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Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
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.
My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.

New Defender's Study Bible Notes

22:13 roaring lion. The picture seems to be one of an assembly of the wicked spirits of darkness gleefully prancing about His cross, waiting to swallow Him up—Satan, the roaring lion (I Peter 5:8), mighty bulls, and dogs and unicorns (Psalm 22:12, 16, 21). These references could mean demon-controlled men, but are actually invisible powers of darkness. Nevertheless, “having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it” there at “His cross” (Colossians 2:14,15).


22:14 it is melted. The awful sufferings of crucifixion involved the gravitational dismantling of the bone joints, the collapse of the heart cavity, and finally a gushing of both blood and water (John 19:34) when the soldier’s spear pierced His side.


22:15 potsherd. A “potsherd” is a broken piece of pottery.


22:15 my tongue cleaveth. Indescribable thirst was induced in the midday sun (John 19:28).


22:16 dogs have compassed me. It is possible that the reference to “dogs” was a euphemism for a crowd of sodomites (Deuteronomy 23:17-18).


22:16 pierced my hands. The piercing of His hands and feet is a clear reference to the nails which affixed Him to the cross (note also John 20:25-28; Zechariah 12:10; 13:6; John 19:37; Revelation 1:7).


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