Psalms 55:12–14
The pain of being betrayed by a close companion
Study it word by word12For it is not an enemy who reproaches me, or I could bear it; it is not one who hates me who has exalted himself against me, or I could hide from him;
13but you, a mortal of my own worth, my companion and my acquaintance,
14with whom together we made sweet intimate counsel; in the house of Elohim we walked with the throng.
In its context
10Day and night they go around it on its walls, and wickedness and suffering are within it.
11Calamities are within it; and oppression and deceit do not depart from its square.
…
15Let death come by surprise upon them; let them go down to Sheol alive, for evils are where they reside, within them.
16I will call to Elohim, and YHWH will save me.
Its words in the original
- אוֹיֵבoyev· enemy
Enemy, foe: one who hates and opposes another.
- יְחָרְפֵyecharfe· betrothed, reproach
In one form, said of a woman: betrothed, promised to a man. In other forms, taunt, insult; also spend the winter.
- אֶשָּׂאesa· lift, carry, bear
Lift up, carry, bear. "Bear sin" is to suffer its consequences; said of God, "taking away" sin is forgiving it. "Lift up the eyes" is to look.
- מְשַׂנְאִmesani· hate
Hate. In Hebrew it ranges from the hatred of an enemy to simply "loving less". "Those who hate you" are enemies.
- הִגְדִּילhigdil· grow up, become great
Grow up, become great; in the causative form, make great, magnify; also be proud.
- אֶסָּתֵרesater· hide
Hide, conceal; be hidden.
- אֱנוֹשׁenosh· man, mortal
Man, mortal: the human being seen in his weakness; also people in general.
- עֶרְכִּerki· arrangement, valuation
What is set in order: a row, an arranged set (of bread, of lamps), equipment. Also the value at which something is assessed.
- אַלּוּפִalufi· chief, friend
Chief of a clan, leader; also a close friend, a companion.
- מְיֻדָּעִmeyudai· know
Know. Not only having a fact: it is knowing by experience and closely; also recognize, care for, make known. So Hebrew also uses it for the intimate union of a man and his wife ("he knew his wife").
- יַחְדָּוyachdav· together
Together, at the same time.
- נַמְתִּיקnamtik· be sweet
Become sweet.
- סוֹדsod· council; secret
Council: a gathering of people who deliberate in confidence; also a secret plan, close friendship.
- בֵיתvet· house, household
House. Also the family that lives in it ("the house of Noah") and someone's descendants ("the house of David"); also a temple, "the house of God".
- אֱלֹהִיםelohim· Elohim, God, gods
The Hebrew word usually translated "God". This translation keeps "Elohim" when it speaks of the one true God, the Creator, the God of Israel. The word ends like a plural, but it does not mean several: for him the verb is singular ("Elohim created"); the plural form expresses greatness. The same word as a common noun names the "gods" of other peoples, and there it is a true plural, translated "gods". It is also used of mighty ones or judges.
- נְהַלֵּךְnehalech· go, walk
Go, walk, come. Figuratively, the way one lives ("walk with God").
- רָגֶשׁragesh· throng
A noisy crowd, a throng in movement.