Psalms 55:12
Psalms 55:12 in Multiple Translations
For 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.
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:
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:
For 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;
The problem is that it's not an enemy who mocks me—I could stand that. It's not someone who hates me who insults me—I could avoid them.
Surely mine enemie did not defame mee: for I could haue borne it: neither did mine aduersarie exalt himselfe against mee: for I would haue hid me from him.
For 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.
For 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.
For 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:
In me, O God, are vows to thee, which I will pay, praises to thee:
If it were an enemy who was making fun of me, I could endure it. If it were someone who hates me, who despises me, I could hide from him.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 55:12
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Psalms 55:12 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
הַוּ֥וֹת
בְּ/קִרְבָּ֑/הּ
וְֽ/לֹא
יָמִ֥ישׁ
מֵ֝/רְחֹבָ֗/הּ
תֹּ֣ךְ
וּ/מִרְמָֽה
הַוּ֥וֹת
havvâh
H1942
desire
N-fp
בְּ/קִרְבָּ֑/הּ
qereb
H7130
entrails
Prep | N-ms | Suff
וְֽ/לֹא
lôʼ
H3808
not
Conj | Part
יָמִ֥ישׁ
mûwsh
H4185
to remove
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
מֵ֝/רְחֹבָ֗/הּ
rᵉchôb
H7339
street/plaza
Prep | N-fs | Suff
תֹּ֣ךְ
tôk
H8496
oppression
N-ms
וּ/מִרְמָֽה
mirmâh
H4820
deceit
Conj | N-fs
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 55:12
הַוּ֥וֹת
havvâh
H1942
"desire"
N-fp
Havvah refers to a strong desire, but often in a bad sense, and can also mean ruin or calamity. It's used to describe something naughty or wicked, like mischief or iniquity. This concept appears in various KJV translations.
Definition: 1) desire 1a) desire (in bad sense) 2) chasm (fig. of destruction) 2a) engulfing ruin, destruction, calamity
Usage: Occurs in 16 OT verses. KJV: calamity, iniquity, mischief, mischievous (thing), naughtiness, naughty, noisome, perverse thing, substance, very wickedness. See also: Job 6:2; Psalms 57:2; Psalms 5:10.
בְּ/קִרְבָּ֑/הּ
qereb
H7130
"entrails"
Prep | N-ms | Suff
This Hebrew word means the inner part or midst of something, whether physical or emotional, and can refer to the entrails of an animal or the seat of thought and emotion. In 1 Kings 17:21, it describes Elijah's emotional plea to God.
Definition: : among/within 1) midst, among, inner part, middle 1a) inward part 1a1) physical sense 1a2) as seat of thought and emotion 1a3) as faculty of thought and emotion 1b) in the midst, among, from among (of a number of persons) 1c) entrails (of sacrificial animals) Also means: qe.rev (קֶ֫רֶב ": inner_parts" H7130H)
Usage: Occurs in 220 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] among, [idiom] before, bowels, [idiom] unto charge, [phrase] eat (up), [idiom] heart, [idiom] him, [idiom] in, inward ([idiom] -ly, part, -s, thought), midst, [phrase] out of, purtenance, [idiom] therein, [idiom] through, [idiom] within self. See also: Genesis 18:12; Joshua 7:12; Psalms 5:10.
וְֽ/לֹא
lôʼ
H3808
"not"
Conj | Part
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Definition: 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Usage: Occurs in 3967 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as truly as, [phrase] of a truth, [phrase] verily, for want, [phrase] whether, without. See also: Genesis 2:5; Genesis 31:15; Exodus 4:9.
יָמִ֥ישׁ
mûwsh
H4185
"to remove"
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
To remove means to take something away or depart from a place. This word can be used literally or figuratively, and is often translated as cease or depart. It implies a sense of separation.
Definition: 1) to depart, remove 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to depart 1a2) to remove 1a3) to be removed (of inanimate objects) 1b) (Hiphil) to remove, depart
Usage: Occurs in 19 OT verses. KJV: cease, depart, go back, remove, take away. See also: Exodus 13:22; Isaiah 46:7; Psalms 55:12.
מֵ֝/רְחֹבָ֗/הּ
rᵉchôb
H7339
"street/plaza"
Prep | N-fs | Suff
A street or plaza, referring to a public area or open space, like a marketplace or a thoroughfare. This word is used to describe urban settings and community gathering places, often in stories about city life and trade. It appears in books like Nehemiah and Jeremiah.
Definition: broad or open place or plaza
Usage: Occurs in 41 OT verses. KJV: broad place (way), street. See also H1050 (בֵּית רְחוֹב). See also: Genesis 19:2; Proverbs 7:12; Psalms 55:12.
תֹּ֣ךְ
tôk
H8496
"oppression"
N-ms
Oppression or injury is the meaning of this word, which also implies deceit or fraud. It is used in various contexts to describe unfair treatment or dishonest behavior.
Definition: 1) injury, oppression, oppressor 2) (TWOT) fraud, deceit, deceitful Also means: ta.khakh (תָּכָךְ "deceitful" H8501)
Usage: Occurs in 3 OT verses. KJV: deceit, fraud. See also: Psalms 10:7; Psalms 55:12; Psalms 72:14.
וּ/מִרְמָֽה
mirmâh
H4820
"deceit"
Conj | N-fs
This Hebrew word means deceit or cheating, like when someone tricks or lies to another person. It appears in stories about dishonest people, like in Jeremiah 8:10, where the prophet talks about the deceit of the Israelites. The word is often translated as 'deceit' or 'craft' in English Bibles.
Definition: deceit, treachery
Usage: Occurs in 38 OT verses. KJV: craft, deceit(-ful, -fully), false, feigned, guile, subtilly, treachery. See also: Genesis 27:35; Proverbs 11:1; Psalms 5:7.
Study Notes — Psalms 55:12
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 55:12 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 55:12
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 55:12
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 55:12
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 55:12
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 55:12
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 55:12
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 55:12
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 55:12
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 55:12
- Sermons on Psalms 55:12
Context — Cast Your Burden upon the LORD
10Day and night they encircle the walls, while malice and trouble lie within.
11Destruction is within; oppression and deceit never leave the streets.
12For 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.
13But it is you, a man like myself, my companion and close friend. 14We shared sweet fellowship together; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 41:9 | Even my close friend whom I trusted, the one who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me. |
| 2 | John 13:18 | I am not speaking about all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the Scripture: ‘The one who shares My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’ |
| 3 | Matthew 26:21–23 | And while they were eating, He said to them, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray Me.” They were deeply grieved and began to ask Him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?” Jesus answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with Me will betray Me. |
| 4 | Psalms 35:26 | May those who gloat in my distress be ashamed and confounded; may those who exalt themselves over me be clothed in shame and reproach. |
| 5 | John 18:2–3 | Now Judas His betrayer also knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with His disciples. So Judas brought a band of soldiers and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees. They arrived at the garden carrying lanterns, torches, and weapons. |
| 6 | Isaiah 10:15 | Does an axe raise itself above the one who swings it? Does a saw boast over him who saws with it? It would be like a rod waving the one who lifts it, or a staff lifting him who is not wood! |
| 7 | Psalms 38:16 | For I said, “Let them not gloat over me— those who taunt me when my foot slips.” |
Psalms 55:12 Summary
Psalms 55:12 is talking about the pain of being hurt by someone we trust. The psalmist is saying that it's easier to deal with an enemy who is openly against us than with a friend who betrays us. This is because we expect enemies to be hostile, but friends are supposed to be kind and supportive. The psalmist is reminding us that even in the midst of pain, we can turn to God for comfort and strength, just like it says in Psalms 34:18 that God is near to the brokenhearted. We can also learn from Jesus, who was betrayed by one of His closest friends, Judas, and yet He still chose to forgive and love (Matthew 26:47-50).
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of pain is the psalmist experiencing in Psalms 55:12?
The psalmist is experiencing the pain of betrayal from someone they trusted, which is a deeper hurt than an attack from an enemy, as seen in Jeremiah 9:4-5 where it is written that even friends and family can be deceitful.
Why does the psalmist say they could endure an enemy but not a friend who insults them?
The psalmist could endure an enemy because they expect enemies to act with hostility, but a friend's betrayal cuts deeper because it is unexpected and comes from someone they trusted, much like the pain experienced by Jesus in Matthew 26:47-50 when Judas betrayed Him.
How does this verse relate to our relationships with others?
This verse reminds us that our closest relationships can sometimes be the source of our deepest pain, and it is essential to cultivate strong, honest relationships, as encouraged in Ephesians 4:32, where we are called to be kind and compassionate towards one another.
What can we learn from the psalmist's response to betrayal?
We can learn that even in the midst of pain and betrayal, we can turn to God for comfort and strength, just as the psalmist does in Psalms 55:22, where he writes that God will sustain him and never let the righteous be shaken.
Reflection Questions
- What are some times in your life when you felt deeply hurt by someone you trusted, and how did you respond to that pain?
- How can you cultivate stronger, more honest relationships in your life to avoid the pain of betrayal?
- What are some ways you can turn to God for comfort and strength when you are experiencing pain or betrayal, and what Bible verses can you meditate on for encouragement?
- How can you extend kindness and compassion to someone who has hurt you, just as God extends kindness and compassion to us?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 55:12
For [it was] not an enemy [that] reproached me,.... An open and avowed one; a Moabite or a Philistine; such an one as Goliath, who cursed him by his gods; but one of his own country, city, court, and
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 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: For.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 55:12
Not an enemy; either, 1. Not an open and professed enemy; or rather, 2. Not an old and inveterate enemy, as may be gathered from the following description. I could have borne it with more patience, because I could expect nothing else from such persons. Hated me with a manifest or old hatred. I would have hid myself from him; I could and should easily have prevented or avoided the effects of his hatred.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 55:12
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:Ver. 12. For it was not an enemy that reproached me] Ahithophel’ s perfidy and villany troubled David more than all the rest; there not being any wound worse, as Sophocies saith, than the treachery of a friend, ουδενμειζονελκοςηφιλοςαδικων; he being such a kind of enemy, quem neque fugere, neque fugare possumus, as Bernard hath it, whom we cannot easily prevent. See Psalms 41:9. Then I could have borne it] Though as a burden; but nothing so grievous; I should not have much mattered it.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 55:12
(12) For.—The ellipse must be supplied from Psalms 55:9, I invoke destruction for, &c Then I could . . .—Better, then (or else) I might bear it.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 55:12
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.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 55:12
9–15. The plaintive pleading of the opening verses suddenly gives way to a fierce outburst of indignation.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 55:12
For it was not an enemy that reproached me - The word “reproached” here refers to slander; calumny; abuse. It is not necessarily implied that it was in his presence, but he was apprized of it.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 55:12
12. For… not an enemy— “For” indicates the reason of the imprecation, Psalms 55:9.
Sermons on Psalms 55:12
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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(How to Understand the Kjv Bible) 38 Psalm 55 by Keith Simons | Keith Simons explores Psalm 55, reflecting on the betrayal of King David by his trusted advisor Ahithophel, paralleling it with Judas Iscariot's betrayal of Jesus. The psalm expres |
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A Christian on Earth, Still in Heaven by Thomas Watson | Thomas Watson preaches about the spiritual paradise found in the Scriptures, particularly in the book of Psalms, which offers both delight and usefulness to every Christian. He hig |
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Ii Samuel 17:23 by Chuck Smith | Chuck Smith discusses the tragic story of Ahithophel, a once-trusted advisor to King David who became a poor loser after aligning himself with Absalom. Despite his wisdom, Ahithoph |
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Gleanings From the Garden - Part 1 by Art Katz | In this sermon, the speaker shares a personal experience of engaging in conversations with students at a university. The speaker emphasizes the importance of engaging in discussion |
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Christ Is All - in Scripture by Bill McLeod | In this sermon, the speaker begins by referencing Mark 16 and Luke 1 from the Bible. He highlights how Jesus reproached his disciples for their lack of belief in his resurrection a |
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(John) the Lord Exposing Judas by Willie Mullan | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the passage from the Gospel of John, specifically chapter 13, where Jesus is in the upper room with his disciples during the Passover supper |
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Surprises at the Birth of Christ by William MacDonald | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the possibility of the preaching of the word of God happening today. He emphasizes that for this to occur, a person must genuinely desire to |