Psalms 31:11Because of all my adversaries I have become utterly contemptible to my neighbors, A fear to my acquaintances. Those who saw me on the street fled from me.
The setting
Judean wilderness, ~1000 BC. David hiding in caves while King Saul hunts him. Former palace friends now cross the street to avoid him in Jerusalem's markets.
The emotion here: devastated by betrayal but clinging to God's faithfulness
The original word
māʾôs (מָאוֹס) — utterly despised, abhorred like something disgusting
Why it matters
Ancient Near Eastern culture viewed royal disfavor as contagious—associating with outcasts could doom your own family
Read with care
What most readers miss in Psalms 31:11
This isn't metaphor—people literally RAN when they saw David coming
Common misconceptionPeople think this is about depression, but David is describing real political persecution. His 'neighbors' weren't being mean—they were protecting their families from Saul's wrath.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Psalms 31:11
Bible Genome reading
Psalms 31:11 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Psalms 31:11 comes from the book of Psalms, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to David. The dominant emotion in this verse is lonely, with a comfort power of 80% and a tone that is lamenting. It belongs to the psalm genre of biblical literature. Key themes include rejection, isolation, social shame. Notable phrases: contemptible to my neighbors; fear to my acquaintances; fled from me. This verse is a prayer.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same lonely
“At the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which is, being interpreted, "My God, my God, why h…”
— Mark 15:34
“Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own relatives, and in his own house."”
— Mark 6:4
“About the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lima sabachthani?" That is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me…”
— Matthew 27:46
“Yahweh God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him."”
— Genesis 2:18
“I am a brother to jackals, and a companion to ostriches.”
— Job 30:29
Your reflection
What does Psalms 31:11 mean to you, today?
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