Tree of Life Version
Psalms 55:20
20God will hear and humble them —yes, the One enthroned of old. Selah Nothing changes—they do not fear God.
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
18Evening, morning and noon, I complain and moan, then He hears my voice. 19He will redeem my soul in shalom from the battle against me. For many are striving with me. God will hear and humble them —yes, the One enthroned of old. Selah Nothing changes—they do not fear God. 21My companion put forth his hands against those at peace with him, as he violates his covenant. 22Smoother than butter was his speech, yet war was in his heart. His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.
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 attending him, “Turn around and kill the kohanim of Adonai, for they are in cahoots with David, for they knew that he was running away but did not inform me.” But the servants of the king were not willing to raise their hand to assault the kohanim of Adonai.
- 1 Samuel 24:10Look, today your own eyes should see how Adonai delivered you today into my hand, in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but my eye had pity on you, and I said: ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is Adonai’s anointed.’
- 2 Samuel 18:12But the man said to Joab, “Even if I had 1,000 pieces of silver in my hand, I would not raise my hand against the king’s son; for in our hearing the king charged you, Abishai and Ittai saying, ‘Watch over the young man Absalom for me.’
- Acts 12:1Now at that time Herod the king seized some from Messiah’s community to do them harm.
- Psalms 7:4Adonai my God, if I have done this— if there is guilt on my hands,
- Psalms 109:5They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my love.
- Psalms 120:6My soul has too long dwelt with those who hate shalom.
- Psalms 89:28I also will set him as firstborn— the highest of the kings of earth.
- 2 Samuel 2:4Then the men of Judah came and there anointed David king over the house of Judah. Then they told David saying, “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, and King David cut a covenant with them at Hebron before Adonai. Then they anointed David king over Israel.
- 2 Samuel 14:32“Look, I sent word to you,” Absalom said to Joab, “saying, ‘Come here, that I may send you to the king to say, “Why have I come 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 put me to death.”
- 2 Samuel 15:10But Absalom sent spies to all the tribes of Israel to say, “As soon as you hear the sound of the shofar, then you are to say, ‘Absalom has become king in Hebron!’”
- Ecclesiastes 8:2I say: “Obey the king’s command, and especially in regard to the oath of God.
- Ezekiel 17:16As I live”—it is a declaration of Adonai—“surely in the place of the king who put him on the throne, whose oath he despised and whose covenant he broke, within Babylon he will die.
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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