Psalm 41 9

Psalm 41:9 kjv

Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

Psalm 41:9 nkjv

Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me.

Psalm 41:9 niv

Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.

Psalm 41:9 esv

Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.

Psalm 41:9 nlt

Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely,
the one who shared my food, has turned against me.

Psalm 41 verses

Psalm 41 9 Meaning

Psalm 41:9 articulates the profound pain of betrayal experienced by the psalmist, specifically from one who was considered a trusted companion. It describes not just a general attack from an enemy, but a grievous act of disloyalty from an intimate acquaintance who had shared close fellowship, signified by the act of "eating bread" together. This deeply personal treachery multiplies the suffering caused by outward adversaries, highlighting the severe emotional and spiritual wound inflicted when a trusted individual turns against one, undermining the very foundations of relationship and trust.

Psalm 41 9 Context

Psalm 41 is the concluding psalm of Book 1 of the Psalter. It is a Davidic psalm, characterized as a lament or a prayer for deliverance. The broader context of the psalm details the psalmist's deep affliction, likely a severe illness, which his enemies perceive as a sign of divine judgment, hoping for his demise. Amidst this physical and public suffering, verse 9 emerges as a particular cry of anguish, magnifying the pain. It moves beyond the hostility of declared enemies to expose the ultimate torment: betrayal from within his inner circle. Historically, for David, this would strongly evoke the betrayal by Ahithophel, his trusted counselor, during Absalom's rebellion (2 Sam 15:12, 16:20-23, 17:1-23). This experience became a foreshadowing of the ultimate betrayal Jesus would face from Judas Iscariot, fulfilling this very verse (Jn 13:18). The verse speaks to a deep breach of covenantal or relational trust that was foundational to ancient Near Eastern society, where hospitality and shared meals carried immense significance as symbols of peace, loyalty, and intimate bond.

Psalm 41 9 Word analysis

• Even my close friend:

  • Hebrew: גַּם־אִ֣ישׁ שְׁלוֹמִ֑י (gam-'îsh sh'lōmî).
  • Gam: "Even," or "also." This particle emphasizes the shock and magnitude of the betrayal, highlighting that the treachery comes from an unexpected, previously trusted source.
  • Ish sh'lomi: "man of my peace," "my companion," or "my confidant." This signifies an intimate relationship, not merely an acquaintance. It suggests someone with whom the psalmist shared peace, well-being, and trusted fellowship. It points to a deep, personal bond, implying shared counsel and vulnerability.

• whom I trusted:

  • Hebrew: בָּטַ֣חְתִּי (bāṭaḥtî).
  • "Trusted" signifies deep reliance, confidence, and security placed in another. It denotes having leaned upon this person for support, loyalty, and companionship. The betrayal breaks this fundamental bond of security, turning a place of refuge into a source of injury.

• who ate my bread:

  • Hebrew: אֹכֵ֣ל לַ֭חְמִי ('ōḵēl laḥmî).
  • Literally, "the one eating my bread." This is a powerful idiom in the ancient Near East, symbolizing hospitality, covenant friendship, and intimate fellowship. Sharing bread meant sharing life, sustenance, and home. It implied mutual obligation, loyalty, and peace. For someone who had partaken of the psalmist's sustenance and hospitality to betray him was a heinous violation of a sacred trust and an act of profound ingratitude.

• has lifted his heel against me:

  • Hebrew: הִגְדִּ֥יל עָלַ֗י עָקֵֽב (higdîl 'ālay 'āqēv).
  • Literally, "he has made great his heel upon me" or "magnified his heel against me." This vivid metaphor denotes a contemptuous, violent act of rejection or attack. It could imply kicking or trampling, a sudden, powerful motion designed to cause downfall or harm. Some scholars also see an echo of Gen 3:15, where the serpent bruises the heel, suggesting a subversive, painful blow that targets a vulnerable point, implying a spiritual or deceptive attack. The "lifting of the heel" expresses open defiance, scorn, and ultimately, an act designed to bring about the other's downfall.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Even my close friend, whom I trusted": This phrase emphasizes the depth of the personal relationship and the subsequent shock and pain of betrayal. It sets up the specific identity of the betrayer, making the offense uniquely agonizing compared to actions from a known adversary. The shift from trusted companion to traitor creates a deep wound beyond physical suffering.
  • "who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me": This phrase contrasts profound intimacy and shared life with a contemptuous and harmful act. The bond of hospitality, which obligated loyalty and protection, is brazenly violated by an act of open antagonism. The transition from sharing sustenance to a forceful, dismissive "heel" reveals the extent of the ingratitude and malicious intent.

Psalm 41 9 Bonus section

The imagery of "lifting the heel" has ancient resonance. In the context of the Davidic author, it could indeed subtly recall Gen 3:15, where the heel is vulnerable to the serpent's attack, suggesting a subversion that targets a weak point. This particular form of attack by a close acquaintance could imply a particularly insidious and devastating nature of betrayal. Moreover, in ancient Near Eastern diplomatic contexts, breaking bread or eating together was a fundamental aspect of solidifying alliances, treaties, and ensuring mutual respect. A betrayal following such an act was not merely a personal slight but a symbolic tearing up of a deeply held covenant or understanding, amplifying the insult and emotional devastation for the victim.

Psalm 41 9 Commentary

Psalm 41:9 captures one of humanity's most piercing experiences: betrayal by an intimate, trusted friend. The psalm begins with David's cry for God's mercy amidst personal suffering and enemies, yet this verse singles out a deeper cut. The suffering inflicted by an openly hostile adversary pales in comparison to the spiritual and emotional agony caused when "one's own man of peace," one deeply trusted and honored with shared hospitality ("ate my bread"), turns into an aggressor. The imagery of "lifting the heel" vividly portrays a contemptuous, destructive action, a kicking or trampling upon the psalmist in his vulnerable state. This specific wound, stemming from deep-seated relational violation, echoes through biblical history. It speaks profoundly to the human experience of finding treachery where one expected loyalty, foreshadowing Ahithophel's desertion of David, and ultimately serving as a poignant prophetic foreshadowing of Judas Iscariot's betrayal of Jesus Christ, making Christ's suffering relatable in its most personal dimensions. It underscores that trust, once broken by one deeply loved and honored, creates a pain distinct in its severity.