Psalms 22:20 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog. My soul from the sword; my darling. "The sword" was not literally drawn against Jesus, but is a figure for the instrument of death (2 Samuel 11:24-25); and as to Messiah (Zechariah 12:7). "My darling" is shown by the parallelism to mean "my soul." It is literally 'my only one' ( yachiyd (H3173)), unique; even as Messiah was "the only-begotten of the Father" (Zechariah 12:10 - the same Hebrew); and as the Church is described by Him, my undefiled is but one" (Song of Solomon 6:9). Its unique preciousness is His plea why the Father should not give it up to "the power (literally, the band) of the dog." Luther explains it, 'my lonely one' - i:e., my spirit utterly deserted and left alone by everyone (cf. Psalms 142:4, end). As above in Psalms 22:11, He had said, there is none to help." I prefer the English version. So Psalms 7:5. "The dog" is the Jewish rabble; filthy and rabid, as "dogs" (Philippians 3:2). They are designated in the singular, "the dog," to imply their union in evil. Hands (Hebrew) are attributed to the dog-like rabble, as "the sword" is attributed to the Roman governor and soldiery.