Among the nations, the Lord made the people into a byword.
The Hebrew word “mashal” (parable) is a word or saying with a special meaning. It is something you have to think about. It can be a parable, a play on words, a colloquialism, or a proverb. The complaint continues: the nations can continue to mock the people. A saying is even easier to pass on, just like a good joke. It causes everyone to shake their head and say, Oh, that people of Jacob! Listen to this!
Psalm 22:1–31 can be recognized as dealing with the suffering of Christ, as per Psalm 22:7, All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads.
By not intervening, God gets blamed for the fact that the nation is a laughingstock. The mocking, the wagging of heads is widespread. The language is strong, but not insolent.
In 1 Peter 5:6–7 we read, Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
Continue to look up to the Lord, watch yourself and how you act. It is not fate that befalls us. We believe in the care of the Lord God, based on his covenant (promises).
14 You have made us a byword among the nations, a laughingstock among the peoples.