Psalms 55:3Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked. For they bring suffering on me. In anger they hold a grudge against me.
The setting
Jerusalem, ~1000 BC. King David hides in the palace, hearing reports of Absalom's rebellion and advisors turning against him...
The emotion here: betrayed and hunted by those closest to him
The original word
śônē' (שׂנא) — active hatred, not passive dislike but deliberate enmity
Why it matters
David likely wrote this during Absalom's rebellion when his own son tried to kill him
Read with care
What most readers miss in Psalms 55:3
The 'enemy' David fears most is probably his own son Absalom
Common misconceptionPeople think this is about random enemies, but David is likely writing about his son Absalom's rebellion - the deepest betrayal imaginable.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Psalms 55:3
Bible Genome reading
Psalms 55:3 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Psalms 55:3 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 anxious, with a comfort power of 70% and a tone that is lamenting. It belongs to the psalm genre of biblical literature. Key themes include persecution, enemies, suffering. Notable phrases: voice of the enemy; oppression of the wicked; hold a grudge. This verse is a prayer.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same anxious
“And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.”
— 2 Corinthians 11:14
“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
— 2 Timothy 3:12
“The evil spirit answered, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?"”
— Acts 19:15
“I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'”
— Acts 22:7
“When we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is har…”
— Acts 26:14
Your reflection
What does Psalms 55:3 mean to you, today?
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