Psalms 22:12

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

Many {H7227} bulls {H6499} have compassed {H5437} me: strong {H47} bulls of Bashan {H1316} have beset me round {H3803}.

Many bulls surround me, wild bulls of Bashan close in on me.

Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.

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

Commentary

Commentary on Psalms 22:12 (KJV)

Psalms 22:12, part of a deeply poignant and prophetically significant psalm, describes the overwhelming sense of being surrounded by powerful and aggressive adversaries. The psalmist, likely King David, expresses his intense distress through vivid animal imagery.

Context

Psalm 22 is unique in its raw depiction of suffering and its profound messianic prophecies. While it clearly reflects the personal anguish of the psalmist (traditionally David), many scholars view it as a prophetic foretelling of the suffering of Jesus Christ on the cross. The opening cry, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Psalms 22:1), was famously uttered by Jesus Himself (Matthew 27:46). Verse 12 sets the scene of intense opposition and isolation, preceding other graphic descriptions of torment.

Key Themes

  • Overwhelming Opposition: The central theme is the feeling of being completely surrounded and outnumbered by formidable foes. The psalmist is not just attacked, but "compassed" and "beset round," indicating a complete encirclement.
  • Powerful Enemies: The "bulls" symbolize strength, aggression, and ferocity. This imagery conveys the brutal, unyielding nature of the adversaries.
  • "Bulls of Bashan": Bashan was a fertile region east of the Jordan River known for its rich pastures and large, strong, and well-fed cattle. Calling them "bulls of Bashan" emphasizes their exceptional power, arrogance, and perhaps their cruel indifference. In a prophetic sense, these could represent the powerful religious and political leaders who conspired against Jesus, or the Gentile powers (Romans) involved in His crucifixion.
  • Prophetic Suffering: For Christians, this verse powerfully foreshadows the immense pressure, mockery, and physical torment Christ endured, surrounded by hostile crowds, soldiers, and religious leaders during His passion. The psalmist's experience becomes a type for the ultimate suffering of the Messiah.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "bulls" (abbirim) can also be translated as "strong ones" or "mighty ones," reinforcing the idea of powerful, imposing enemies rather than literal animals. The phrase "Bashan" (Bāőān) grounds the imagery in a specific, well-known geographical and agricultural context, making the metaphor of powerful, well-fed, and untamed beasts even more potent.

Related Scriptures

This verse resonates with other passages detailing intense suffering and opposition. For a deeper understanding of Christ's suffering, consider reading Isaiah 53:5, which speaks of Him being "wounded for our transgressions." The imagery of being surrounded by enemies is also found in other psalms, such as Psalms 3:1, where David laments, "Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me." The ultimate fulfillment of this psalm's description of suffering is seen in the New Testament accounts of the crucifixion, such as John 19:18.

Practical Application

Psalms 22:12 offers comfort and understanding for those facing overwhelming opposition in their own lives. Whether the "bulls" are relentless criticisms, systemic injustice, severe illness, or spiritual attacks, this verse acknowledges the reality of feeling surrounded and helpless. It reminds us that even when we feel completely beset, our struggles are understood by God, who Himself endured the ultimate opposition. It encourages us to bring our feelings of being overwhelmed to God, just as the psalmist did, trusting in His ultimate deliverance, even when circumstances seem dire.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Amos 4:1

    ΒΆ Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that [are] in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink.

  • Amos 4:3

    And ye shall go out at the breaches, every [cow at that which is] before her; and ye shall cast [them] into the palace, saith the LORD.

  • Psalms 68:30

    Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, [till every one] submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people [that] delight in war.

  • Acts 4:27

    For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

  • Matthew 27:1

    ΒΆ When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:

  • 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.

  • Deuteronomy 32:14

    Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape.
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