Psalms 22:12
Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me;
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Psalms 22:12
Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me;
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The mention of "bulls of Bashan" isn't just about describing strong enemies; it evokes the image of pampered, powerful oppressors who have grown insolent from their privileged position. This isn't just brute force, but the arrogant might of those who abuse their wealth and influence, making their attack feel both physically threatening and morally repugnant.
The psalmist is in a moment of profound distress, feeling utterly surrounded and attacked by powerful, aggressive enemies. These adversaries are so fierce and numerous that they're compared to a herd of charging bulls, specifically the famously strong and well-fed bulls from the lush pastures of Bashan. This imagery sets the stage for the deeper suffering and betrayal the psalmist (and by extension, Christ) will soon describe.
When life feels like it's closing in, the Psalmist paints a vivid picture of overwhelming opposition. Who are these 'bulls' and what makes them so terrifying?
The imagery of "many bulls" and "strong bulls of Bashan" isn't just about a large number of foes. It's about the sheer, brute force and relentless aggression of the enemies surrounding the Psalmist.
Brutal Strength and Rage
Bulls are known for their raw power, their tendency to charge headlong, and their destructive force. The enemies here aren't just disagreeing; they are depicted as animals of immense strength, driven by fury and intent on destruction.
The Elite Oppressors
Bashan, a region east of the Jordan River, was renowned for its exceptionally rich pastures, producing large, strong, and well-fed cattle. When the Psalmist specifically mentions "bulls of Bashan," he's highlighting not just strength, but the power that comes from privilege and prosperity – the 'pampered pride' of influential oppressors who use their status to crush others.
This verse is more than just a personal lament; it echoes through history, resonating with ultimate suffering. What makes this imagery so profound?
The language used here is not merely descriptive; it's deeply evocative, aiming to convey an existential crisis.
The Psalmist's Anguish
The Psalmist feels utterly helpless, cornered by implacable foes. The "bulls" represent a hostile world that seeks to gore, trample, and destroy. This isn't just a physical threat but an assault on his very being, leaving him feeling exposed and vulnerable.
Foreshadowing Ultimate Suffering
Christians read this verse with profound recognition, seeing in it a prophetic glimpse of Jesus' own suffering. The "strong bulls of Bashan" find their ultimate fulfillment in the furious mob, the religious leaders, and the Roman authorities who relentlessly pursued and condemned Jesus. His experience on the cross, surrounded by those who mocked and reviled him, is the perfect, albeit horrific, illustration of this intense, violent encirclement.
Understand the original words
parim · Hebrew Noun
Large, powerful bovine animals often used in Scripture as metaphors for arrogant, oppressive, or destructive adversaries of the righteous.
Bashan · Hebrew Proper Noun
A fertile region east of the Jordan known for its rich pastures and large livestock; used figuratively to represent formidable, well-fed, or prideful enemies.
The imagery of 'strong bulls of Bashan' evokes the powerful, wealthy, and oppressive forces that David and later, Jesus, faced from both internal enemies and external authorities.
c. 1000 BC— this verse
David's Reign as King
David, the psalmist, faces numerous enemies and treacherous plots during his kingship, including internal rebellions like the one led by his son Absalom.
c. 930 BC
Division of the Kingdom
Following Solomon's death, the united kingdom splits into Israel (north) and Judah (south), leading to ongoing conflict and political instability.
c. 8th Century BC
Prophetic Warnings to Bashan
Prophets like Amos condemn the wealthy and powerful inhabitants of Bashan and Israel for their oppression and luxury, likening them to 'kine of Bashan'.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria to Assyria
The northern kingdom of Israel is conquered by the Assyrian Empire, leading to the exile of many of its people and a sense of divine judgment.
This passage directly calls the wealthy oppressors of Samaria 'cows of Bashan,' echoing the imagery of powerful, well-fed, and likely arrogant adversaries that the Psalmist faces.
Psalm 68:30This verse speaks of a 'beast of the reeds' and 'bulls with the calves of the peoples,' also using animal imagery to depict powerful enemies surrounding and threatening God's people.
Ezekiel 39:18This prophetic passage describes a great slaughter where the enemy's forces are so numerous and well-fed that they are compared to 'fat bulls' and 'rams,' highlighting the destructive power and overwhelming nature of the opposition.
Luke 22:53Though not using the bull imagery, this verse in Luke describes the moment Jesus is arrested, where the chief priests, captains of the temple, and elders surround him like a mob, fulfilling the sense of being hemmed in by powerful opposition.
pulpitPsalms 22:12: "Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round."
Verse 12. - Many bulls have compassed me. The Sufferer represents the adversaries who crowd around him under the figure of "bulls" - fierce animals in all parts of the world, and in Palestine particularly' wild and ferocious. "Bulls,, and buffaloes are very numerous, says Canon Tristram, "in Southern Judaea; they are in the habit of gathering in a circle around any novel or unaccustomed object, and may be…
ellicottPsalms 22:12: "Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round."
(12) Bulls of Bashan. —For “Bashan” see Numbers 21:33 ; for its pastures and cattle, comp. Deuteronomy 32:14 , and for the figures, Amos 4:1 . Instead of “fat bulls,” the LXX. and Vulgate paraphrase “strong ones of Bashan.” The point of the comparison lies in the wantonness and insolence of pampered pride, displayed by the minions of fortune.
The mention of "bulls of Bashan" isn't just about describing strong enemies; it evokes the image of pampered, powerful oppressors who have grown insolent from their privileged position. This isn't just brute force, but the arrogant might of those who abuse their wealth and influence, making their attack feel both physically threatening and morally repugnant.
The psalmist is in a moment of profound distress, feeling utterly surrounded and attacked by powerful, aggressive enemies. These adversaries are so fierce and numerous that they're compared to a herd of charging bulls, specifically the famously strong and well-fed bulls from the lush pastures of Bashan. This imagery sets the stage for the deeper suffering and betrayal the psalmist (and by extension, Christ) will soon describe.
The psalmist is in a moment of profound distress, feeling utterly surrounded and attacked by powerful, aggressive enemies. These adversaries are so fierce and numerous that they're compared to a herd of charging bulls, specifically the famously strong and well-fed bulls from the lush pastures of Bashan. This imagery sets the stage for the deeper suffering and betrayal the psalmist (and by extension, Christ) will soon describe.
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605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon begins deporting prominent citizens of Judah to Babylon, marking the start of the Babylonian exile.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem
The Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, leading to a second, larger exile and profound national crisis for the people of Judah.
c. 1st Century AD
Roman Rule in Judea
The region of Judea is under Roman occupation, with local rulers and religious leaders often in conflict with Roman authorities and Jesus' followers.
"Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me;" — The mention of "bulls of Bashan" isn't just about describing strong enemies; it evokes the image of pampered, powerful oppressors who have grown insolent from their privileged position. This isn't ju…