New International Version
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)As for my companion, he betrayed his friends; he broke his promises.
Context of Psalms 55:20
18He rescues me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me. 19God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change— he will hear them and humble them, because they have no fear of God. My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant. 21His talk is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords. 22Cast your cares on 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
Words taken from the KJV.
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 have sided with David. They knew he was fleeing, yet they did not tell me.” But the king’s officials were unwilling to raise a hand to strike the priests of the Lord.
- 1 Samuel 24:10This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’
- 2 Samuel 18:12But the man replied, “Even if a thousand shekels were weighed out into my hands, I would not lay a hand on the king’s son. In our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for my sake.’
- Acts 12:1It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them.
- Psalms 7:4if I have repaid my ally with evil or without cause have robbed my foe—
- Psalms 109:5They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my friendship.
- Psalms 120:6Too long have I lived among those who hate peace.
- Psalms 89:28I will maintain my love to him forever, and my covenant with him will never fail.
- 2 Samuel 2:4Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the tribe of Judah. When David was told that it was the men from Jabesh Gilead who had buried Saul,
- 2 Samuel 5:3When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.
- 2 Samuel 14:32Absalom said to Joab, “Look, I sent word to you and said, ‘Come here so I can send you to the king to ask, “Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me if I were still there!” ’ Now then, I want to see the king’s face, and if I am guilty of anything, let him put me to death.”
- 2 Samuel 15:10Then Absalom sent secret messengers throughout the tribes of Israel to say, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpets, then say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron.’ ”
- Ecclesiastes 8:2Obey the king’s command, I say, because you took an oath before God.
- Ezekiel 17:16“ ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, he shall die in Babylon, in the land of the king who put him on the throne, whose oath he despised and whose treaty 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
New International Version — © NIV® 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica
Commentaries