He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.
As a lion ... х ka'ariy (H738), from 'aaraah (H717), to pull] - a tearer in pieces; used here and in Numbers 23:24 as a symbol of strength and courage. [The word occurs four times in the Hebrew Scriptures-namely, in this passage, as in Numbers 23:24, with pathach; and in Psalms 22:17, as in Isaiah 38:13, with qamets, making kaa'ªriy (H3738), piercers of. There cannot be a doubt that in the first two, and also in the last of these passages, it is compounded of kiy (H3588), the particle of comparison, and 'ªriy, a lion; but its proper form in the third passage has been a subject of much discussion. According to the Masora on Numbers 24:9, the text has kaa'ªruw, they pierced, while in the margin is placed ka'ªriy (H738), as a lion; and this fact affords a strong presumption that, at the date of its composition (the sixth century P.C.), such was the received reading. Jacob Ben Chayim also certifies that in various MSS. of high repute for accuracy he found kaa'ªruw in the text, and ka'ªriy (H738) in the margin (see 'An inquiry into the Reading and Interpretation of Psalms 22:17,' by the Rev.
F. T. Bassett, Cain's College, Cambridge; Perownes 'Commentary on the Psalms,' vol. 1:, p. 107; Pearson 'On the Creed.' Art. 4 'Bib. Sac. and Bib. Repos.' No. 4:, 1852).]
Who shall stir him up? The words are borrowed from Genesis 49:9, where the same comparison of the tribe of Who shall stir him up? The words are borrowed from Genesis 49:9, where the same comparison of the tribe of Judah to the king of beasts is employed.
Blessed is he that blesseth thee (cf. Genesis 12:3; Genesis 27:29).