Psalm 55 20

Psalm 55:20 kjv

He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.

Psalm 55:20 nkjv

He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him; He has broken his covenant.

Psalm 55:20 niv

My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.

Psalm 55:20 esv

My companion stretched out his hand against his friends; he violated his covenant.

Psalm 55:20 nlt

As for my companion, he betrayed his friends;
he broke his promises.

Psalm 55 verses

Psalm 55 20 Meaning

Psalm 55:20 vividly portrays an act of profound betrayal. It describes an individual who, contrary to expectations and prior relationships, aggressively turns against those with whom he shared a relationship of peace and security. This aggressive action is compounded by the breaking of a solemn agreement or covenant, demonstrating a complete disregard for fidelity and established trust. The verse highlights the heinous nature of treachery from within, not from an external enemy.

Psalm 55 20 Context

Psalm 55 is a passionate lament of David, pouring out his heart to God in the midst of overwhelming distress. The specific pain described in this Psalm stems not from an open enemy, but from the profound betrayal by a once trusted and close companion, deeply associated with the "equal to me," "my companion, my intimate friend" mentioned in verses 12-14. This particular verse (v. 20) specifies the nature of this profound betrayal: attacking those he was at peace with and violating a covenant.

Historically, the psalm is often attributed to the time of Absalom’s rebellion, where David faced treachery from within his own household and inner circle. Ahithophel, David's highly respected and trusted counselor, deserted him and joined Absalom's conspiracy, offering strategic advice specifically aimed at overthrowing and even killing David (2 Sam 15-17). The violation of trust and breaking of allegiance by someone like Ahithophel perfectly fits the description in this verse. In ancient Israelite society, covenant was a binding agreement, often sworn before God, making its violation not just a breach of human trust but an offense against the divine witness. This act of breaking bĕrît was an anathema in a culture founded upon God's covenant with Israel, reflecting a stark moral degradation and a defiance of core communal and spiritual values.

Psalm 55 20 Word analysis

• He has put forth: Hebrew, šālaḥ (שָׁלַח), signifies a deliberate action, to send, extend, or put out. It denotes an intentional, aggressive movement rather than an accidental one. It emphasizes the active choice of aggression.
• his hands: Hebrew, yāḏāw (יָדָיו), is a plural noun referring to "his hands." This is a metonymy for direct action, power, and often violence. "Putting forth hands" is an idiom for hostile or harmful actions, seizure, or initiation of conflict.
• against those who were at peace with him: Hebrew, bišĕlōmāyw (בִּשְׁלֹמָיו), literally "with his shalom-ones" or "those of his peace." The word šālôm (peace) encompasses completeness, well-being, harmony, and security. This phrase indicates former friends, allies, or companions with whom a relationship of trust and mutual well-being previously existed. The aggression is directed against those whom he should have treated with loyalty and support.
• he has violated: Hebrew, ḥillēl (חִלֵּל), from the Piel stem of ḥālal. This verb means "to profane," "to defile," "to desecrate," or "to pollute." It is much stronger than merely "breaking" or "transgressing." It implies an act that renders something sacred or honorable common, unclean, or contemptible. It elevates the breach from a simple contractual failure to a profound moral and spiritual offense, a desecration of a sacred bond.
• his covenant: Hebrew, bĕrîtô (בְּרִיתוֹ), refers to a solemn, binding agreement, treaty, or oath. Covenants in ancient Near Eastern and Israelite contexts were often secured by oaths, curses, and divine witnesses, making them sacrosanct. This "covenant" could refer to a political alliance, a personal oath of friendship (like blood brothers), or even implicitly the general social contract of loyalty within a court or community. Its violation is a deep breach of faith, akin to blasphemy against the divine witness often invoked in covenants.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him": This phrase emphasizes the stark contrast and paradox of the betrayal. The attacker initiates hostile action not against an obvious adversary but against individuals who were under his protection, with whom he shared peace and assumed security. This highlights the unexpected and shocking nature of the treachery, transforming harmony into hostility through an intentional act.
• "he has violated his covenant": This clarifies the deeper implication of the attack. It's not just a hostile act but a breach of a formal, solemn, and perhaps divinely witnessed agreement. The use of ḥillēl ("violated/profaned") underscores the sacrilege inherent in breaking such a bond, making the betrayer not only a disloyal individual but one who desecrates a sacred trust. This profound violation shatters the foundational social and spiritual order.

Psalm 55 20 Bonus section

The gravity of the actions described in Psalm 55:20—betraying allies and violating a covenant—was not just a social transgression but often understood as an offense against God Himself, who is the ultimate Covenant Keeper (Deut 7:9). The concept of ḥillēl (profaning) the covenant reflects how such acts can bring dishonor upon God's name, especially if the covenant involved divine witness or an oath sworn by God. This specific psalm highlights that the pain of betrayal from an enemy, however great, often pales in comparison to the psychological and spiritual devastation wrought by the intimate betrayal of a friend or trusted ally, which directly subverts the natural order of loyalty and kinship. The stark contrast between human perfidy and divine steadfastness is a recurrent theme, promising that while humans may fail in covenant, God remains eternally faithful (Ps 89:33-34).

Psalm 55 20 Commentary

Psalm 55:20 encapsulates the raw agony of personal treachery. The individual described is not merely unfaithful but actively aggressive toward former associates, compounding betrayal with hostility. The profound choice to "put forth his hands" signifies an intentional shift from alliance to aggression. Critically, this betrayal is not just of relationship but of "covenant," elevating it to a profound violation of a sworn oath or deep, established trust, often invoked under divine witness. This portrays the betrayer as one who casts off both human fidelity and reverence for solemn bonds, making their character reprehensible in God's sight. The verse is a testament to the pain caused when sacred trust is desecrated.