King James Version

Psalms 22:16

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

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Hebrew

Tap a word to see its meaning. Words run left to right in English reading order.

In the Hebrew text this line is Psalms 22:17.

כִּ֥יkiassuredכִּיconjunction — “assured”H3588(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexedand, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + til…סְבָב֗וּנִיsevavunibringסָבַבverb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, common, plural, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “bring”, a completed actionH5437to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figurativelybring, cast, fetch, lead, make, walk, [idiom] whirl, [idiom] round about, be about on every side, apply, avoid, beset (about), besiege, bring again, carry (about), change, cause to come about, [idiom] circuit, (fetch a) compass (about, rou…כְּלָ֫בִ֥יםkelavimdogכֶּלֶבnoun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “dog”, the ordinary formH3611a dog; hence (by euphemism) a male prostitutedog.עֲדַ֣תadatassemblyעֵדָהnoun, common, feminine, singular, construct — “assembly”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH5712a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd)assembly, company, congregation, multitude, people, swarm. Compare H5713 (עֵדָה).מְ֭רֵעִיםmereimbe worseרָעַעverb, hiphil, participle, absolute — “be worse”, a verb used as a describing wordH7489properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be) good fornothing, i.e. bad (physically, socially or morally)afflict, associate selves (by mistake for H7462 (רָעָה)), break (down, in pieces), [phrase] displease, (be, bring, do) evil (doer, entreat, man), show self friendly (by mistake for H7462 (רָעָה)), do harm, (do) hurt, (behave self, deal) il…הִקִּיפ֑וּנִיhiqifunicompassנָקַףverb, hiphil, perfect, 3rd person, common, plural, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “compass”, a completed actionH5362to strike with more or less violence (beat, fell, corrode); by implication (of attack) to knock together, i.e. surround or circulatecompass (about, -ing), cut down, destroy, go round (about), inclose, round.כָּ֝אֲרִ֗יkaarias digכָּרָהpreposition, with the article, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “as dig”, the ordinary formH3738properly, to dig; figuratively, to plot; generally, to bore or opendig, [idiom] make (a banquet), open.יָדַ֥יyadayhandיָדnoun, common, both genders, dual, construct, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “hand”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH3027a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, […וְרַגְלָֽיveraglayand footרֶגֶלconjunction, noun, common, feminine, dual, construct, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “and foot”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH7272a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda[idiom] be able to endure, [idiom] according as, [idiom] after, [idiom] coming, [idiom] follow, (broken-)foot(-ed, -stool), [idiom] great toe, [idiom] haunt, [idiom] journey, leg, [phrase] piss, [phrase] possession, time.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

(22-17) For dogs have encompassed me; a company of evil-doers have inclosed me; like a lion, they are at my hands and my feet.

Translation Note

In the Hebrew text this line is Psalm 22:17. The King James reads “they pierced my hands and my feet.” The 1917 Jewish Publication Society reads “like a lion, they are at my hands and my feet.” Brenton reads “they pierced my hands and my feet,” and the Greek verb is ὤρυξαν, “they dug.”

The Westminster form is כָּאֲרִי. Open Scriptures tags it with Strong’s H3738 and a noun parse, not as the verb “to dig.” Strong’s defines H3738 as “properly, to dig.” Strong’s H738 is “a lion,” and its King James list includes “pierce (from the margin).” The consonants can be read as “like a lion.” They have also been read as a verb of piercing or digging. The Jewish Publication Society takes the lion. The King James and Brenton take piercing. Christians read the line with the crucifixion, where the hands and feet of Jesus were pierced. Jesus is God the Son, and the psalm is his prayer.

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

Jewish Publication Society (1917). “like a lion, they are at my hands and my feet.”

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English. “they pierced my hands and my feet.”

Septuagint, Brenton’s Greek (1851). ὤρυξαν χεῖράς μου, καὶ πόδας.

Why don’t Jews believe Jesus is the Messiah?

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

For dogs have compassed me: A company of evil-doers have inclosed me; They pierced my hands and my feet.

Young’s Literal Translation

And to the dust of death thou appointest me, For surrounded me have dogs, A company of evil doers have compassed me, Piercing my hands and my feet.

World English Bible

For dogs have surrounded me. A company of evildoers have enclosed me. They have pierced my hands and feet.

Darby Translation

For dogs have encompassed me; an assembly of evil-doers have surrounded me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

(22-17) For dogs have encompassed me; a company of evil-doers have inclosed me; like a lion, they are at my hands and my feet.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

For many dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked doers has beset me round: they pierced my hands and my feet.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ὅτι ἐκύκλωσάν με κύνες πολλοὶ, συναγωγὴ πονηρευομένων περιέσχον με· ὤρυξαν χεῖράς μου, καὶ πόδας,