Berean Standard Bible
Psalms 55:20
20My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.
Psalms 55:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.
- New International Version (NIV)My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.
- English Standard Version (ESV)My companion stretched out his hand against his friends; he violated his covenant.
- New King James Version (NKJV)He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him; He has broken his covenant.
Context of Psalms 55:20
18He redeems my soul in peace from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me. 19God will hear and humiliate them— the One enthroned for the ages— Selah because they do not change and they have no fear of God. My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant. 21His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed. 22Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.
Read all of Psalms 55Psalms 55:20 word by word
שָׁלַ֣ח יָ֭דָיו בִּשְׁלֹמָ֗יו חִלֵּ֥ל בְּרִיתֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Psalms 55:20
- 1 Samuel 22:17Then the king ordered the guards at his side, “Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because they too sided with David. For they knew he was fleeing, but they did not tell me.” But the king’s servants would not lift a hand to strike the priests of the LORD.
- 1 Samuel 24:10Behold, this day you have seen with your own eyes that the LORD delivered you into my hand in the cave. I was told to kill you, but I spared you and said, ‘I will not lift my hand against my lord, since he is the LORD’s anointed.’
- 2 Samuel 18:12The man replied, “Even if a thousand shekels of silver were weighed out into my hands, I would not raise my hand against the son of the king. For we heard the king command you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for my sake.’
- Acts 12:1About that time, King Herod reached out to harm some who belonged to the church.
- Psalms 7:4if I have rewarded my ally with evil, if I have plundered my foe without cause,
- Psalms 109:5They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my love.
- Psalms 120:6Too long have I dwelt among those who hate peace.
- Psalms 89:28I will forever preserve My loving devotion for him, and My covenant with him will stand fast.
- 2 Samuel 2:4Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul.”
- 2 Samuel 5:3So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, where King David made with them a covenant before the LORD. And they anointed him king over Israel.
- 2 Samuel 14:32“Look,” said Absalom, “I sent for you and said, ‘Come here. I want to send you to the king to ask: Why have I come back from Geshur? It would be better for me if I were still there.’ So now, let me see the king’s face, and if there is iniquity in me, let him kill me.”
- 2 Samuel 15:10Then Absalom sent spies throughout the tribes of Israel with this message: “When you hear the sound of the horn, you are to say, ‘Absalom reigns in Hebron!’”
- Ecclesiastes 8:2Keep the king’s command, I say, because of your oath before God.
- Ezekiel 17:16‘As surely as I live,’ declares the Lord GOD, ‘he will die in Babylon, in the land of the king who enthroned him, whose oath he despised and whose covenant he broke.
Commentaries on Psalms 55:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20He hath put forth his hands - A farther description of Ahithophel. He betrayed his friends, and he broke his covenant with his king. He had agreed to serve David for his own emolument, and a stipulation was made accordingly; but while receiving the king's pay, he was endeavoring to subvert the kingdom, and destroy the life of his sovereign.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him - Against those who were his friends, or who had given him no occasion for war. The Septuagint and Vulgate render this, “He hath put forth his hands in recompensing;” that is, in taking vengeance. The Hebrew would bear this construction, but the more correct rendering is that in our common version. The “connection” here would seem to indicate that this is to be referred to God, as God is…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-23Verses 16-23 In every trial let us call upon the Lord, and he will save us. He shall hear us, and not blame us for coming too often; the oftener the more welcome. David had thought all were against him; but now he sees there were many with him, more than he supposed; and the glory of this he gives to God, for it is he that raises us up friends, and makes them faithful to us. There are more true Christians, and believers have more real friends, than in…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19-21God is good and faithful, but the psalmist’s enemies and so-called friend are deceitful and wicked.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 20-2120-21. The treachery is aggravated by hypocrisy. The changes of number, Psa 55:15, 23, and here, enliven the picture, and imply that the chief traitor and his accomplices are in view together.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 55:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 55
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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