Psalms 55 · Verse 12

Psalms 55:12

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:
Psalms 55:12, King James Version

Psalms 55:12 in other translations

BSBFor it is not an enemy who insults me; that I could endure. It is not a foe who rises against me; from him I could hide.
WEBFor it was not an enemy who insulted me, then I could have endured it. Neither was it he who hated me who raised himself up against me, then I would have hidden myself from him.
ASVFor 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:
YLTFor an enemy reproacheth me not, or I bear it, He who is hating me Hath not magnified himself against me, Or I hide from him.
DARBYFor it is not an enemy that hath reproached me — then could I have borne it; neither is it he that hateth me that hath magnified himself against me — then would I have hidden myself from him;
BBEFor it was not my hater who said evil of me; that would have been no grief to me; it was not one outside the number of my friends who made himself strong against me, or I would have kept myself from him in a secret place;
WebsterFor it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that magnified himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:

What does Psalms 55:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 55:12-14
12-14. This description of treachery does not deny, but aggravates, the injury from enemies.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 It was not an enemy - It is likely that in all these three verses Ahithophel is meant, who, it appears, had been at the bottom of the conspiracy from the beginning; and probably was the first mover of the vain mind of Absalom to do what he did.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 55:9-15

No wickedness so distresses the believer, as that which he witnesses in those who profess to be of the church of God. Let us not be surprised at the corruptions and disorders of the church on earth, but long to see the New Jerusalem. He complains of one that had been very industrious against him. God often destroys the enemies of the church by dividing them. And an interest divided against itself cannot long stand…

Read the full comment on Psalms 55:9-15 →

Psalms 55:12 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

כִּ֤יkiforH3588
לֹֽא\־lo'-notH3808
אוֹיֵ֥ב'o.Yevan enemyH341
יְחָֽרְפֵ֗נִיye.cha.re.Fe.nihe taunts meH2778
וְאֶ֫שָּׂ֥אve.'E.Sa'and I may endureH5375
לֹֽא\־lo'-notH3808
מְ֭שַׂנְאִיMe.san.'i[one who] hates meH8130
עָלַ֣י'a.Laion meH5921
הִגְדִּ֑ילhig.Dilhe magnified himselfH1431
וְאֶסָּתֵ֥רve.'e.sa.Terthen I may hide myselfH5641
מִמֶּֽנּוּ\׃mi.Me.nufrom himH4480

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 55:12

  • Psalms 41:9

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

  • John 13:18

    I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.

  • Matthew 26:21-23

    And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.

  • Psalms 35:26

    Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.

  • John 18:2-3

    And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples. Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.

  • Isaiah 10:15

    Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood.

  • Psalms 38:16

    For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
For.
41:9
magnify.
35:26; 38:16; Isa 10:15
then I.
Mt 26:21-23; Joh 13:18; 18:2,3

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 55:11

    Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.

  • Psalms 55:12

    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:

  • Psalms 55:13

    But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.

Read all of Psalms 55

Psalms 55:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque no me afrentó un enemigo, lo cual habría soportado; ni se alzó contra mí el que me aborrecía, porque me hubiera ocultado de él:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		La perversité est au milieu d’elle, et l’oppression et la fraude ne s’éloignent pas de ses places.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn nicht ein Feind ist es, der mich höhnt, sonst würde ich es ertragen; nicht mein Hasser ist es, der wider mich großgetan hat, sonst würde ich mich vor ihm verbergen;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		In me sunt, Deus, vota tua, quæ reddam, laudationes tibi: