifice in the Temple, when the Passover lamb was slain. Jesus, the true Passover Lamb, dies as the substitute sacrifice. The quotation from Psalm 22:1 identifies Jesus as the suffering righteous one prophesied in that Messianic psalm, which also predicted other crucifixion details (hands and feet pierced, garments divided, mockers wagging heads). Jesus' use of Aramaic rather than Hebrew reflects the common language of first-century Palestine. The darkness that had covered the land from noon to 3 PM (Mark 15:33) symbolizes divine judgment—God's wrath being poured out on His Son. Early church fathers (Athanasius, Augustine) recognized this as the pivotal moment of atonement, when Christ bore sin's penalty. The cry reveals both Jesus' full identification with humanity in suffering and the costliness of redemption—salvation required the Son's experience of hell so believers could experience heaven.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Christ's experience of God-forsakenness reveal the severity of sin and the price required for atonement?
  2. What does Jesus' cry teach us about the reality of His suffering and the genuineness of His humanity?
  3. How should understanding that Christ experienced abandonment so believers never will shape our response to feelings of spiritual distance from God?
  4. Why is it significant that Jesus quotes Psalm 22, and what does this reveal about His self-understanding as the suffering Messiah?
  5. How does this moment of Christ bearing God's wrath demonstrate both divine justice (sin must be punished) and divine love (God provides the substitute)?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 28 words
καὶ1 of 28

“And”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

τῇ2 of 28
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ὥρᾳ3 of 28

“hour”

G5610

an "hour" (literally or figuratively)

τῇ4 of 28
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ἐννάτῃ5 of 28

“at the ninth”

G1766

ninth

ἐβόησεν6 of 28

“cried”

G994

to halloo, i.e., shout (for help or in a tumultuous way)

ὁ7 of 28
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

Ἰησοῦς8 of 28

“Jesus”

G2424

jesus (i.e., jehoshua), the name of our lord and two (three) other israelites

φωνῇ9 of 28

“voice”

G5456

a tone (articulate, bestial or artificial); by implication, an address (for any purpose), saying or language

μεγάλῃ10 of 28

“with a loud”

G3173

big (literally or figuratively, in a very wide application)

λέγων,11 of 28

“saying”

G3004

properly, to "lay" forth, i.e., (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas g2036 and g5346 generally refer to an

ελωι12 of 28

“Eloi”

G1682

my god

ελωι13 of 28

“Eloi”

G1682

my god

λαμμᾶ14 of 28

“lama”

G2982

lama (i.e., why)

σαβαχθανι15 of 28

“sabachthani”

G4518

thou hast left me; sabachthani (i.e., shebakthani), a cry of distress

ὅ16 of 28

“which”

G3739

the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that

ἐστιν17 of 28

“is”

G2076

he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are

μεθερμηνευόμενον18 of 28

“being interpreted”

G3177

to explain over, i.e., translate

Ὁ19 of 28
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

θεός20 of 28

“God”

G2316

a deity, especially (with g3588) the supreme divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by hebraism)

μου21 of 28

“My”

G3450

of me

ὁ22 of 28
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

θεός23 of 28

“God”

G2316

a deity, especially (with g3588) the supreme divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by hebraism)

μου24 of 28

“My”

G3450

of me

εἰς25 of 28

“hast”

G1519

to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases

τί26 of 28

“why”

G5101

an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions)

με27 of 28

“me”

G3165

me

ἐγκατέλιπές28 of 28

“thou forsaken”

G1459

to leave behind in some place, i.e., (in a good sense) let remain over, or (in a bad sense) to desert

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Mark. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Mark 15:34 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Mark 15:34 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Psalms 22:1Matthew 27:46Hebrews 5:7Psalms 27:9Isaiah 41:17Psalms 71:11

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