This is a continuing look into Psalm 22 as the music in Jesus’ heart as He endured the cross.
Masoretic Text |
Septuagint | ||
Psalm 22:12 (Tanakh) | Psalm 22:12 (NET) | Psalm 21:13 (NETS) |
Psalm 21:13 (Elpenor English) |
Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan (בָשָׁ֣ן) have beset me round. | Many bulls surround me; powerful bulls of Bashan (Bashan, בשן) hem me in. | Many bull calves encircled me; fat (πίονες) bulls surrounded me; | Many bullocks have compassed me: fat (πίονες) bulls have beset me round. |
The bulls of Bashan have been decoded as religious leaders, demons or a combination of people and spirit entities. What caught my attention was that strong bulls (‘abbiyr, אַבִּירֵ֖י; NET: powerful bulls) of Bashan was fat bulls in the Septuagint. It reminded me of the Song of Moses:
Masoretic Text |
Septuagint | ||
Deuteronomy 32:12-15 (Tanakh) | Deuteronomy 32:12-15 (NET) | Deuteronomy 32:12-15 (NETS) |
Deuteronomy 32:12-15 (Elpenor English) |
HaShem alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with Him. | The Lord alone was guiding him [his people, Jacob], no foreign god was with him. | the Lord alone was leading them, and no foreign god was with them. | the Lord alone led them, there was no strange god with them. |
He made him ride on the high places of the earth, and he did eat the fruitage of the field; and He made him to suck honey out of the crag, and oil out of the flinty rock; | He enabled him to travel over the high terrain of the land, and he ate of the produce of the fields. He provided honey for him from the cliffs, and olive oil from the hardest of rocks, | He made them ascend onto the strength of the land, fed them with the produce of the fields; they sucked honey from a rock and oil from solid rock, | He brought them up on the strength of the land; he fed them with the fruits of the fields; they sucked honey out of the rock, and oil out of the solid rock. |
Curd of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed (בְּנֵֽ) of Bashan (בָשָׁן֙), and he-goats, with the kidney-fat of wheat; and of the blood of the grape thou drankest foaming wine. | butter from the herd and milk from the flock, along with the fat of lambs, rams and goats of (ben, בני) Bashan (Bashan, בשן), along with the best of the kernels of wheat; and from the juice of grapes you drank wine. | butter of cows and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs and rams; of the sons (υἱῶν) of bulls (ταύρων) and of goats, with fat of kidneys of wheat–and they drank wine, blood of grapes. | Butter of cows, and milk of sheep, with the fat of lambs and rams, of calves (υἱῶν ταύρων) and kids, with fat of kidneys of wheat; and he drank wine, the blood of the grape. |
But Jeshurun waxed fat (וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ן), and kicked–thou didst wax fat (שָׁמַ֖נְתָּ), thou didst grow thick, thou didst become gross–and he forsook G-d who made him, and contemned the Rock of his salvation. | But Jeshurun became fat (shaman, וישמן) and kicked; you got fat (shaman, שמנת), thick, and stuffed! Then he deserted the God who made him, and treated the Rock who saved him with contempt. | And Iakob ate (ἔφαγεν) and was filled (ἐνεπλήσθη), and the beloved one kicked. He grew fat (ἐλιπάνθη); he became heavy; he became broad! And he abandoned God who made him, and he departed from God his savior. | So Jacob ate (ἔφαγεν) and was filled (ἐνεπλήσθη), and the beloved one kicked; he grew fat (ἐλιπάνθη), he became thick and broad: then he forsook the God that made him, and departed from God his Saviour. |
Though my assumption in these essays is that Jesus preferred the Hebrew version of Psalm 22, I still use the Greek version of the Septuagint to confirm or question the originality of the Masoretic text. In other words, what Hebrew did Jesus prefer? The table below of all the other occurrences of בָשָׁ֣ן causes me to question the originality of Bashan (בָשָׁ֣ן) in Psalm 22:12. A subset of those occurrences with identical consonants follows.
Reference | Hebrew – Chabad.org | Tanakh | NET | BLB Septuagint | Elpenor |
Psalm 22:12 | בָשָׁ֣ן | Bashan | Bashan | πίονες | πίονες |
Deuteronomy 32:14 | בָשָׁן֙ | Bashan | Bashan | ταύρων | ταύρων |
Psalm 68:15 (68:16) (67:16) | בָּשָׁ֑ן | Bashan | Bashan | πῗον | πῖον |
בָּשָֽׁן | Bashan | Bashan | πῗον | πῖον | |
Isaiah 33:9 | בָּשָׁ֖ן | Bashan | Bashan | Γαλιλαία | Γαλιλαία |
Ezekiel 39:18 | בָשָׁ֖ן | Bashan | Bashan | ἐστεατωμένοι | ἐστεατωμένοι |
Micah 7:14 | בָשָׁ֛ן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασανῗτιν | Βασανῖτιν |
Nahum 1:4 | בָּשָׁן֙ | Bashan | Bashan | Βασανῗτις | Βασανῖτις |
Zechariah 11:2 | בָשָׁ֔ן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασανίτιδος | Βασανίτιδος |
Only four occurrences were translated as place names in the Septuagint. The translation ταύρων (a form of ταῦρος) in Deuteronomy 32:14 makes me very suspicious of the originality of בָשָׁן֙ (Bashan) there. But the translations πῖον (a form of πίων) and ἐστεατωμένοι (a form of στεατόω) give me pause.
Masoretic Text |
Septuagint | ||
Psalm 68:15 (Tanakh) | Psalm 68:15 (NET) | Psalm 67:16 (NETS) |
Psalm 67:16 (Elpenor English) |
The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan (בָּשָׁ֑ן); an high hill as the hill of Bashan (בָּשָֽׁן). | The mountain of Bashan (Bashan, בשן) is a towering mountain; the mountain of Bashan (Bashan, בשן) is a mountain with many peaks. | O mountain of God, fertile (πῗον) mountain; O curdled mountain, fertile (πῗον) mountain! | The mountain of God is a rich (πῖον) mountain; a swelling mountain, a rich (πῖον) mountain. |
Here I could accept that the rabbis translated the meaning of Bashan for an audience that may not make that connection from a proper name. Ezekiel 39:18 was a bit more difficult.
Masoretic Text |
Septuagint | ||
Ezekiel 39:18 (Tanakh) | Ezekiel 39:18 (NET) | Ezekiel 39:18 (NETS) |
Ezekiel 39:18 (Elpenor English) |
Ye [every feathered fowl and every beast of the field, 39:17] shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan (בָשָׁ֖ן). | You will eat the flesh of warriors and drink the blood of the princes of the earth—the rams, lambs, goats, and bulls, all of them fattened animals of Bashan (Bashan, בשן). | You shall eat the flesh of giants and drink the blood of rulers of the earth, rams and calves and goats. And all the bull calves have been fattened (ἐστεατωμένοι). | Ye shall eat the flesh of mighty men, and ye shall drink the blood of princes of the earth, rams, and calves and goats, and they are all fatted (ἐστεατωμένοι) calves. |
Did the rabbis translate בָשָׁ֖ן (Bashan) and מְרִיאֵ֥י (meriy’, Tanakh: fatlings, NET: fattened animals) ἐστεατωμένοι (a form of στεατόω)? Or was בָשָׁ֖ן (Bashan) not part of the original Hebrew they had at their disposal when they translated. In other words, בָשָׁ֖ן (Bashan) may have been added by the Masoretes in both verses, Psalm 22:12 and Ezekiel 39:18. On the other hand if the rabbis translated both Hebrew words ἐστεατωμένοι in Ezekiel 39:18 I could entertain the possibility that they translated בָשָׁ֖ן (Bashan) πίονες (a form of πίων) in Psalm 22:12.
While adding בָשָׁ֖ן (Bashan) to Psalm 22:12 makes some sense to me—to deflect comparison with the prophecy of Deuteronomy 32:12-15—it seems to implicate אַבִּירֵ֖י (‘abbiyr; Tanakh: strong bulls; NET: powerful bulls) as well. I made a table of all the other occurrences of אַבִּירֵ֖י (‘abbiyr). The first thing I noticed is that strong bulls (Tanakh, KJV) and powerful bulls (NET) was a choice made by the English translators of Psalm 22:12 and was not repeated elsewhere. An example follows.
Masoretic Text |
Septuagint | ||
Psalm 68:30 (Tanakh) | Psalm 68:30 (NET) | Psalm 67:31 (NETS) |
Psalm 67:31 (Elpenor English) |
Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls (אַבִּירִ֨ים), with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war. | Sound your battle cry against the wild beast of the reeds, and the nations that assemble like a herd of calves led by bulls (‘abbiyr, אבירים). They humble themselves and offer gold and silver as tribute. God scatters the nations that like to do battle. | Rebuke the wild animals of the reeds; the gathering of the bulls (ταύρων) is among the heifers of the peoples in order that those tested by silver not be shut out. Scatter nations that want wars. | Rebuke the wild beasts of the reed: let the crowd of bulls (ταύρων) with the heifers of the nations [be rebuked], so that they who have been proved with silver may not be shut out: scatter thou the nations that wish for wars. |
A subset of those occurrences of אַבִּירֵ֖י (‘abbiyr) with identical consonants follows.
Reference |
Chabad.org |
Tanakh | NET | BLB Septuagint | Elpenor |
Psalm 22:12 | אַבִּירֵ֖י | strong bulls | powerful bulls | ταῦροι | ταῦροι |
Psalm 76:5 (76:6) (75:6) | אַבִּ֬ירֵי | stouthearted | bravehearted[1] | ἀσύνετοι | ἀσύνετοι |
Isaiah 46:12 | אַבִּ֣ירֵי | stouthearted | stubborn | ἀπολωλεκότες | ἀπολωλεκότες |
Lamentations 1:15 | אַבִּירַ֤י | mighty men | mighty ones | ἰσχυρούς | ἰσχυρούς |
Clearly, אַבִּירֵ֖י (‘abbiyr) is fairly flexible and was translated according to context. So I went the other way and searched πίονες (a form of πίων) in the Septuagint. It occurred one other time in the same psalm.
Masoretic Text |
Septuagint | ||
Psalm 22:29 (Tanakh) | Psalm 22:29 (NET) | Psalm 21:30 (NETS) |
Psalm 21:30 (Elpenor English) |
All they that be fat (דִּשְׁנֵי) upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul. | All the thriving people (dashen, דשני) of the earth will join the celebration and worship; all those who are descending into the grave will bow before him, including those who cannot preserve their lives. | All the fat ones (πίονες) of the earth ate and did obeisance; all who descend into the earth shall fall down before him. And my soul lives for him, | All the fat ones (πίονες) of the earth have eaten and worshipped: all that go down to the earth shall fall down before him: my soul also lives to him. |
So I searched דִּשְׁנֵי (dashen) in the Masoretic text. It occurred two other times.
Masoretic Text |
Septuagint | ||
Psalm 92:14 (Tanakh) | Psalm 92:14 (NET) | Psalm 91:15, 16a (NETS) |
Psalm 91:15 (Elpenor English) |
They [Those that be planted in the house of the LORD, 92:13] shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat (דְּשֵׁנִ֖ים) and flourishing; | They bear fruit even when they are old; they are filled with vitality (dashen, דשנים) and have many leaves. | In prosperous (πίονι) old age they will still increase, and they will be living in comfort, (16) to declare | Then shall they be increased in a fine (πίονι) old age; and they shall be prosperous; that they may declare |
Here again דְּשֵׁנִ֖ים (dashen) was translated πίονι (another form of πίων) in the Septuagint. I was becoming more confident that the Hebrew Jesus preferred in Psalm 22:12 was דשן (dashen) rather than בשן (Bashan), until I came to the final occurrence.
Masoretic Text |
Septuagint | ||
Isaiah 30:23 (Tanakh) | Isaiah 30:23 (NET) | Isaiah 30:23 (NETS) |
Isaiah 30:23 (Elpenor English) |
Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat (דָשֵׁ֖ן) and plenteous (וְשָׁמֵ֑ן): in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures. | He will water the seed you plant in the ground, and the ground will produce crops in abundance. [NET note 52: Heb “and he will give rain for your seed that you plant in the ground, and food {will be} the produce of the ground, and it will be rich (dashen, דשן) and abundant (shamen, ושמן).”] At that time your cattle will graze in wide pastures. | Then there will be rain for the seed of your land, and the bread of the produce of your land will be plenteous and rich (λιπαρός). And on that day your cattle will graze in a fertile (πίονα) and spacious place; | Then shall there be rain to the seed of thy land; and the bread of the fruit of thy land shall be plenteous and rich (λιπαρός): and thy cattle shall feed in that day in a fertile (πίονα) and spacious place. |
Here I assume that דָשֵׁ֖ן (dashen) was translated λιπαρός, even though that reverses the word order of the Masoretic text. The Greek word πίονα (another form of πίων) doesn’t appear to have any counterpart in the Hebrew of the Masoretic text. Its English translation fertile is the meaning of בשן (Bashan).
So if the Masoretes changed דשן (dashen) to בשן (Bashan) in Psalm 22:12 it was so clever and subtle a change as to be almost unnecessary, except to hide the connection between the fat bulls that surrounded Jesus as He was crucified and the fat ones of the earth who have eaten and worshipped in that portion of the psalm which described the joy set out for him.
The translators of the NET offered sufficient notes to reveal their understanding of Psalm 22:29. They recognized that all meant all:[2]
Together the two form a merism encompassing all human beings—the healthy, the dying, and everyone in between.
They acknowledged that the text says that all will worship the Lord:[3]
The psalmist envisions all people, whether healthy or dying, joining in worship of the Lord.
But they did not join in with those who heard it in faith:[4]
Here the psalmist uses the forms rhetorically as he envisions a time when the Lord will receive universal worship. The mood is one of wishful thinking and anticipation; this is not prophecy in the strict sense.
I can accept no longer that Jesus, as He died on the cross meditating on this psalm, thought it was “wishful thinking.” I believe the One who frightened his disciples, saying—How then would the scriptures that say it must happen this way be fulfilled?[5]—received this psalm as the word of God, a promise made explicitly to Him (Hebrews 12:2b NET Table).
For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame…
The two tables mentioned above follow:
Reference | Chabad. org | Tanakh | NET | BLB Septuagint | Elpenor |
Numbers 21:33 | הַבָּשָׁ֑ן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασαν | Βασάν |
הַבָּשָׁ֨ן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασαν | Βασὰν | |
Numbers 32:33 | הַבָּשָׁ֑ן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασαν | Βασάν |
Deuteronomy 1:4 | הַבָּשָׁ֔ן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασαν | Βασὰν |
Deuteronomy 3:1 | הַבָּשָׁ֑ן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασαν | Βασάν |
הַבָּשָׁ֨ן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασαν | Βασὰν | |
Deuteronomy 3:3 | הַבָּשָׁ֖ן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασαν | Βασὰν |
Deuteronomy 3:4 | בַּבָּשָֽׁן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασαν | Βασάν |
Deuteronomy 3:10 | בַּבָּשָֽׁן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασαν | Βασὰν |
הַבָּשָׁ֔ן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασαν | Βασάν | |
Deuteonomy 3:11 | הַבָּשָׁ֗ן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασαν | Βασὰν |
Deuteronomy 3:13 | הַבָּשָׁן֙ | Bashan | Bashan | Βασαν | Βασὰν |
הַבָּשָׁ֔ן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασαν | Βασὰν | |
Deuteronomy 3:14 | הַבָּשָׁן֙ | Bashan | Bashan | Βασαν | Βασὰν |
Deuteronomy 4:43 | בַּבָּשָׁ֖ן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασαν | Βασὰν |
Deuteronomy 4:47 | הַבָּשָׁ֗ן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασαν | Βασάν |
Deuteronomy 29:7 (29:6) | הַבָּשָׁ֧ן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασαν | Βασὰν |
Deuteronomy 32:14 | בָשָׁן֙ | Bashan | Bashan | ταύρων | ταύρων |
Deuteronomy 33:22 | הַבָּשָֽׁן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασαν | Βασάν |
Joshua 9:10 | הַבָּשָׁ֖ן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασαν | Βασάν |
Joshua 12:4 | הַבָּשָׁ֔ן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασαν | Βασὰν |
Joshua 12:5 | הַבָּשָׁ֔ן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασαν | Βασὰν |
Joshua 13:11 | הַבָּשָׁ֖ן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασανῗτιν | Βασανίτιν |
Joshua 13:12 | בַּבָּשָׁ֔ן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασανίτιδι | Βασανίτιδι |
Joshua 13:30 | הַבָּשָׁ֜ן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασανι | Βασανὶ |
הַבָּשָׁ֗ן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασαν | Βασὰν | |
בַּבָּשָׁ֖ן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασανίτιδι | Βασανίτιδι | |
Joshua 13:31 | בַּבָּשָׁ֑ן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασανίτιδι | Βασανίτιδι |
Joshua 17:1 | וְהַבָּשָֽׁן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασανίτιδι | Βασανίτιδι |
Joshua 17:5 | וְהַבָּשָׁ֔ן | Bashan | Bashan | n/a | n/a |
Joshua 20:8 | בַּבָּשָׁ֖ן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασανίτιδι | Βασανίτιδι |
Joshua 21:6 | בַבָּשָׁן֙ | Bashan | Bashan | Βασαν | Βασὰν |
Joshua 21:27 | בַּבָּשָׁן֙ | Bashan | Bashan | Βασανίτιδι | Βασανίτιδι |
Joshua 22:7 | בַּבָּשָׁן֒ | Bashan | Bashan | Βασανίτιδι | Βασανίτιδι |
1 Kings (3 Kings) 4:13 | בַּבָּשָׁ֔ן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασαν | Βασάν |
1 Kings 4:19 (3 Kings 4:18) | הַבָּשָׁ֔ן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασαν | Βασάν |
2 Kings 10:33 | וְהַבָּשָֽׁן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασαν | Βασαν |
1 Chronicles 5:11 | הַבָּשָׁ֖ן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασαν | Βασὰν |
1 Chronicles 5:12 | בַּבָּשָֽׁן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασαν | Βασάν |
1 Chronicles 5:16 | בַּבָּשָׁ֖ן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασαν | Βασὰν |
1 Chronicles 5:23 | מִבָּשָׁ֞ן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασαν | Βασὰν |
1 Chronicles 6:62 (6:47) | בַּבָּשָׁ֔ן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασαν | Βασὰν |
1 Chronicles 6:71 (6:56) | בַּבָּשָׁ֖ן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασαν | Βασὰν |
Nehemiah 9:22 | הַבָּשָֽׁן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασαν | Βασάν |
Psalm 68:15 (68:16) (67:16) | בָּשָׁ֑ן | Bashan | Bashan | πῗον | πῖον |
בָּשָֽׁן | Bashan | Bashan | πῗον | πῖον | |
Psalm 68:22 (68:23) (67:23) | מִבָּשָׁ֣ן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασαν | Βασὰν |
Psalm 135:11 (134:11) | הַבָּשָׁ֑ן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασαν | Βασὰν |
Psalm 136:20 (135:20) | הַבָּשָׁ֑ן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασαν | Βασάν |
Isaiah 2:13 | הַבָּשָֽׁן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασαν | Βασὰν |
Isaiah 33:9 | בָּשָׁ֖ן | Bashan | Bashan | Γαλιλαία | Γαλιλαία |
Jeremiah 22:20 | וּבַבָּשָׁ֖ן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασαν | Βασὰν |
Jeremiah 50:19 (27:19) | וְהַבָּשָׁ֑ן | Bashan | Bashan | n/a | n/a |
Exekiel 27:6 | מִבָּ֔שָׁן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασανίτιδος | Βασανίτιδος |
Ezekiel 39:18 | בָשָׁ֖ן | Bashan | Bashan | ἐστεατωμένοι | ἐστεατωμένοι |
Amos 4:1 | הַבָּשָׁן֙ | Bashan | Bashan | Βασανίτιδος | Βασανίτιδος |
Micah 7:14 | בָשָׁ֛ן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασανῗτιν | Βασανῖτιν |
Nahum 1:4 | בָּשָׁן֙ | Bashan | Bashan | Βασανῗτις | Βασανῖτις |
Zechariah 11:2 | בָשָׁ֔ן | Bashan | Bashan | Βασανίτιδος | Βασανίτιδος |
Reference |
Chabad.org |
Tanakh | NET | BLB Septuagint | Elpenor |
Judges 5:22 | אַבִּירָֽיו | mighty ones | stallions | δυνατῶν | ἰσχυροὶ |
1 Samuel 21:7 (21:8) | אַבִּ֥יר | the chiefest | who was in charge | νέμων | νέμων |
Job 24:22 | אַבִּירִ֣ים | the mighty | the mighty | ἀδυνάτους | ἀδυνάτους |
Job 34:20 | אַ֜בִּ֗יר | the mighty | The mighty | ἀδυνάτων | ἀδυνάτων |
Psalm 50:13 (49:13) | אַבִּירִ֑ים | bulls | bulls | ταύρων | ταύρων |
Psalm 68:30 (68:31) (67:31) | אַבִּירִ֨ים | bulls | bulls | ταύρων | ταύρων |
Psalm 76:5 (76:6) (75:6) | אַבִּ֬ירֵי | stouthearted | bravehearted | ἀσύνετοι | ἀσύνετοι |
Psalm 78:25 (77:25) | אַ֖בִּירִים | angels’ | mighty ones | ἀγγέλων | ἀγγέλων |
Isaiah 10:13 | כַּאבִּ֖יר | valiant man | mighty conqueror | ἰσχὺν | ἰσχὺν |
Isaiah 34:7 | אַבִּירִ֑ים | bulls[6] | strong[7] | ταῦροι | ταῦροι |
Isaiah 46:12 | אַבִּ֣ירֵי | stouthearted | stubborn | ἀπολωλεκότες | ἀπολωλεκότες |
Jeremiah 8:16 | אַבִּירָ֔יו | strong ones | stallions | ἱππασίας ἵππων | ἱππασίας ἵππων |
Jeremiah 46:15 (26:15) | אַבִּירֶ֑יךָ | valiant men | soldiers | Ἆπις ὁ μόσχος ὁ ἐκλεκτός σου | Απις ὁ μόσχος ὁ ἐκλεκτός σου |
Jeremiah 47:3 (29:3) | אַבִּירָ֔יו | strong horses | horses | ὁρμῆς | ὁρμῆς |
Jeremiah 50:11 (27:11) | כָּֽאַבִּרִֽים | bulls | stallion | ταῦροι | ταῦροι |
Lamentations 1:15 | אַבִּירַ֤י | mighty men | mighty ones | ἰσχυρούς | ἰσχυρούς |
Tables comparing Psalm 22:12; Deuteronomy 32:12; 32:13; 32:14; 32:15; Psalm 68:15; Ezekiel 39:18; Psalm 68:30; 22:29; 92:14 and Isaiah 30:23 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing Psalm 22:12 (21:13); Deuteronomy 32:12; 32:13; 32:14; 32:15; Psalm 68:15 (67:16); Ezekiel 39:18; Psalm 68:30 (67:31); 22:29 (21:30); 92:14 (91:15) and Isaiah 30:23 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.
Psalm 22:12 (KJV) | ||
Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. | Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. | Many bulls surround me; powerful bulls of Bashan hem me in. |
περιεκύκλωσάν με μόσχοι πολλοί ταῦροι πίονες περιέσχον με | περιεκύκλωσάν με μόσχοι πολλοί, ταῦροι πίονες περιέσχον με |
Many bull calves encircled me; fat bulls surrounded me; | Many bullocks have compassed me: fat bulls have beset me round. |
Deuteronomy 32:12 (KJV) | ||
HaShem alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with Him. | So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him. | The Lord alone was guiding him, no foreign god was with him. |
κύριος μόνος ἦγεν αὐτούς καὶ οὐκ ἦν μετ᾽ αὐτῶν θεὸς ἀλλότριος | Κύριος μόνος ἦγεν αὐτοὺς καὶ οὐκ ἦν μετ᾿ αὐτῶν θεὸς ἀλλότριος |
the Lord alone was leading them, and no foreign god was with them. | the Lord alone led them, there was no strange god with them. |
Deuteronomy 32:13 (KJV) | ||
He made him ride on the high places of the earth, and he did eat the fruitage of the field; and He made him to suck honey out of the crag, and oil out of the flinty rock; | He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock; | He enabled him to travel over the high terrain of the land, and he ate of the produce of the fields. He provided honey for him from the cliffs, and olive oil from the hardest of rocks, |
ἀνεβίβασεν αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ τὴν ἰσχὺν τῆς γῆς ἐψώμισεν αὐτοὺς γενήματα ἀγρῶν ἐθήλασαν μέλι ἐκ πέτρας καὶ ἔλαιον ἐκ στερεᾶς πέτρας | ἀνεβίβασεν αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ τὴν ἰσχὺν τῆς γῆς, ἐψώμισεν αὐτοὺς γενήματα ἀγρῶν· ἐθήλασαν μέλι ἐκ πέτρας καὶ ἔλαιον ἐκ στερεᾶς πέτρας |
He made them ascend onto the strength of the land, fed them with the produce of the fields; they sucked honey from a rock and oil from solid rock, | He brought them up on the strength of the land; he fed them with the fruits of the fields; they sucked honey out of the rock, and oil out of the solid rock. |
Deuteronomy 32:14 (KJV) | ||
Curd of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and he-goats, with the kidney-fat of wheat; and of the blood of the grape thou drankest foaming wine. | Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape. | butter from the herd and milk from the flock, along with the fat of lambs, rams and goats of Bashan, along with the best of the kernels of wheat; and from the juice of grapes you drank wine. |
βούτυρον βοῶν καὶ γάλα προβάτων μετὰ στέατος ἀρνῶν καὶ κριῶν υἱῶν ταύρων καὶ τράγων μετὰ στέατος νεφρῶν πυροῦ καὶ αἷμα σταφυλῆς ἔπιον οἶνον | βούτυρον βοῶν καὶ γάλα προβάτων μετὰ στέατος ἀρνῶν καὶ κριῶν, υἱῶν ταύρων καὶ τράγων, μετὰ στέατος νεφρῶν πυροῦ, καὶ αἷμα σταφυλῆς ἔπιον οἶνον |
butter of cows and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs and rams; of the sons of bulls and of goats, with fat of kidneys of wheat—and they drank wine, blood of grapes. | Butter of cows, and milk of sheep, with the fat of lambs and rams, of calves and kids, with fat of kidneys of wheat; and he drank wine, the blood of the grape. |
Deuteronomy 32:15 (KJV) | ||
But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked–thou didst wax fat, thou didst grow thick, thou didst become gross–and he forsook G-d who made him, and contemned the Rock of his salvation. | But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation. | But Jeshurun became fat and kicked; you got fat, thick, and stuffed! Then he deserted the God who made him, and treated the Rock who saved him with contempt. |
καὶ ἔφαγεν Ιακωβ καὶ ἐνεπλήσθη καὶ ἀπελάκτισεν ὁ ἠγαπημένος ἐλιπάνθη ἐπαχύνθη ἐπλατύνθη καὶ ἐγκατέλιπεν θεὸν τὸν ποιήσαντα αὐτὸν καὶ ἀπέστη ἀπὸ θεοῦ σωτῆρος αὐτοῦ | καὶ ἔφαγεν ᾿Ιακὼβ καὶ ἐνεπλήσθη, καὶ ἀπελάκτισεν ὁ ἠγαπημένος, ἐλιπάνθη, ἐπαχύνθη, ἐπλατύνθη· καὶ ἐγκατέλιπε τὸν Θεὸν τὸν ποιήσαντα αὐτὸν καὶ ἀπέστη ἀπὸ Θεοῦ σωτῆρος αὐτοῦ |
And Iakob ate and was filled, and the beloved one kicked. He grew fat; he became heavy; he became broad! And he abandoned God who made him, and he departed from God his savior. | So Jacob ate and was filled, and the beloved one kicked; he grew fat, he became thick and broad: then he forsook the God that made him, and departed from God his Saviour. |
Psalm 68:15 (KJV) | ||
The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan. | The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan. | The mountain of Bashan is a towering mountain; the mountain of Bashan is a mountain with many peaks. |
ὄρος τοῦ θεοῦ ὄρος πῗον ὄρος τετυρωμένον ὄρος πῗον | ὄρος τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὄρος πῖον, ὄρος τετυρωμένον, ὄρος πῖον |
O mountain of God, fertile mountain; O curdled mountain, fertile mountain! | The mountain of God is a rich mountain; a swelling mountain, a rich mountain. |
Ezekiel 39:18 (KJV) | ||
Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan. | Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan. | You will eat the flesh of warriors and drink the blood of the princes of the earth—the rams, lambs, goats, and bulls, all of them fattened animals of Bashan. |
κρέα γιγάντων φάγεσθε καὶ αἷμα ἀρχόντων τῆς γῆς πίεσθε κριοὺς καὶ μόσχους καὶ τράγους καὶ οἱ μόσχοι ἐστεατωμένοι πάντες | κρέα γιγάντων φάγεσθε καὶ αἷμα ἀρχόντων τῆς γῆς πίεσθε, κριοὺς καὶ μόσχους καὶ τράγους, καὶ οἱ μόσχοι ἐστεατωμένοι πάντες |
You shall eat the flesh of giants and drink the blood of rulers of the earth, rams and calves and goats. And all the bull calves have been fattened. | Ye shall eat the flesh of mighty men, and ye shall drink the blood of princes of the earth, rams, and calves and goats, and they are all fatted calves. |
Psalm 68:30 (KJV) | ||
Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war. | Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war. | Sound your battle cry against the wild beast of the reeds, and the nations that assemble like a herd of calves led by bulls. They humble themselves and offer gold and silver as tribute. God scatters the nations that like to do battle. |
ἐπιτίμησον τοῗς θηρίοις τοῦ καλάμου ἡ συναγωγὴ τῶν ταύρων ἐν ταῗς δαμάλεσιν τῶν λαῶν τοῦ μὴ ἀποκλεισθῆναι τοὺς δεδοκιμασμένους τῷ ἀργυρίῳ διασκόρπισον ἔθνη τὰ τοὺς πολέμους θέλοντα | ἐπιτίμησον τοῖς θηρίοις τοῦ καλάμου· ἡ συναγωγὴ τῶν ταύρων ἐν ταῖς δαμάλεσι τῶν λαῶν τοῦ ἐγκλεισθῆναι τοὺς δεδοκιμασμένους τῷ ἀργυρίῳ· διασκόρπισον ἔθνη τὰ τοὺς πολέμους θέλοντα |
Rebuke the wild animals of the reeds; the gathering of the bulls is among the heifers of the peoples in order that those tested by silver not be shut out. Scatter nations that want wars. | Rebuke the wild beasts of the reed: let the crowd of bulls with the heifers of the nations [be rebuked], so that they who have been proved with silver may not be shut out: scatter thou the nations that wish for wars. |
Psalm 22:29 (KJV) | ||
All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul. | All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul. | All the thriving people of the earth will join the celebration and worship; all those who are descending into the grave will bow before him, including those who cannot preserve their lives. |
ἔφαγον καὶ προσεκύνησαν πάντες οἱ πίονες τῆς γῆς ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ προπεσοῦνται πάντες οἱ καταβαίνοντες εἰς τὴν γῆν καὶ ἡ ψυχή μου αὐτῷ ζῇ | ἔφαγον καὶ προσεκύνησαν πάντες οἱ πίονες τῆς γῆς, ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ προπεσοῦνται πάντες οἱ καταβαίνοντες εἰς γῆν. καὶ ἡ ψυχή μου αὐτῷ ζῇ |
All the fat ones of the earth ate and did obeisance; all who descend into the earth shall fall down before him. And my soul lives for him, | All the fat ones of the earth have eaten and worshipped: all that go down to the earth shall fall down before him: my soul also lives to him. |
Psalm 92:14 (KJV) | ||
They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; | They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; | They bear fruit even when they are old; they are filled with vitality and have many leaves. |
ἔτι πληθυνθήσονται ἐν γήρει πίονι καὶ εὐπαθοῦντες ἔσονται (15) τοῦ ἀναγγεῗλαι | ἔτι πληθυνθήσονται ἐν γήρει πίονι καὶ εὐπαθοῦντες ἔσονται τοῦ ἀναγγεῖλαι |
In prosperous old age they will still increase, and they will be living in comfort, (16) to declare | Then shall they be increased in a fine old age; and they shall be prosperous; that they may declare |
Isaiah 30:23 (KJV) | ||
Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures. | Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures. | He will water the seed you plant in the ground, and the ground will produce crops in abundance. At that time your cattle will graze in wide pastures. |
τότε ἔσται ὁ ὑετὸς τῷ σπέρματι τῆς γῆς σου καὶ ὁ ἄρτος τοῦ γενήματος τῆς γῆς σου ἔσται πλησμονὴ καὶ λιπαρός καὶ βοσκηθήσεταί σου τὰ κτήνη τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ τόπον πίονα καὶ εὐρύχωρον | τότε ἔσται ὁ ὑετὸς τῷ σπέρματι τῆς γῆς σου, καὶ ὁ ἄρτος τοῦ γεννήματος τῆς γῆς σου ἔσται πλησμονὴ καὶ λιπαρός· καὶ βοσκηθήσεταί σου τὰ κτήνη τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ τόπον πίονα καὶ εὐρύχωρον |
Then there will be rain for the seed of your land, and the bread of the produce of your land will be plenteous and rich. And on that day your cattle will graze in a fertile and spacious place; | Then shall there be rain to the seed of thy land; and the bread of the fruit of thy land shall be plenteous and rich: and thy cattle shall feed in that day in a fertile and spacious place. |
[1] A note (9) in the NET reads: “Heb ‘strong of heart.’ In Isa 46:12, the only other text where this phrase appears, it refers to those who are stubborn, but here it seems to describe brave warriors (see the next line).” The rabbis who translated the Septuagint chose ἀσύνετοι (a form of ἀσύνετος; NETS: stupid; English Elpenor: simple ones) here, and ἀπολωλεκότες (a form of ἀπόλλυμι, ἀπόλλω, ἀπολλύω; NETS: have ruined [your heart]; English Elpenor: senseless [ones]) in Isaiah 46:12.
[2] From note 69 on Psalm 22:29 (NET).
[3] From note 67 on Psalm 22:29 (NET).
[4] Hebrews 4:2b Table The following quote is from note 68 on Psalm 22:29 (NET).
[6] In the Tanakh on Chabad.org אַבִּירִ֑ים (‘abbiyr) was translated fat bulls.
[7] A note (17) in the NET acknowledged that the Hebrew clause was “and bulls along with strong ones.”