Psalm 22 20

Psalm 22:20 kjv

Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.

Psalm 22:20 nkjv

Deliver Me from the sword, My precious life from the power of the dog.

Psalm 22:20 niv

Deliver me from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs.

Psalm 22:20 esv

Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog!

Psalm 22:20 nlt

Save me from the sword;
spare my precious life from these dogs.

Psalm 22 verses

Psalm 22 20 Meaning

Psalm 22:20 is a desperate plea from the one suffering for divine intervention against imminent, violent threats. It expresses an urgent request for deliverance of his very life or essential being ("my soul," "my darling") from literal deadly danger represented by a "sword" and from the relentless, contemptible "power of the dog," which symbolizes his vicious, animalistic enemies. The verse underscores the extreme peril and the sufferer's reliance solely on God for salvation from destruction.

Psalm 22 20 Context

Psalm 22 is a profound Messianic psalm, commencing with the iconic cry, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (v. 1), directly quoted by Jesus on the cross. The psalm is a dramatic lament, filled with intense physical and emotional suffering, graphically describing a situation of complete abandonment and extreme vulnerability. Verse 20 occurs near the culmination of this desperate plea, just before a pivotal shift from anguish to profound praise and confidence in God's future reign (v. 22-31). Historically, it reflects the experience of David, facing overwhelming enemies and deadly threats to his life. Prophetically, it paints a precise portrait of Jesus Christ's crucifixion, foretelling His suffering, the mocking of His enemies, and the events surrounding His death, including the piercing of hands and feet, and the division of His garments. The pleas in verse 20 are thus intensely personal and globally significant, encompassing both historical Davidic anguish and the unique suffering of the Messiah.

Psalm 22 20 Word analysis

• Deliver (הַצִּילָה - Hatṣilah): This is a Hiphil imperative form of the Hebrew verb natsal, meaning "to snatch away," "to rescue," "to pull out," or "to preserve." The Hiphil conjugation indicates causative action, implying an urgent and powerful divine intervention is necessary to extricate the supplicant from extreme peril. It highlights an immediate need for forceful deliverance from an overwhelming threat.
• my soul (נַפְשִׁי - nap̄šī): From the Hebrew word nep̄eš, meaning "life," "soul," "self," or "being." It refers to the entire living essence of a person, not just a spiritual component, but the very breath and vital existence. The suffix "-i" means "my," indicating the personal and existential threat. The plea is for the preservation of one's complete being.
• from the sword (מֵחֶרֶב - mēḥereḇ): ḥereḇ refers to a literal "sword," a weapon of warfare and execution, signifying a direct, physical, and lethal threat. Metaphorically, it represents the imminent danger of violent death, judgment, or intense conflict.
• my darling (יְחִידָתִי - yeḥīḏatī): From the root yāḥîd, meaning "only one," "unique," or "solitary." This term, used as a poetic parallel to nep̄eš ("soul" or "life"), signifies that which is singular, most precious, or irreplaceable. Often translated as "my beloved," "my unique one," or "my precious life." In the context of the suffering Servant or Messiah, it can imply His unique Sonship or His singular precious life.
• from the power of the dog (מִיַּד כֶּלֶב - miyyad keleḇ):
  • power (יַד - yaḏ): Literally "hand," but contextually it often signifies "power," "control," "grasp," or "dominion." The phrase "from the hand of" indicates being freed from the control or oppressive force of another.
  • dog (כֶּלֶב - keleḇ): In the ancient Near East, dogs (especially stray, wild dogs) were generally regarded as unclean scavengers, despised, dangerous, and symbolic of fierce, unrestrained aggression, contemptibility, and utter debasement. They would attack and devour anything. Here, "dog" vividly portrays the psalmist's enemies as ruthless, wild, ravenous, and vile—devoid of human compassion, seeking to destroy and dishonor. It represents not just a single foe but a pack mentality of adversaries.
• Words-group analysis:
  • "Deliver my soul from the sword": This phrase emphasizes the immediate threat to the psalmist's life and the need for urgent rescue from deadly violence. It underscores the severity of the danger.
  • "my darling from the power of the dog": This parallel phrase amplifies the urgency and the nature of the enemies. "My darling" elevates the value of what is at stake—his precious life, emphasizing its uniqueness and fragility. "From the power of the dog" characterizes the enemies not just as abstract forces but as contemptible, predatory beings relentlessly seeking his destruction, reflecting the vile and relentless persecution Jesus faced.

Psalm 22 20 Bonus section

The juxtaposition of "soul" and "darling" (or "only one") emphasizes the profound and singular value of the life being prayed for. This echoes the concept of a beloved or unique child, like Isaac who was Abraham's "only son" (yāḥîd in Gen 22:2). This deep personal value, when applied to the Messiah, underscores God's willingness to give up His own unique and beloved Son for salvation (John 3:16). The raw imagery of "sword" and "dog" removes any ambiguity about the threat; it is a primal struggle for survival against savage, relentless forces. This specific cry for rescue precedes the abrupt turn to confident praise in the psalm, suggesting that the suffering one received an assurance or a glimmer of hope that shifted the lament into a declaration of future deliverance and God's sovereignty.

Psalm 22 20 Commentary

Psalm 22:20 functions as a concentrated cry for urgent divine deliverance amidst overwhelming existential threat. The Psalmist, whether David facing relentless pursuers or prophetically Christ enduring the crucifixion, articulates a profound vulnerability to physical and spiritual destruction. "The sword" signifies imminent, violent death, a tangible weapon poised to end life. This plea for his "soul" (nep̄eš) underscores that what is at stake is not merely comfort but his very being, his breath, his conscious existence. The parallel phrase, "my darling" (yeḥīḏatī), powerfully intensifies the value and preciousness of the life being threatened. This term, sometimes translated "my only one," highlights the irreplaceable nature of this life, adding an almost personal tenderness to the desperate plea.

The enemies are depicted with the dehumanizing metaphor of "the dog"—not loyal companions, but wild, snarling, scavenging pack animals common in the ancient world, representing savage, persistent, and contemptible adversaries. They seek not just to defeat but to devour and dishonor, much like those who surrounded and mocked Jesus on the cross (Ps 22:16-17). The "power of the dog" (lit. "hand of the dog") illustrates their fierce grip and control over the situation, from which only God can truly free. This verse, therefore, is a testament to the psalmist's dire straits, the horrific nature of his persecutors, and his complete and absolute reliance on the Lord for immediate, powerful, and total salvation from death. It portrays righteous suffering that calls for decisive divine rescue, prefiguring the ultimate deliverance wrought through Christ's victory over death and hell.