Psalm 55:20-21

20 He^[a] acts violently against those at peace with him; he violates his covenant.

21 His buttery words are smooth,^[b] but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, but they are drawn swords.

Psalm 55:20-21 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil [A Psalm] of David. The occasion of this psalm was either the persecution of Saul, or the conspiracy of Absalom. Some think it was written when David understood that the inhabitants of Keilah would deliver him into the hands of Saul, 1 Samuel 23:12; and others when the Ziphites attempted a second time to do the same, 1 Samuel 26:1; but since a single person is spoken of that magnified himself against him, Psalm 55:12; and Ahithophel seems to be designed; it may be thought rather to be written on account of Absalom's rebellion, and Ahithophel's counsel against him; who is considered by many Christian interpreters as a type of Judas, the betrayer of our Lord; and, indeed, there are many things in this psalm, if not the whole, which may be truly applied to Christ, as will be seen in the following exposition of it.

Footnotes

• [a] The evil man
• [b] Other Hb mss, Sym, Syr, Tg, Jer read His speech is smoother than butter