Psalms 41:9

9 Even my 1close friend in whom I trusted, who 2ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.

Psalms 41:9 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 41:9

Yea, mine own familiar friend
Or, "the man of my peace" {z}; who did live peaceably with him, and ought always to have done so; whom he treated as his friend, as the rest of the apostles; calling him to that high office, and ordaining him to it, and qualifying him for it; and whom he called by the name of friend, when he came to betray him; Judas is meant;

in whom I trusted;
with the bag and the money in it, both for the sustenance of his own family, the apostles, and for the relief of the poor, ( John 12:6 ) ( 13:29 ) ;

which did eat of my bread;
of his bread in common with the rest of the apostles; and who was eating with him when he gave the sign who should betray him; and who seems to have eaten of the bread in the Lord's supper: even this same person

hath lifted up his heel against me;
by supplanting him, dealing hypocritically with him, and betraying him into the hands of his enemies: the metaphor is either taken from an unruly horse throwing his rider, and then ungenerously spurning at him, and trampling on him; or from wrestlers, who seek to supplant and trip up each other's heels; which shows the ingratitude, baseness, and treachery of Judas; see ( John 13:18 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F26 (ymwlv vya) "vir pacis meae", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, Cocceius, Gejerus, Michaelis.

Psalms 41:9 In-Context

7 All who hate me whisper together about me; they imagine the worst for me.
8 They say, "A deadly thing is poured out on him; he will not rise again from where he lies."
9 Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.
10 But you, O LORD, be gracious to me, and raise me up, that I may repay them!
11 By this I know that you delight in me: my enemy will not shout in triumph over me.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Ps. 55:12, 13, 20; Job 19:13, 14, 19; Jeremiah 9:4; Jeremiah 20:10; Micah 7:5; [2 Samuel 15:12]
  • 2. Cited John 13:18
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.