Anti-Missionary Arguments

Tampering With the Text: Psalm 22:16

The Anti-missionary’s charge:

Psalm 22:16 from the Hebrew Bible, when correctly translated, reads, “They surrounded my hands and feet like a lion” (the word “ka’ari clearly means like a lion, as evident from its use in Isaiah 38:13 and other writings in the KJV). David being pursued by his enemies, often referred to them as "lions" (see Psalms 7 & 17). Yet, when read out of context and wanting to allure to Jesus, the Kings James Version mistranslates: “They pierced my hands and feet.” The passage intentionally makes you think of Jesus.

HaDavar response

This is a situation where we need not be diverted from the force of the psalm by defendable translations. We can go into all the ins-and-outs of whether the word in question is the noun “ari” plus the preposition (like a lion) or whether it derived from “cur” with a medial aleph (pierced). However, we need not do so for the simple reason that the point of the text is not changed no matter what translation decision is adopted. Both translation options are acceptable. There is no problem accepting the translation “like a lion.” This is not “tampering” with the text. This is really a “non-issue.” Let me quote a remark from a good, Bible believing, conservative Christian commentary that recognizes the textual issue. This commentator is recognizing and accepting both positions as reasonable.

The words they have pierced my hands and my feet figuratively describe such a tearing as if by animals. Of course in the New Testament, these words in reference to Jesus Christ have greater significance (cf. Luke 24:39-40).

Walvoord, John F., and Zuck, Roy B., The Bible Knowledge Commentary, (Wheaton, Illinois: Scripture Press Publications, Inc.) 1983, 1985.

We do recognize that a Christian translation is going to lean toward “pierced” (NIV, NASB, RSV, ASV, and KJV) and a Jewish translation is going to lean toward “like a lion” (JPS). The LXX uses a word that means, “to dig a trench.” That is graphic isn’t it? We all have our theological bias. However, the integrity of the text is not compromised if we are dealing with a translation decision that is possible, defendable, and fits the context. Both renderings do exactly that.

However, this word is simply one small detail in the overall message of the psalm itself. My plea to the reader would be to consider the entire message of the entire psalm rather than fixate on one word that fits either way. We should not make a mountain out of a molehill. Could this be a play on words that is deliberately designed to get the reader to think of mauling and piercing at the same time? That is a distinct possibility as well.

Yeshua referred to the psalm during his crucifixion experience (Matt. 27:46, Mark 15:34). This is what draws our attention to the psalm. The Jewish writers of the gospels saw numerous exact parallels in the psalm to the crucifixion of Yeshua. Likewise, Yalkut sees messianic connections in verse 8 and 16. One of those details is the mauling of the hands and the feet. It does not matter one bit which way we take the word (as a noun or a verb) the fact of the matter is that the hands and feet are injured. To tell you the truth, I like the rendering “like a lion” because of the animal imagery found throughout the Psalm. If a lion bites the hands or feet of a victim, the large canine teeth of the lion would pierce the victim’s hands or feet like a large Roman nail.