The Meaning of Psalms 22:12 Explained

Psalms 22:12

KJV: Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.

YLT: Many bulls have surrounded me, Mighty ones of Bashan have compassed me,

Darby: Many bulls have encompassed me; Bashan's strong ones have beset me round.

ASV: Many bulls have compassed me; Strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Many  bulls  have compassed  me: strong  [bulls] of Bashan  have beset me round. 

What does Psalms 22:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 22:1-15 - The Cry Of The Forsaken
The Hebrew inscription of this exquisite ode is, "The hind of the morning." The hind is the emblem of loveliness; see Song of Solomon 2:7; Song of Solomon 2:9. The cruel persecutors are designated as bulls, lions, and dogs. Perhaps the allusion to the morning refers to the daybreak of resurrection-hope.
Of course our blessed Lord is in every syllable. Indeed, the psalm reads more as history than as prophecy. The divine Sufferer seems to have recited it to Himself when on the Cross; for it begins with "My God, my God," etc., and ends, according to some, with a word in the Hebrew, meaning "It is finished." The psalm is indeed a photograph of Calvary, a memorial of the heartbreak of Jesus.
Sometimes to the soul in agony God seems not to hear; but through those hours of darkness the Easter day is hastening to break in resplendent glory. He will not suffer His holy one to see corruption, Psalms 16:10. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 22

1  David complains in great discouragement
9  He prays in great distress
23  He praises God

What do the individual words in Psalms 22:12 mean?

Have surrounded Me bulls Many Mighty [bulls] of Bashan have encircled Me
סְ֭בָבוּנִי פָּרִ֣ים רַבִּ֑ים אַבִּירֵ֖י בָשָׁ֣ן כִּתְּרֽוּנִי

סְ֭בָבוּנִי  Have  surrounded  Me 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural, first person common singular
Root: סָבַב  
Sense: to turn, turn about or around or aside or back or towards, go about or arou nd, surround, encircle, change direction.
פָּרִ֣ים  bulls 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: פַּר  
Sense: .
רַבִּ֑ים  Many 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רַב 
Sense: much, many, great.
אַבִּירֵ֖י  Mighty  [bulls] 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural construct
Root: אַבִּיר  
Sense: mighty, valiant.
בָשָׁ֣ן  of  Bashan 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: בָּשָׁן 
Sense: a district east of the Jordan known for its fertility which was given to the half-tribe of Manasseh.
כִּתְּרֽוּנִי  have  encircled  Me 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person common plural, first person common singular
Root: כָּתַר 
Sense: to surround.