They have pierced my hands and my feet

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The phrase “They have pierced my hands and my feet” appears in some Bible translations of Psalm 22:16-17. In the original Hebrew, the line is כָּאֲרִי יָדַי וְרַגְלָי (ka’ari yaday ve-raglay), which literally means “like a lion are my hands and my feet.” There isn’t a verb in that part of the sentence, so some early Jewish interpreters said it could mean they maul or attack the hands and feet.

Old Greek and Latin translations gave a different reading. The Septuagint (the ancient Greek version of the Hebrew Bible) says “they dug my hands and feet.” Jerome’s Latin Vulgate followed that idea with a similar sense. Because of this, some Christian writers have understood the line as meaning “pierced,” especially when they link it to Jesus’ crucifixion.

Most Hebrew manuscripts, however, keep the “like a lion” reading. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain a fragment that some scholars read as a form meaning “dug,” which has fueled further debate. But the scrolls also include other textual issues, so scholars aren’t in full agreement about whether that supports the piercing reading.

Scholars aren’t the only ones split. Rashi, a medieval Jewish commentator, explains the line as “like a lion” or as something that mauls. Modern Bible scholars often favor the Masoretic Hebrew reading of “like a lion,” while some argue the Greek and other ancient translations reflect an original sense of piercing or binding.

Because of these differences, modern translations vary. Jewish Bible translations generally keep the “like a lion” reading. Many Christian translations choose “pierced” or a closely related meaning, reflecting the influence of the Septuagint and certain manuscript traditions. Some translations explicitly note both possibilities or present the Hebrew reading and explain the contrast with the older Greek/Latin versions.

In short, the Hebrew text most people trust today says “like a lion” on my hands and feet, while ancient translations and a few manuscript variants have led some to render it as “pierced” or “dug.” The exact wording affects how readers connect the line to later events, but the core issue is that Hebrew and ancient translations differ in how this verse should be understood.