Exegetical Brief: They Pierced My Hands and My Feet (Psalm 22:17)

Abstract

John F. Brug investigates the textual variant in Psalm 22:17 (“they pierced my hands and my feet”), a verse often linked to Jesus’ crucifixion. The Masoretic Text reads “like a lion my hands and my feet,” but Brug presents evidence from ancient versions—including the Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate, and some Hebrew manuscripts—that support a verbal reading meaning “they pierced” or “they dug.” He discusses possible Hebrew roots and grammatical constructions, noting that the Masoretic pointing may reflect anti-Christian polemics or a misunderstanding of the text. Brug argues that the phrase “hands and feet” is too specific to describe a lion’s attack and more naturally refers to crucifixion. While the New Testament does not cite this verse directly, Brug suggests it is a messianic prophecy fulfilled in Christ’s passion. The variant highlights the tension between textual tradition and theological interpretation. Generated by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4).