Lexical Summary lama: Why Original Word: λαμά Strong's Exhaustive Concordance lama, whyOr lamma lam-mah'; of Hebrew origin (mah with prepositional prefix); lama (i.e. Why) -- lama. see HEBREW mah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof Hebrew origin mah with preposition prefix lamed (for, to) Definition why NASB Translation lama (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2982: λαμάλαμά (R G (on the accent see Tdf. Proleg. 102)) in Matthew 27:46 and λαμμᾶ (R G) Mark 15:34 (the Hebrew word לָמָּה from Psalm 21:1 STRONGS NT 2982: λαμμᾶλαμμᾶ, see λαμά. STRONGS NT 2982: λεμα [λεμα, see λαμά.] STRONGS NT 2982: λῆμα [λῆμα., see λαμά.] STRONGS NT 2982: λιμάλιμά, so Tdf. edition 7, for λαμά, which see. Topical Lexicon Occurrences in Scripture Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34 each preserve the same Aramaic interrogative within Jesus’ cry from the cross: “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (Matthew 27:46). The Evangelists retain the original wording, then supply a translation for their Greek-speaking audiences. By doing so they emphasize both the historical authenticity of the event and its theological weight. Echo of Psalm 22 The phrase corresponds directly to Psalm 22:1, a psalm that begins with lament and ends in triumph. By voicing its opening line, Jesus does more than cite Scripture; He identifies Himself with the righteous sufferer described by David, thereby drawing the whole psalm into the moment at Calvary. The onlookers who knew the psalm would have understood that this apparent cry of abandonment actually pointed forward to vindication and global proclamation of God’s salvation (Psalm 22:27-31). Linguistic and Cultural Setting Aramaic was the everyday language of first-century Judea, while Greek was the lingua franca of the broader Roman world. The Gospel writers embed the Aramaic interrogative inside a Greek narrative, reflecting the bilingual environment of the early church. By preserving Jesus’ exact words, Matthew and Mark convey the raw emotion of the scene and underscore the personal nature of His suffering. The Cry of Dereliction and Atonement The use of this interrogative word captures the depth of the Son’s experience as He bears the sins of the world (Isaiah 53:4-6; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Although the Father never ceased to love the Son, the judicial bearing of human guilt meant a real, though mysterious, sense of forsakenness. The question “why?” does not signal doubt in God’s plan; rather, it voices the horror of sin’s penalty, highlighting both the costliness of redemption and the faithfulness of the suffering Messiah who “entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23). Prophetic Fulfilment and Messianic Identity By invoking Psalm 22 through this single interrogative, Jesus fulfills multiple prophetic strands: the mockery of bystanders (Psalm 22:7-8; Matthew 27:39-43), the piercing of hands and feet (Psalm 22:16; John 20:25-27), and the casting of lots for His garments (Psalm 22:18; John 19:24). The linguistic bridge formed by the word underlines that the same God who spoke through David is accomplishing salvation through David’s greater Son. Pastoral Implications Believers facing suffering can take comfort that the Savior has entered the darkest human experiences and emerged victorious. His question “why?” legitimizes honest lament, while the resolution of Psalm 22 assures the faithful of God’s ultimate deliverance. Hebrews 5:7-9 affirms that through such sufferings He became the perfect source of eternal salvation. Liturgical and Devotional Use Christian worship, particularly during Holy Week, returns repeatedly to this cry. The retention of the original Aramaic word invites congregations to stand reverently at the foot of the cross, hearing Jesus’ voice across the centuries. Personal meditation on these verses fosters deeper gratitude for the atonement and a stronger conviction in God’s unwavering purpose, even when circumstances appear abandoned. Summary Though occurring only twice, Strong’s Greek 2982 serves as a linguistic key that unlocks vast theological treasure. It brings together history, prophecy, language, and personal devotion, inviting every reader to contemplate the cost of redemption and the faithfulness of the One who asked “why?” so that sinners might never be forsaken. Forms and Transliterations λαμα λαμὰ λεμα λεμὰ lema lemàLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 27:46 AramGRK: ηλι ηλι λεμὰ σαβαχθανι τοῦτ' NAS: ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI? KJV: Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that INT: Eli Eli lama sabachthani that Mark 15:34 Aram |
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