σαβαχθάνι (sabachthani)
sabachthani
sabachthani
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The word sabachthani is an Aramaic phrase meaning "you have forsaken me," recorded in Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34 as Jesus’ cry from the cross. It preserves the original language spoken by Jesus, offering a direct glimpse into his human experience of abandonment. The term derives from the root azab, which signifies leaving or abandoning someone, often with a sense of finality.
Its significance lies in its connection to Psalm 22:1, where the Hebrew text uses a similar verb for desertion. By quoting this psalm in Aramaic, Jesus invokes the entire context of suffering and eventual deliverance found there. The variation in spelling between Matthew’s "sabachthani" and Mark’s "zaphthanei" likely reflects different dialects or attempts to capture the precise sound of the Hebrew versus Aramaic forms.
This single phrase carries immense theological weight, expressing both genuine anguish and deep faith. It shows Jesus fully identifying with human suffering while simultaneously anchoring his ordeal in Scripture. The cry is not a statement of despair but a declaration rooted in the psalmist’s trust that God will ultimately rescue the righteous sufferer.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When Jesus cried out on the cross, He used words that cut to the heart of human pain. The phrase sabachthani captures a raw moment where He felt the weight of separation from the Father. This was not a failure of faith, but the deepest expression of it. By speaking in Aramaic, He shared in our most vulnerable experiences, showing that God understands what it feels like to be alone.
This cry connects directly to Psalm 22, a psalm of trust amidst suffering. Jesus did not speak these words in despair, but as an act of obedience and identification with humanity. It reminds us that even in our darkest hours, we are held by the same God who answered that ancient prayer. Your own feelings of abandonment do not mean you have been left behind.
The strength found here is not in avoiding pain, but in facing it with honesty before God. You can bring your deepest fears and questions to Him, knowing He has walked this path Himself. There is hope in the fact that this cry was followed by victory, offering comfort to anyone who feels forgotten.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- sabachthani?2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- σαβαχθανι;2×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 27:46
About the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lima sabachthani?” That is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
This verse records Jesus quoting Psalm 22 in Aramaic, linking His suffering directly to the scriptural promise of deliverance.
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Mark 15:34
At the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is, being interpreted, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Mark’s account preserves the specific dialect used by Jesus, emphasizing the authenticity of His human experience on the cross.