Christian Standard Bible
Psalms 55:20
20My friend acts violently against those at peace with him; 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
18Though many are against me, he will redeem me from my battle unharmed. 19God, the one enthroned from long ago, will hear and will humiliate themSelah because they do not change and do not fear God. My friend acts violently against those at peace with him; he violates his covenant. 21His buttery words are smooth, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, but they are drawn swords. 22Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never allow the righteous to be shaken.
Read all of Psalms 55Psalms 55:20 word by word
שָׁלַ֣ח יָ֭דָיו בִּשְׁלֹמָ֗יו חִלֵּ֥ל בְּרִיתֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 55:20
- 1 Samuel 22:17Then the king ordered the guards standing by him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord because they sided with David. For they knew he was fleeing, but they didn’t tell me.” But the king’s servants would not lift a hand to execute the priests of the Lord.
- 1 Samuel 24:10You can see with your own eyes that the Lord handed you over to me today in the cave. Someone advised me to kill you, but I took pity on you and said: I won’t lift my hand against my lord, since he is the Lord’s anointed.
- 2 Samuel 18:12The man replied to Joab, “Even if I had the weight of a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not raise my hand against the king’s son. For we heard the king command you, Abishai, and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for me.’
- Acts 12:1About that time King Herod violently attacked some who belonged to the church,
- Psalms 7:4if I have done harm to one at peace with me or have plundered my adversary without cause,
- Psalms 109:5They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my love.
- Psalms 120:6I have dwelt too long with those who hate peace.
- Psalms 89:28I will always preserve my faithful love for him, and my covenant with him will endure.
- 2 Samuel 2:4Then the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. 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. King David made a covenant with them at Hebron in the Lord’s presence, and they anointed David king over Israel.
- 2 Samuel 14:32“Look,” Absalom explained to Joab, “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? I’d be better off if I were still there.’ So now, let me see the king. If I am guilty, let him kill me.”
- 2 Samuel 15:10Then Absalom sent agents throughout the tribes of Israel with this message: “When you hear the sound of the ram’s horn, you are to say, ‘Absalom has become king in Hebron!’”
- Ecclesiastes 8:2Keep the king’s command because of your oath made before God.
- Ezekiel 17:16“‘As I live — this is the declaration of the Lord God — he will die in Babylon, in the land of the king who put him on the throne, 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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