For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
Evil people have surrounded me like a pack of dogs. A crowd of wicked people has closed in around me. They have pierced my hands and my feet.
The writer is describing being surrounded and attacked by evil people who have wounded him deeply, both physically and emotionally.
📚 Historical Context
Psalms 22 was written by King David during a time of intense personal suffering, likely when he faced overwhelming enemies and felt abandoned. In ancient Near Eastern culture, "dogs" referred to wild, aggressive foes or outcasts, symbolizing humiliation and danger. This verse is also recognized as a prophetic foreshadowing of Jesus' crucifixion, where his hands and feet were pierced, though crucifixion was not practiced in David's era.
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