For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
Psalms 22:16
Was Psalm 22:16 (17 Hebrew Bible), “They pierced my hands and feet”, or “like a lion my hands and my feet”?
The contention is whether the verses says “they pierced my hands and feet” or “like a lion, they are at my hands and my feet”. It is best to start with the context and see which is the most consistent with that.
Psalms 22:14-18 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. 15My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. 16For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. 17I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. 18They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
The context is a pretty good description of crucifixion after being beaten half to death. Along with the prophesy of the parting of garments the evidence points to this event. The rejection of this event is the real problem.
We also have a companion verse no one likes to bring up as there is no dispute to its translation.
Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
Then there is the Greek translation of the Hebrew of Zechariah by John and subsequently into English.
John 19:37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.
And finally the book of Revelation, here John is given the vision of the Lord’s return.
Revelation 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
Are all these translators performing feeble work? Or is the most likely translation of Psalms, “they pierced my hands and my feet”?
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