Psalms 22:12 Meaning: Who Are the Bulls of Bashan?

Bashan was a region east of the Jordan River, famous for its lush pastures and strong livestock. When the psalmist speaks of “strong bulls of Bashan,” he is evoking enemies that are not just numerous but formidable, well-fed, aggressive, and capable of crushing a person. This is no stray cow in a field; these are bulls bred for strength in the richest land. The Hebrew word for “surrounded” (translated “compassed” in older versions) conveys the sense of being hemmed in with no way out. David felt trapped by opponents who had every advantage: power, influence, numbers. Later Christians would see in this image the chief priests, the Roman governor, and the crowds who closed in on Jesus. The picture is honest: sometimes the people against you seem to have all the resources. Yet by naming the fear out loud, David brings it before God.

Across Christian history, this verse has been read in two main ways. Many Protestant commentators, including Matthew Henry and John Calvin, treat Psalm 22 as a direct prophecy of Christ. For them, the bulls represent the Jewish and Roman authorities who conspired to put Jesus to death. Matthew Henry noted that the details go beyond David’s own experience and point to the Messiah. Others, like Adam Clarke, apply the verse first to David’s life, enemies like Absalom and Ahithophel who had the strength of fattened bulls, and then see a fuller meaning in Christ. What unites these readings is the recognition that “bulls of Bashan” symbolizes worldly power used to crush the innocent. Neither tradition interprets the bulls as literal animals; they are humans who have become brutish in opposing God’s anointed.

Some assume the bulls of Bashan are literal demons or ancient giants because Bashan was associated with Og, the giant king. In fact, the verse borrows the region’s reputation for powerful cattle to create a metaphor for human enemies. The Scriptures consistently use “bulls” and “cows of Bashan” (Amos 4:1) to describe oppressive, powerful people. This verse is about real human opponents, not supernatural beings. The mistake misses the prophetic point: these are the high priests, elders, and rulers who surrounded Jesus.

Maybe this week you feel cornered by someone who has more power than you, a supervisor who undermines your work, a relative who holds financial strings, a church leader who dismisses your concerns. The bulls of Bashan don’t have to be literal; they can be anyone whose strength makes you feel helpless. David’s response is not to pretend the bulls aren’t there. He describes them exactly: they are many, they are strong, they have surrounded him. Then he continues to pray. You can do the same. Write down who those “bulls” are for you today. Name them in a journal or in prayer. Then keep reading the psalm, because the same God who saw David surrounded also saw Jesus surrounded, and He is with you in the circle.