Psalms 55 · Verse 20

Psalms 55:20

He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.
Psalms 55:20, King James Version

Psalms 55:20 in other translations

BSBMy companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.
WEBHe raises his hands against his friends. He has violated his covenant.
ASVHe hath put forth his hands against such as were at peace with him: He hath profaned his covenant.
YLTHe hath sent forth his hands against his well-wishers, He hath polluted his covenant.
DARBYHe hath put forth his hands against such as are at peace with him; he hath profaned his covenant.
BBEHe has put out his hand against those who were at peace with him; he has not kept his agreement.
WebsterHe hath put forth his hands against such as are at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.

What does Psalms 55:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 55:20-21
20-21. The treachery is aggravated by hypocrisy. The changes of number, Psa 55:15, 23, and here, enliven the picture, and imply that the chief traitor and his accomplices are in view together.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 20 He hath put forth his hands - A farther description of Ahithophel. He betrayed his friends, and he broke his covenant with his king. He had agreed to serve David for his own emolument, and a stipulation was made accordingly; but while receiving the king's pay, he was endeavoring to subvert the kingdom, and destroy the life of his sovereign.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 55:16-23

In every trial let us call upon the Lord, and he will save us. He shall hear us, and not blame us for coming too often; the oftener the more welcome. David had thought all were against him; but now he sees there were many with him, more than he supposed; and the glory of this he gives to God, for it is he that raises us up friends, and makes them faithful to us. There are more true Christians, and believers have…

Read the full comment on Psalms 55:16-23 →

Psalms 55:20 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.

שָׁלַ֣חsha.Lachhe stretched outH7971
יָ֭דָיוYa.davhands hisH3027
בִּשְׁלֹמָ֗יוbish.lo.Mavon allies hisH7965
חִלֵּ֥לchi.Lelhe violatedH2490
בְּרִיתֽוֹ\׃be.ri.Tocovenant hisH1285

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

Cross references for Psalms 55:20

  • Psalms 7:4

    If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)

  • Psalms 89:34

    My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.

  • Acts 12:1

    Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.

  • Psalms 109:5

    And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.

  • Psalms 120:6-7

    My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace. I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.

  • Ecclesiastes 8:2

    I counsel thee to keep the king’s commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God.

  • Psalms 89:28

    My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.

  • 1 Samuel 22:17

    And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the Lord; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the Lord.

  • Psalms 89:38

    But thou hast cast off and abhorred, thou hast been wroth with thine anointed.

  • 1 Samuel 24:10

    Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the Lord had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the Lord’s anointed.

  • Ezekiel 17:16-19

    As I live, saith the Lord God, surely in the place where the king dwelleth that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he brake, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die. Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company make for him in the war, by casting up mounts, and building forts, to cut off many persons: Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, lo, he had given his hand, and hath done all these things, he shall not escape. Therefore thus saith the Lord God; As I live, surely mine oath that he hath despised, and my covenant that he hath broken, even it will I recompense upon his own head.

  • 2 Samuel 5:3

    So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the Lord: and they anointed David king over Israel.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
put.
1Sa 22:17; 24:10; 2Sa 18:12; Ac 12:1
at peace.
7:4; 109:5; 120:6,7
broken. Heb. profaned.
89:28,34,38; 2Sa 2:4; 5:3; 14:32,33; 15:10-12; Ec 8:2; Eze 17:16-19

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

Context

  • Psalms 55:19

    God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.

  • Psalms 55:20

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

  • Psalms 55:21

    The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

Read all of Psalms 55

Psalms 55:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Extendió sus manos contra sus pacíficos: violó su pacto.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Dieu a entendu, et il les accablera: il demeure dès les jours d’autrefois; (Sélah)… car il n’y a point de changement en eux, et ils ne craignent pas Dieu.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Er hat seine Hände ausgestreckt gegen die, welche mit ihm in Frieden waren; seinen Bund hat er gebrochen.