Psalms 22:20 - Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Psalms 22:20" mean?
Psalm 22:20 is a plea for deliverance from imminent danger, expressed through powerful and evocative imagery. Let's break down the meaning of the key phrases:
"Deliver my soul from the sword..." "Sword" here represents violent death, likely at the hands of enemies. The psalmist is facing a threat of being killed. The use of "soul" (nephesh in Hebrew) refers to his entire being, his life itself. He's asking for his life to be spared from violent death.
"...my precious life from the power of the dog." This is where the imagery becomes more complex.
"Precious life": This is a parallel to "my soul," reinforcing the idea that the psalmist is pleading for his very existence. The Hebrew word translated "precious" (yechidah) can also mean "only one," implying something rare and valuable.
"Power of the dog": "Dog" is used metaphorically, not literally. In the ancient Near East, dogs were often seen as wild, scavenging animals, representing:
Degradation and Humiliation: To be left to the dogs was a sign of utter defeat and shame.
Enemies: Dogs could represent hostile, violent, and merciless enemies who would tear the psalmist apart.
Death and Decay: Dogs were scavengers, associated with death and the corruption of a corpse.
In summary: The verse is a desperate cry for help. The psalmist feels surrounded by violent enemies (represented by the "sword") and faces the threat of being utterly defeated and left to be consumed (symbolized by the "power of the dog"). He pleads for God to rescue him from death, humiliation, and destruction. The "sword" represents a quick, violent end, while the "power of the dog" represents a slow, agonizing, and dishonorable end.
Context within Psalm 22: This verse is part of a larger psalm that describes intense suffering and abandonment. Many Christians see Psalm 22 as prophetic, foreshadowing the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus. In this context, the verse can be interpreted as a plea from Jesus as he faced his death on the cross.
Whether viewed as a personal lament or a prophecy, Psalm 22:20 expresses the depths of human suffering and the urgent need for divine intervention.
Psalms 22:20 - Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog.
What does "Psalms 22:20" mean?
Psalm 22:20 is a plea for deliverance from imminent danger, expressed through powerful and evocative imagery. Let's break down the meaning of the key phrases:
"Deliver my soul from the sword..." "Sword" here represents violent death, likely at the hands of enemies. The psalmist is facing a threat of being killed. The use of "soul" (nephesh in Hebrew) refers to his entire being, his life itself. He's asking for his life to be spared from violent death.
"...my precious life from the power of the dog." This is where the imagery becomes more complex.
"Precious life": This is a parallel to "my soul," reinforcing the idea that the psalmist is pleading for his very existence. The Hebrew word translated "precious" (yechidah) can also mean "only one," implying something rare and valuable.
"Power of the dog": "Dog" is used metaphorically, not literally. In the ancient Near East, dogs were often seen as wild, scavenging animals, representing:
Degradation and Humiliation: To be left to the dogs was a sign of utter defeat and shame.
Enemies: Dogs could represent hostile, violent, and merciless enemies who would tear the psalmist apart.
Death and Decay: Dogs were scavengers, associated with death and the corruption of a corpse.
In summary: The verse is a desperate cry for help. The psalmist feels surrounded by violent enemies (represented by the "sword") and faces the threat of being utterly defeated and left to be consumed (symbolized by the "power of the dog"). He pleads for God to rescue him from death, humiliation, and destruction. The "sword" represents a quick, violent end, while the "power of the dog" represents a slow, agonizing, and dishonorable end.
Context within Psalm 22: This verse is part of a larger psalm that describes intense suffering and abandonment. Many Christians see Psalm 22 as prophetic, foreshadowing the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus. In this context, the verse can be interpreted as a plea from Jesus as he faced his death on the cross.
Whether viewed as a personal lament or a prophecy, Psalm 22:20 expresses the depths of human suffering and the urgent need for divine intervention.