In most translations of the scriptures, we read YESHUA saying “Why have you forsaken Me?” while He is on the execution stake. When reading this we get an image of YAHWEH leaving the presence of His Son to be alone as He suffers, and many have said that YAHWEH turned away His face and that YESHUA felt the presence of His Father departing from Him as He had never been separated from His Father since the foundation of the world. It makes people question how could YAHWEH the Father turn away from His own Son? So we will examine what the Aramaic translation to help clear this up.
Mathew 27:47 (Aramaic English New Testament)
“And about the ninth hour, YESHUA cried out with a loud voice and said, “My EL! My EL! (Lemana shabakthani) Why have You SPARED ME?”
Mathew 27:47 (George Lamsa Aramaic)
“And about the ninth hour, YESHUA cried out with a loud voice and said, ELI, ELI, lemana shabakthani! My EL, My EL, for this I WAS SPARED!” Lamsa adds a footnote (This was My destiny.)
Mathew 27:46 The Holy Aramaic Scriptures.com
“And about the ninth hour, YESHUA cried out in a qala rama (a loud voice), and said, “Iyl! Iyl! Lamana Shabaqathani (My EL! My EL! Why have You SPARED ME?”
These scriptures match perfectly with the prophecy written in Psalms 22. Again, most translations say “Why have you forsaken Me?” However; that is not what the Aramaic says.
Psalms 22:1 (Aramaic Peshitta)
“My EL, My EL, why have You LET ME LIVE?”
The point is this: YAHWEH would never leave His own Son as YAHWEH and YESHUA are ONE!
Zechariah 12:10 (Parenthesis mine)
“And I will pour out upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of favor and of mercies; and they shall look upon Me (YAHWEH) whom they have pierced, and they will mourn for Him (YESHUA) as they mourn for an only son, and shall grieve for Him as they grieve over the first-born.”
So what was YESHUA saying while on the execution stake?
YESHUA is saying that He was obedient to His Father YAHWEH, He knew that He would leave the heavens and become flesh to die for the sins of the world and was saying “Father lets finish this! For this is the reason why I have come into the world to save the world!”
John 10:17
“Because of this, My Father loves Me that I lay down My life that I might take it up again. No man takes it from Me but I lay it down by My OWN will. For I have authority to lay it down and I have authority to take it up again, for this Commandment I have received from My Father.”
Chaim Bentorah an ancient language scholar adds what YESHUA was saying which also matches Lamsa’s footnote saying “This is My destiny!”
“Listen to My heart, this is My destiny. This is why I came to earth in human form, and that is to die to give you eternal life.”
YESHUA said in His own words that this was His purpose:
John 12:27
“Behold My soul is now disturbed, and what will I say? My Father deliver Me from this hour? RATHER BECAUSE OF THIS I HAVE COME FOR THIS HOUR!”
YAHWEH did not forsake YESHUA
YESHUA Himself says that YAHWEH would never leave Him, and we know that the scriptures cannot contradict themselves, as the other translations do by saying that He was forsaken.
John 16:32
“For behold the hour is coming, and now has come, when you will be dispersed every man to his own place (disciples). And you will leave me alone, yet I would NOT BE ALONE BECAUSE THE FATHER IS WITH ME.”
This stems from the prophecy of Zechariah 13:7 (parenthesis mine)
“Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd and against the man who is my friend, says YAHWEH of Hosts; smite the Shepherd (YESHUA), and His sheep shall be scattered (disciples) and I will turn My hand against the great ones.”
Mathew 26:31
“Then YESHUA said to them, “All of you will be offended by Me in this night, for it is written, “I will strike the Shepherd and the sheep of his flock will be scattered.”
Mark 14:48-52
“But YESHUA answered and said to them, “As against a robber do you come out with swords and with staves to seize Me. I was with you all day while I was teaching in the temple, but you did not seize Me. This has occurred that the scriptures might be fulfilled.” Then his disciples left him and fled. And a certain young lad was following after Him and was clothed with a linen cloth. He was naked and they seized him and then he left the linen cloth and ran away naked.”
YESHUA said in John 16:32 that His disciples would leave him alone and they did according to prophecy. But, YESHUA said that YAHWEH would not leave Him alone; therefore, YAHWEH could not possibly have forsaken Him.
John 8:29
“And He who sent Me is WITH ME AND DOES NOT LEAVE ME ALONE because My Father is pleased at all times with the things that I do.”
YAHWEH never forsakes His people
Psalms 37:28
“For YAHWEH loves justice, and He FORSAKES NOT THE RIGHTEOUS ONES; He keeps them forever; but the seed of the wicked, He destroys.”
Psalms 9:10
“And they that know Your name will put their trust in You; for You HAVE NOT FORSAKEN them that seek You, O YAHWEH.”
Deuteronomy 31:8
“And it is that YAHWEH who goes before you; He will be with you, He will NOT FAIL YOU, NOR FORSAKE YOU; feart not, neither tremble, not be dismayed.”
1 Samuel 12:22
“For YAHWEH will NOT FORSAKE His people for His great Name’s sake; because He is pleased to make you His people.”
2 Corinthians 4:9-10
“We are persecuted, BUT NOT FORSAKEN; we are prostrated, but not perish. For we bear in our body at all times, the dying of YESHUA, that the life also of YESHUA might be manifested in our body.”
So how much more will YAHWEH NOT FORSAKE His Only-begotten Son
Acts 2:25-28
“For David spoke concerning Him, I foresaw My Master, for at all times He is at my right hand so that I will not be moved. Because of this my heart rejoices and my praise flourishes and also my body dwells in hope. Because you will not leave My soul in sheol and neither will You allow Your RIGHTEOUS ONE to see corruption.” You have revealed the road of life to me, You will fill me with gladness with Your presence.”
Psalms 16:8-11
“I have set YAHWEH always before me; because He is at My right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore, my heart is glad and my esteem rejoices; my flesh also shall rest in hope. For You have left not My soul in Sheol; neither have You suffered Your HOLY ONE to see corruption (YESHUA rose from the dead). You will show Me the path of life, and I shall be filled with the joy of the countenance, with the pleasure of victory of Your right hand.”
Isaiah 53:10 (Aramaic Peshitta)
“Yet it pleased YAHWEH to afflict Him; He has put Him to grief; HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE as an offering for sin, that posterity may see, and His days shall be prolonged, and the pleasure of YAHWEH shall prosper in His hand.”
John 10:17 (Aramaic English New Testament)
“Because of this, My Father loves Me THAT I LAY DOWN MY LIFE that I might take it up again. No man takes it from Me but I lay it down by My OWN will. For I have authority to lay it down and I have authority to take it up again, for this Commandment I have received from My Father.”
Isaiah 42:1 (Aramaic Peshitta)
“Behold, My Servant, Whom I uphold, My Elect in Whom MY SOUL DELIGHTS; I have put My spirit upon Him; He shall bring forth justice to the gentiles.”
Mathew 3:16-17
“And when YESHUA was immersed, He arose at once from the water and heaven was opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of ELOHIM which was descending like a dove and it came upon Him. Behold, and a voice from heaven that said, “This is My beloved Son in Whom I am pleased.”
Mathew 17:3-5
“And Moses and Elijah appeared to them speaking with Him (YESHUA). And Peter responded and said to YESHUA, “My Master it is good for us that we are here. And if You desire, let us make You here three shelters, one for You and one for Moses and one for Elijah. And while he was speaking, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them and a voice came from the cloud saying, “This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am pleased listen to Him.”
John 17:24
“Father, those whom You have given to Me, I desire that where I am they might also be with Me that they might see My esteem that You have given to Me because You have loved Me from before the foundations of the world.”
HalleluYAH! YAHWEH loved His Son from the foundation of the world just as He did as He was being executed and would never leave Him for YAHWEH and YESHUA are One (Echad). As always, may our Father YAHWEH bless you all in YESHUA’s Name!