Psalm 55:12 meaning, Cross Ref, ai commentary KJV NIV ESV NLT

Psalm 55:12 kjv

For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:

Psalm 55:12 nkjv

For it is not an enemy who reproaches me; Then I could bear it. Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me; Then I could hide from him.

Psalm 55:12 niv

If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were rising against me, I could hide.

Psalm 55:12 esv

For it is not an enemy who taunts me ? then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me ? then I could hide from him.

Psalm 55:12 nlt

It is not an enemy who taunts me ?
I could bear that.
It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me ?
I could have hidden from them.

Psalm 55 12 Cross References

Verse	Text (shortened)	Reference (short note)
Ps 41:9	Even my close friend... has lifted his heel against me.	Direct parallel, prophecy of betrayal.
Jer 20:10	...All my close friends were watching for my fall...	The pain of trusted friends turning hostile.
Mic 7:5-6	Put no trust in a friend... a man's enemies are the men of his own house.	Warning against internal treachery.
Job 19:13-19	He has alienated my brothers from me... My intimate friends detest me.	The grief of being forsaken by former friends.
2 Sam 15:12	...Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, came from his city, Giloh; and he added himself to the conspirators with Absalom.	Ahithophel's betrayal, historical context.
2 Sam 16:23	Now the counsel of Ahithophel... was as if one consulted the word of God.	Highlighted Ahithophel's former trusted role.
2 Sam 17:1-4	Ahithophel said to Absalom... Let me choose 12,000 men... and I will pursue David tonight.	The hostile actions of the former confidant.
Mt 26:14-16	...Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests and said, "What are you willing to give me...?"	Judas's planned betrayal of Christ.
Mt 26:47-50	...Judas, one of the twelve, with a large crowd... "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed Him.	The "kiss of betrayal" by a close disciple.
Jn 13:18	"But that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’"	Jesus quoting Ps 41:9 regarding Judas.
Lk 22:47-48	Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"	The unique sting of intimate betrayal.
Acts 1:16-20	"Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas..."	Apostolic affirmation of Judas's role fulfilling prophecy.
Ps 109:4-5	For my love they are my adversaries... They have rewarded me evil for good.	Reciprocal response of love with hate.
Prov 16:28	A perverse man stirs up strife, And a whisperer separates the closest friends.	The power of deceit to break trust.
Prov 17:9	He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends.	Actions that destroy close relationships.
Ps 35:15-16	But in my adversity they rejoiced and gathered themselves together... They tore at me and did not cease.	The mockery of those who once seemed friendly.
Ps 69:10-12	...for Your sake I have borne reproach; shame has covered my face... those who sit in the gate speak against me.	Suffering and public shame, but from general opposition.
1 Pet 4:14	If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you.	Bearing reproach, though the source here is distinct.
Rom 15:3	For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me."	Christ bore reproach, indicating profound suffering.
Lam 1:1-2	How lonely sits the city... All her lovers have dealt treacherously with her; They have become her enemies.	A city lamenting betrayal by former allies.
Gen 37:18-20	...Joseph's brothers... conspired against him to kill him.	Family betrayal leading to severe distress.

Psalm 55 verses

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Psalm 55 12 Meaning

Psalm 55:12 expresses the profound agony of betrayal, stating that the pain inflicted by a trusted associate is far more devastating than suffering at the hands of an overt enemy. David laments that if an adversary or a hater had publicly shamed him or arrogantly attacked him, he could endure it or take evasive action. The true source of his anguish is that the injury comes from one who was close and trusted, leaving him without expected defenses or means of coping.

Psalm 55 12 Context

Psalm 55 is a lament of David, marked by deep distress, fear, and anguish (vv. 4-5). It presents David's passionate plea for deliverance from his enemies, particularly a close confidant who betrayed him. The historical context most strongly associated with this psalm is David's flight from Absalom's rebellion (2 Samuel 15-17), during which his trusted counselor Ahithophel defected and joined Absalom, providing strategic advice against David. This betrayal of a friend, one who had shared intimate counsel, adds an unbearable weight to David's suffering, a central theme articulated in verse 12. The psalm moves from fervent prayer to a renewed expression of trust in God despite the overwhelming circumstances.

Psalm 55 12 Word analysis

For it is not: (kî lōʾ) - This strong opening emphasizes the unexpected nature and source of the pain. It highlights that the distress does not stem from a typical, identifiable foe.
an enemy (ʾôyēb) - Refers to a recognized, declared adversary or opponent. Such hostility is anticipated in life and therefore, in a sense, manageable.
who reproaches me; (ḥērēf lî) - Ḥērēf means to taunt, revile, mock, or bring shame upon someone. It implies public dishonor or disgrace. From an enemy, this is expected as part of conflict.
then I could bear it. (wᵉʾeśśāʾēhū) - The verb śāʾāʾ means to carry, lift, endure, or sustain. David states that if the source of this public shame were an open enemy, he could psychologically and emotionally manage the burden because it would align with predictable conflict.
Nor is it (wᵉlōʾ) - Another strong negative, reinforcing that the actual situation is contrary to the more manageable scenario.
one who hates me (śônʾî) - Śônēʾ denotes someone with strong ill-will, aversion, or malice; a bitter adversary. This intensifies "enemy."
who has magnified himself against me; (higdîl ʿālay) - Hagdîl (Hiphil of gādal) means to make great, lift oneself up, act proudly, or be arrogant. Here, it implies an overt, aggressive act of asserting superiority and opposition, potentially publicly defying or conspiring.
then I could hide myself from him. (wᵉʾessātēr mimmennū) - Sātar means to hide or conceal oneself. This implies a protective measure, a means of self-preservation, which is viable when one knows who the enemy is and can take evasive action.

Words-group analysis:

"For it is not an enemy... Nor is it one who hates me": This double negation powerfully contrasts the current excruciating pain with more bearable forms of opposition. It defines the pain not by its intensity, but by its intimate, trusted source.
"who reproaches me" vs. "who has magnified himself against me": These describe different forms of hostility—one focusing on verbal abuse and shame, the other on arrogant, active opposition. The distinction underlines the multi-faceted nature of the assailant's harm.
"then I could bear it" vs. "then I could hide myself from him": These phrases highlight the psychological difference between confronting a known enemy (where strategies of endurance or evasion are possible) and being blindsided by a trusted friend (where such strategies fail because the betrayal is unexpected and personal defense lines are breached).

Psalm 55 12 Bonus section

The profound lament in Psalm 55:12 speaks to the devastating impact of shattered trust. It illustrates that relational injury can transcend physical harm, as the breach of a deep bond leaves one exposed and vulnerable in a way no open conflict can. The expected boundaries of warfare or competition do not apply in betrayal, rendering typical defense mechanisms useless. This verse sets the stage for David’s subsequent cry for God’s swift justice against the betrayer, demonstrating the righteous indignation caused by such an egregious offense. It also underscores a core truth in Scripture: covenant faithfulness and loyal love (Hesed) are paramount, and their violation brings intense distress to God and His people.

Psalm 55 12 Commentary

Psalm 55:12 lays bare the unique anguish of betrayal by a trusted companion. While confronting an open foe, who "reproaches" or "magnifies himself" against one, is certainly painful, it is a pain that can be "borne" or from which one can "hide." These actions by a recognized enemy are part of the expected struggles of life. However, when the wound comes from "one who ate my bread" (as Ps 41:9 echoes, and as Christ noted about Judas), the nature of the pain shifts dramatically. It’s not just a physical or verbal assault, but a tearing of the fabric of trust and relationship. The pain is not simply external, but deeply internal, affecting the very soul, as there is no shield against an attack from within one’s own camp. This lament finds its ultimate resonance in the betrayal of Christ by Judas, showing its universal and profoundly tragic nature across redemptive history. It reminds believers that some of the deepest suffering can arise not from overt opposition, but from the shattering of trust by those closest to us.