Psalm 22:16

Translations

Modern

For dogs surround me; a band of evil men encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet.

Traditional

For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

Literal

For dogs have surrounded me; the swarm of the wicked has encircled me, piercing my hands and my feet.

Latin

Quoniam circumdederunt me canes multi; concilium malignantium obsedit me. Foderunt manus meas et pedes meos;

Original

Hebrew

English

For dogs surround me; a band of evil men encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet.

Notes

Psalms 22:16

The wild pack of dogs represents aggressive and dishonest people.

Psalms 22:12–18

The psalmist again shares his deep pain and suffering (see Psalm 22:1–2, 6–8). His trouble comes from human beings who act like wild animals.

Psalms 22:1–21

The psalmist switches between thinking about his current difficult situation and remembering the Lord's past faithfulness. He ends the psalm with a prayer for rescue.

Psalms 22:1–31

All previous laments seem minor compared to this outcry against the enemy and God's abandonment. The psalm has two main sections:

the lament (Psalm 22:1–21) and
praise for redemption (Psalm 22:22–31).

This naturally leads to Psalm 23.

The apostles saw this psalm as expressing the sufferings of Jesus Christ. He ultimately fulfilled the purpose of David's humiliation, rejection by people, and divine abandonment (Matthew 27:35, 39, 43, 46; Mark 15:34; John 19:23–24, 28; Hebrews 2:12).

Psalms 20:1–24:10

This series of psalms shows a journey from confidence and commitment (Psalms 20–21), through anguish and abandonment (Psalm 22), and finally to comfort, insight, and hope (Psalms 23–24).

Theme notes and profiles

David Psalms of Suffering Suffering in Following God The Poor and Needy in the Psalms

Related verses

John 19:37
And, as another Scripture says: “They will look on the One they have pierced.”
Zechariah 12:10
Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer, and they will look on Me, the One they have pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son.
Matthew 27:35
When they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments by casting lots.
John 20:25
So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands, and put my finger where the nails have been, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe.”
John 19:23
When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided His garments into four parts, one for each soldier, with the tunic remaining. It was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.
John 19:34
Instead, one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out.
Mark 15:24
And they crucified Him. They also divided His garments by casting lots to decide what each of them would take.
John 20:27
Then Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe.”
Luke 23:33
When they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified Him there, along with the criminals, one on His right and the other on His left.
Mark 15:16–20
Then the soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called the whole company together.
Isaiah 53:5
But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.
Psalm 22:20
Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of wild dogs.

Psalm 22:16

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