Psalms 22:12
“Many bulls have surrounded me. Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me.”
What does Psalms 22:12 mean?
The psalmist is describing feeling trapped and overwhelmed by powerful enemies closing in from all sides. Bulls were symbols of strength and aggression in ancient poetry, and Bashan's cattle were particularly famous for being large and fierce, so this image captures the terror of being completely outnumbered by forces far stronger than oneself. Whether David wrote this during an actual military threat or whether it expresses the spiritual experience of feeling attacked from every direction, the picture is one of desperate vulnerability. Many people reading this today recognize that feeling, whether it comes from real threats, anxiety, or the sense that obstacles and opposition have made life feel impossible.