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Psalm 22:16
For dogs have surrounded me. A company of evildoers have enclosed me. They have pierced my hands and feet.
14I am poured out like water. All my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax. It is melted within me.
15My strength is dried up like a potsherd. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have brought me into the dust of death.
16For dogs have surrounded me. A company of evildoers have enclosed me. They have pierced my hands and feet.
17I can count all of my bones. They look and stare at me.
18They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.
Notice
Dogs and a company of evildoers surround the speaker, making this lament a stark account of bodily harm with no escape in view.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What stands out to you in the movement from being surrounded to having hands and feet pierced?
Write on thisWhat would you want to say to God after reading this sufferer’s account of violence?
Write on thisConnect
Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
John 19:37Again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they pierced.”Both passages speak of someone pierced; John’s quotation adds that people will look on the one who was pierced.
Zechariah 12:10I will pour on David’s house and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and of supplication. They will look to me whom they have pierced; and they …Both texts speak of piercing; Psalm 22 describes the sufferer’s wounds, while Zechariah describes mourning for the pierced one.
Matthew 27:35When they had crucified him, they divided his clothing among them, casting lots,The surrounding lines of Psalm 22 describe garments divided and lots cast, actions Matthew also records after Jesus’ crucifixion.
John 20:25The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, put my finger into …Psalm 22 names wounded hands; Thomas speaks of nail marks in Jesus’ hands as evidence he wants to see.
John 19:23Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without …The surrounding psalm describes the sufferer’s garments being divided; John records soldiers dividing Jesus’ garments into four parts.
Revelation 1:7Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, including those who pierced him. All the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. Even so, …Both passages name piercing; Revelation also describes those who pierced Jesus seeing him when he comes.
John 19:34However, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.Both describe a body being pierced, though Psalm 22 names hands and feet while John names Jesus’ side.
Psalm 22:1For the Chief Musician; set to “The Doe of the Morning.” A Psalm by David. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and …The opening cry about God’s distance belongs to the same lament that later describes surrounding enemies and pierced limbs.
Mark 15:24Crucifying him, they parted his garments among them, casting lots on them, what each should take.Mark’s account of dividing garments by casting lots shares those specific actions with the surrounding lines of Psalm 22.
Luke 23:33When they came to the place that is called “The Skull”, they crucified him there with the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left.Both describe bodily violence against a sufferer; Luke names crucifixion, while Psalm 22 describes pierced hands and feet.
Mark 15:16–20The soldiers led him away within the court, which is the Praetorium; and they called together the whole cohort.Psalm 22 describes a company enclosing the sufferer; Mark describes soldiers leading Jesus away and calling together a cohort.
Philippians 3:2Beware of the dogs; beware of the evil workers; beware of the false circumcision.Both use dogs alongside language about people doing evil, though the psalm laments an attack and Philippians warns its readers.
Where this verse fits
Injustice and anger. feeling distant from God. sermon or Bible study notes.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
Such violence can be named before God without softening its horror. This prayer records pierced hands and feet while the sufferer is still surrounded.
Now put it in your words.
Start an entry on Psalm 22:16. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).