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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
Psalm 22:16 reads, "Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet." The phrase "pierced my hands and feet" along with the context, is likely t...
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Vattachal-Vadakketil Thomas John alias V T John
Supporter
In the Good News Bible Ps. 22:16 reads as follows "A gang of evil men is round me; like a pack of dogs they close in on me; they T E A R at my hands and feet." Taking into account the foot-note on that page a second reading is "A gang of evil men is round me; like a pack of dogs they close in on me LIKE A LION at my hands and feet" As a third reading we have " A gang of evil men is round me; like a pack of dogs they close in on me; THEY TIE at my hands and feet. I agree that the version with the word is PIERCED is the most appropriate version..
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
I'm referring to the textual debate in Psalm 22:16 (Psalm 22:17 in Hebrew numbering), where the Hebrew phrase כָּאֲרִי יָדַי וְרַגְלָי is traditionally translated as "like a lion my hands and my feet" in the Masoretic Text (MT), while some ancient manuscripts, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Septuagint (LXX), suggest כָּרוּ (ka'aru), meaning "they pierced" or "they dug". There is a Psalms fragment (Psalm 22:16) from Nahal Hever, where the word in question is written as כארו, karu, which becomes "dug" when omitting the aleph, as Vall had previously speculated. It may then involve a misspelling. It is from a Dead Sea Scroll written in Hebrew. I believe they call these a copyist's error. (Remember, we don't have the original manuscripts). This fragment clearly shows that the final letter in the crucial word vrak (ending with the longer letter vav (ו) rather than the shorter yod (י), yielding ka'aru) is a waw (v, in Hebrew ו), not a yod (y, in Hebrew י).) This confirms that the text should be translated “they pierced/dug,” rather than “like a lion.” The ancient Greek translation, the Septuagint, agrees with the Dead Sea Scrolls reading “pierce.” I have checked out the Septuagint from the public library and have read parts of it, parts familiar to me. And this would agree with what both prophets Isaiah and Zechariah prophesied, as Michael mentioned, Isaiah said, "He was pierced for our transgressions" (Isaiah 53:5). Zechariah prophesied, "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced" (Zechariah 12:10; compare John 19:37). I studied Hebrew for 3 years at Dallas Seminary and loved it! (3 years was 1 year more than the required 2 years).
John Appelt
Supporter
Psalm 22:16 seems different from Hebrew versions which in English is something like this, “For dogs have encompassed me; a company of evildoers have enclosed me, like lions [they maul] my hands and my feet.” This psalm, written by David, as the heading indicates, is about a particular situation he experienced. However, while it is David’s own intense emotional suffering and victory, it also pictures the Lord’s ordeal on the cross and His triumph. One can see from David’s situation, many comparisons and allusions to Christ’s experience. But in the same token there is a lot in the psalm that cannot refer to Jesus. Many think David was predicting the crucifixion, making this a Messianic psalm. However, several things argue against it. In the gospels, there are only two specific quotes from this psalm. One would expect many from such a long psalm. Matthew 27:35 and John 19:24, quoting Psalm 22:18, is one of them. The “fulfilling” is not prophetic fulfilling but the sense of historical comparison, as if the gospel writers were saying, “this is just like what happened to David.” Then there is Psalm 22:1, mentioned in Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34. Here it seems the Lord quotes David’s words. But surprisingly, the two quotes are not the same. The last words differ. David said, “azavthani,” which is Hebrew for “have forsaken me.” Jesus said something different, “sabachthani,” which is Hebrew for “have sacrificed me,” as if Jesus was saying, “Why have you sacrificed Me?” There is no connection at all between these two different words. The interpretation that Jesus was forsaken is unfortunately forced. Instead, God made Him a sacrifice, all because of our sins. This supports the premise that David’s experience was his own and quite different than what Jesus went through. David felt he was forsaken; the Lord knew He was being sacrificed. Matthew 27:46 says, “that is” and refers to David’s words as a comparison or a resemblance, as if to say, “just like when David wrote…” Mark 15:34 says, “which is translated” or “interpreted” in the sense of “taken from.” Thus, Jesus borrowed and adapted David’s words to express His own agony on the cross. Going back to Psalm 22:16, instead of “like a lion” some Hebrew versions have “they digged [at] my hands and feet.” The word “digged” is the same for digging wells, graves, and pits. In the Septuagint version, the Greek word is also “dig.” Even if the word is “dig,” that is not remotely close to the word “pierce,” as in Zechariah 12:10. This piercing is mentioned in John 19:37, which came later. The many explanations as to how “dig” could possibly be thought of as “pierce,” do not work. This seems to limit the experience to David alone. The actual translation of Psalm 22:16 may not ever be ascertained. Then, whatever are the wording choices may not even apply to or describe the nailing of Jesus to the cross. However, David should not be robbed of his experience.
Jeffrey Johnson
Supporter
In reading the account in Psalm 22:16, my opinion is as follows:
Aspects of the Messiah’s impalement were foretold. “The assembly of evildoers themselves have enclosed me,” said the psalmist David. “Like a lion they are at my hands and my feet.” (Ps. 22:16)
Psalm 22:16 does not have a single "correct" translation, but rather a scholarly debate between the readings of "like a lion" (found in the Masoretic Hebrew text) and "they pierced" (supported by the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Septuagint). Many modern translations, particularly those influenced by the Dead Sea Scrolls and early Greek translations, render the verse as "they have pierced my hands and my feet," while others, like the Complete Jewish Bible, adhere more closely to the Masoretic text's "like a lion" wording.
The controversy stems from a single, ancient Hebrew word, where the Masoretic Text (MT) and older versions diverge due to a variation in a single letter.
Conclusion:
Who are the dogs in Psalm 22:16?
This statement, "They have pierced my hands and feet," graphically explains what the Roman soldiers did to Jesus at the crucifixion. Like wild dogs that tear a victim's limbs apart, the soldiers tore Jesus' flesh apart by driving nails through his hands and feet.
Mention of the power of the dog in Psalm 22:20 refers again to David's foes and to those who crucified our Saviour. In ancient times, dogs were seen as lowly pack scavengers who attacked the vulnerable. Similarly, Jesus' enemies banded together to strike.
Based on the available evidence from multiple ancient sources, including the Septuagint and the Dead Sea Scrolls, the original and most coherent text likely refers to the psalmist's hands and feet being pierced or dug through.
While the Masoretic Text, foundational to modern Jewish tradition, contains the variant reading "like a lion," most textual critics and modern translations rely on the more ancient manuscript evidence to render Psalm 22:16 as "They pierced my hands and my feet".
Scholars believe a scribal error occurred, where the Hebrew ka'ari ("like a lion") was mistranscribed from the original ka'aru ("they dug" or "they pierced"). The final letter differs slightly between yod (lion) and vav (pierced), making it a plausible typo.
And in Jewish tradition, Psalm 22 is read as a lament of King David, referring to his own suffering and persecution by enemies.
And this view does not connect the psalm to the Messiah or crucifixion. Some rabbinic sources have suggested the phrase might refer to some other form of harm or a symbolic description of suffering.
Sadly, ultimately, the meaning of Psalm 22:16 is a complex issue, relying on different manuscript traditions and interpretive frameworks. Its significance, whether as a historical lament or a messianic prophecy, depends on the textual and theological perspectives brought to it.
Thankfully, as Christians, we can see the connection to Jesus’s death and the way it was carried out:
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