Psalms 55:20 Meaning: The Betrayer Who Violated His Covenant
He raises his hands against his friends. He has violated his covenant.
He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.
He hath put forth his hands against such as were at peace with him: He hath profaned his covenant.
He hath sent forth his hands against his well-wishers, He hath polluted his covenant.
He hath put forth his hands against such as are at peace with him; he hath profaned his covenant.
Meaning in one sentence
Psalm 55:20 describes a friend who attacks his companion and breaks covenant, pointing to Ahithophel's betrayal of David.
Context
Psalm 55 is a lament from David, written during a time of deep personal crisis. Many scholars tie it to Absalom's rebellion, when David's own son tried to steal the throne. The pain cuts deeper because the conspiracy was led by Ahithophel, David's most trusted counselor. In this chapter, David swings between raw distress and steady confidence in God. Verse 20 appears in the middle of describing the treachery of this close friend. It lays bare what betrayal feels like when someone you trusted turns against you and breaks every promise.
Key Words
When the psalmist says the friend 'raises his hands against' him, the Hebrew behind this phrase suggests a violent, forceful move. The same idiom is used in places like 1 Samuel 24:10, where David refuses to stretch out his hand against Saul. Here it is the opposite: the trusted counselor reaches out to strike. The word translated 'friends' is literally 'those at peace with him', people with whom he shared a covenant of peace. And that peace was shattered. The verb for 'violated' carries the sense of treating something holy as common or profane. The Cambridge Bible notes that he 'desecrated the sacred obligations of friendship.' This betrayal was not just a disagreement; it was the breaking of a sacred trust, a covenant meant to be holy. The wound is not merely personal, it is spiritual.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have long seen in this verse the figure of Ahithophel, David's counselor who turned traitor. Methodist commentator Adam Clarke names him directly, calling his act a betrayal of king and covenant. Reformed theologian John Calvin emphasizes the breach of faith and points to the hypocrisy of smooth words covering war. Protestant scholars like Albert Barnes and John Gill agree, while the Anglican Cambridge Bible highlights that such treachery 'desecrated the sacred obligations of friendship.' Some traditions, including many Catholic and Orthodox readers, see a type of Judas in this verse, another trusted insider who betrayed with a kiss. The language of the verse is vivid enough to speak to any betrayal by a close friend, across all traditions. These interpretations do not conflict; they apply the same wound to different contexts, always recognizing that covenant-breaking is a deep sin.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think the 'He' in this verse refers to God, because the previous verse mentions God hearing and answering. But the context shows David is still speaking about the treacherous friend. Verse 21 makes this clear: 'His words were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart.' That is not a description of God. The sentence structure is abrupt because David is so consumed with the betrayal that he simply continues his thought from verses 12, 14 without naming the person again. The switch is emotional, not grammatical.
Living This Out
This verse speaks to anyone nursing the wound of a broken friendship. Perhaps a colleague undermined you. A family member shared a secret you told in confidence. A Christian friend you worshipped with turned on you. The psalmist does not tell you to 'get over it' or to 'forgive instantly without feeling the pain.' He names the violation: a covenant was profaned. That is honest. And then he does something remarkable: he takes it to God. In this same psalm, he says he prays evening, morning and noon and casts his burden on the Lord. Your task this week is not to fix the relationship or to pretend it did not hurt. It is to tell God exactly what was broken, and let Him sustain you.
Main takeaway: Betrayal by a trusted friend desecrates something sacred, but we can bring that brokenness to God who never breaks His covenant.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Sometimes a friend does something mean even after promising to be nice. That hurts, and it is okay to be sad. You can tell God about it, because He always keeps His promises and He cares when you are hurt.
For ages 9, 12
This verse is about a friend who broke a serious promise, a covenant. In the Bible, David's best advisor Ahithophel turned against him and helped David's son try to steal the kingdom. That kind of betrayal stings for a long time. But David did not stay silent. He told God exactly how he felt, and then he trusted God to take care of him. If someone breaks your trust, maybe a friend shares a secret or turns against you, you can do the same. Tell God the truth, and let Him carry the hurt.
Questions People Ask
Who is the betrayer in Psalm 55:20?
Most commentators identify the betrayer as Ahithophel, David's trusted counselor who joined Absalom's rebellion. David had taken sweet counsel with him and considered him a close friend.
What does 'violated his covenant' mean?
The original Hebrew word means to profane or treat as unholy. The covenant here is the sacred bond of friendship. Violating it means breaking the trust and treating it as if it meant nothing.
Is Psalm 55:20 about Judas Iscariot?
Many Christians see a parallel between Ahithophel and Judas, because both were trusted insiders who betrayed their master. The verse is historically about Ahithophel, but its description of covenant treachery also foreshadows Judas' betrayal of Jesus.
How can this verse help someone who has been betrayed?
The verse names the pain honestly, a friend raised his hand, a covenant was broken. It does not minimize the hurt. And the surrounding psalm shows David taking that pain to God in prayer, which is a pattern for anyone who has been hurt by a trusted friend.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study