Psalms 22:12
What does Psalms 22:12 mean?
A plain-English look at Psalms 22:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Psalms 22:12 means
The psalmist vividly describes his enemies as powerful, oppressive forces, likening them to "many bulls" and "strong bulls of Bashan." This imagery conveys their ferocity, strength, and overwhelming numbers, portraying him as completely surrounded and vulnerable. Bashan was known for its robust cattle, emphasizing the formidable and aggressive nature of those who seek to harm him. He feels utterly encompassed and threatened by these formidable foes.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Many bulls have compassed me; Strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Many bulls have compassed me; Strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949A great herd of oxen is round me: I am shut in by the strong oxen of Bashan.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Many bulls have surrounded me, Mighty ones of Bashan have compassed me,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Not available in this translation
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Many bulls have encompassed me; Bashan's strong ones have beset me round.
Context
This verse initiates a detailed and graphic description of the psalmist's physical and emotional torment at the hands of his enemies, immediately following his urgent plea for God not to be far off in verse 11. The animalistic imagery of "bulls" powerfully conveys the overwhelming and aggressive nature of his tormentors, setting a tone of intense conflict and vulnerability that continues for several verses.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Deuteronomy 32:14
Butter of the herd, and milk of the flock, With fat of lambs, And rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, With the finest of the wheat; And of the blood of the grape thou drankest wine.
- Isaiah 34:7
And the wild-oxen shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls: and their land shall be drunken with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness.
- Psalms 68:30
Rebuke the wild beast of the reeds, The multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the peoples, Trampling under foot the pieces of silver: He hath scattered the peoples that delight in war.
- Amos 4:1
Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, that oppress the poor, that crush the needy, that say unto their lords, Bring, and let us drink.
- Acts 4:27
for of a truth in this city against thy holy Servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, were gathered together,
- Ezekiel 39:18
Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan.
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