Psalm 31:11 kjv
I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.
Psalm 31:11 nkjv
I am a reproach among all my enemies, But especially among my neighbors, And am repulsive to my acquaintances; Those who see me outside flee from me.
Psalm 31:11 niv
Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors and an object of dread to my closest friends? those who see me on the street flee from me.
Psalm 31:11 esv
Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach, especially to my neighbors, and an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me.
Psalm 31:11 nlt
I am scorned by all my enemies
and despised by my neighbors ?
even my friends are afraid to come near me.
When they see me on the street,
they run the other way.
Psalm 31 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 22:6 | "But I am a worm and no man, a reproach of men..." | The suffering righteous facing universal scorn and dehumanization. |
| Ps 41:9 | "Even my close friend, whom I trusted... has lifted his heel against me." | Experience of betrayal by intimate associates, deepening the pain. |
| Ps 69:10 | "When I humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach." | Suffering and spiritual discipline being misconstrued and leading to disgrace. |
| Ps 69:20 | "Reproach has broken my heart, and I am sick..." | The profound emotional and even physical toll that public shame can take. |
| Ps 88:8 | "You have removed my acquaintances far from me..." | God's sovereign hand in allowing or bringing about social isolation. |
| Job 19:13-14 | "He has put my brothers far from me, and my acquaintances are estranged from me." | A similar lament of alienation by kin and once-familiar friends. |
| Job 19:19 | "All my closest friends abhor me..." | Explicit expression of being detested and despised by those previously close. |
| Job 30:10 | "They abhor me; they stand aloof from me..." | Active distancing and revulsion shown by others. |
| Is 50:6 | "I gave my back to those who strike me, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard..." | Prophecy of the humiliation and physical abuse leading to profound disgrace for Christ. |
| Is 53:3 | "He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows..." | Description of Christ's rejection, low regard, and experience of sorrow. |
| Jer 20:10 | "For I hear many whispering. Terror is on every side! Denounce him!... say all my close friends..." | Friends plotting betrayal and observing for failure. |
| Lam 3:30 | "Let him give his cheek to the smiter; let him be filled with disgrace." | A call to endure ignominy and endure contempt. |
| Matt 26:56 | "Then all the disciples left him and fled." | Jesus' ultimate abandonment by His closest followers at His arrest. |
| Matt 27:39-44 | "And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads..." | Public mockery and verbal abuse directed at Jesus on the cross. |
| Lk 23:49 | "And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance..." | Acquaintances and known supporters watching Jesus' crucifixion from afar. |
| Lk 10:31-32 | "A priest passed by on the other side... a Levite passed by on the other side..." | An example of deliberate and calculated avoidance of someone in distress. |
| Jn 9:34 | "You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us? And they cast him out." | Being formally expelled or ostracized from religious or social communities. |
| Rom 15:3 | "For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written: 'The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.'" | Christ bearing the insults and contempt aimed at God or others. |
| Heb 12:2 | "...who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame..." | Jesus willingly facing the ignominy and disgrace of crucifixion. |
| 1 Pet 4:14 | "If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed..." | Encouragement for believers enduring reproach specifically for Christ's sake. |
| 2 Tim 4:16 | "At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me." | The Apostle Paul's personal testimony of abandonment during a critical time. |
| Ps 31:1 | "In you, O Lord, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame..." | The Psalmist's foundational trust in God despite facing severe challenges. |
Psalm 31 verses
Psalm 31 11 Meaning
Psalm 31:11 powerfully articulates the Psalmist's profound anguish due to severe public humiliation and extreme social alienation. He describes being the target of scorn from his enemies, but with even greater pain, experiencing contempt and active avoidance from his own neighbors and acquaintances. This widespread rejection leads to people actively shunning him, fleeing his presence upon seeing him in public, symbolizing utter isolation and loss of all social standing.
Psalm 31 11 Context
Psalm 31 is a profoundly personal lament by David, interwoven with deep expressions of trust in Yahweh. The entire chapter captures the tumultuous experience of a righteous sufferer who is overwhelmed by a multitude of afflictions, ranging from physical debilitation (v. 9-10) to spiritual despair (v. 12), all intensified by the malicious intent and persecution of his enemies. Verse 11 paints a vivid picture of the social dimension of his suffering. It's not just that enemies assail him, but his closest societal connections – neighbors and acquaintances – also turn against him, contributing to an acute sense of betrayal and isolation. This public shame and social dread exacerbate the personal distress David pours out to God, underscoring the completeness of his current dire circumstances and emphasizing his total reliance on divine intervention and steadfast love.
Psalm 31 11 Word analysis
I am a reproach (חרפה - herpâ): Herpâ carries the weight of public disgrace, shame, and scorn. It's more than just being spoken ill of; it means becoming the very embodiment of shame in the eyes of others. In ancient culture, losing honor and face was a severe punishment, often worse than physical harm, as it meant a loss of identity and social standing.among all my enemies: These are his clear adversaries, those who actively oppose him and derive satisfaction from his misfortune. Their scorn is expected, though still deeply hurtful.but especially among my neighbors (שכני - shekēnay): Shekēnay refers to those residing in close proximity, individuals with whom one shares community, daily interactions, and presumed loyalty. Their betrayal cuts deeper than that of distant enemies, signifying a breakdown of trust within his own social fabric. The emphasis (especially) highlights the heightened pain from their specific rejection.and a dread (פחד - pachad): Pachad implies deep terror or extreme fear. The Psalmist's condition is so dire—perhaps viewed as contagious, a sign of divine curse, or simply profoundly unsettling—that it inspires an active revulsion and avoidance in others. It's not mere discomfort, but active fright at the thought of association.to my acquaintances (מיודיעי - meyu'ddā'î): Meyu'ddā'î denotes those known to the Psalmist, or those who know him, forming a wider social circle beyond intimate friends or family. Their fearful avoidance illustrates that his alienation is widespread, extending to casual associates, not just his core community.those who see me in the street flee from me: This imagery vividly depicts public, active shunning. The "street" signifies an open, visible setting, where such avoidance inflicts maximum humiliation. People are not just avoiding his company, but literally taking evasive action, running away as if he were a threat or utterly unclean. This paints him as a pariah, someone whose mere presence repulses others.reproach among all my enemies, but especially among my neighbors: This phrase captures the escalating intensity of the Psalmist's suffering, moving from the predictable malice of adversaries to the much more painful, personal betrayal of those who should be nearest.a dread to my acquaintances: This highlights the complete ruin of his reputation; he has become not merely unpopular but an object of fear or superstition. This shows how completely his social identity has collapsed.those who see me in the street flee from me: This powerful visual embodies ultimate social expulsion, portraying a person so utterly disgraced and reviled that even random encounters result in public abandonment.
Psalm 31 11 Bonus section
The intense fear (pachad) experienced by the acquaintances often reflects ancient worldviews where misfortune was attributed to divine displeasure or a curse. Therefore, shunning the suffering person was not just avoiding bad luck but actively distancing oneself from potential contagion of God's wrath or perceived sin. This goes beyond simple social rejection; it reflects a communal judgment that further alienates the sufferer from divine favor as perceived by others. This psychological torture of being treated as divinely cursed intensifies the psalmist's isolation and his deep need for God's vindication. The vivid description is not merely poetic but captures a terrifying reality of social excommunication that could befall individuals in biblical times, where one's identity was intrinsically tied to their place within the community.
Psalm 31 11 Commentary
Psalm 31:11 powerfully portrays the multidimensional agony of the righteous sufferer, marked not only by external opposition but by devastating internal social abandonment. The progression from enemies to neighbors to acquaintances signifies an increasing sphere of personal betrayal and isolation, reaching its peak in the public humiliation of being actively fled from in the open street. This profound loss of honor and community acceptance in an ancient society would have been crushing, suggesting divine displeasure or a contagious curse, rather than mere misfortune. The Psalmist is not simply disliked but has become an embodiment of reproach and an object of dread. Yet, within the larger Psalm, this deeply personal cry of anguish sets the stage for David’s subsequent affirmations of trust in God's faithfulness and ultimate deliverance (v. 14-24), providing a poignant contrast between human abandonment and divine steadfastness. This lament also serves as a potent prefigurement of the suffering Messiah, Jesus Christ, who perfectly endured incomprehensible reproach, intimate betrayal, public shame, and ultimate abandonment by humanity, yet remained steadfastly devoted to the will of God, thus overcoming all shame through His cross.