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Selected Verse: Psalms 55:20 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ps 55:20	Strong Concordance	He hath put forth [07971] his hands [03027] against such as be at peace [07965] with him: he hath broken [02490] his covenant [01285].
	King James	He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
The treachery is aggravated by hypocrisy. The changes of number, Psa 55:15, Psa 55:23, and here, enliven the picture, and imply that the chief traitor and his accomplices are in view together.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

The treachery is aggravated by hypocrisy. The changes of number, Psa 55:15, Psa 55:23, and here, enliven the picture, and imply that the chief traitor and his accomplices are in view together.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him - Against those who were his friends, or who had given him no occasion for war. The Septuagint and Vulgate render this, "He hath put forth his hands in recompensing;" that is, in taking vengeance. The Hebrew would bear this construction, but the more correct rendering is that in our common version. The "connection" here would seem to indicate that this is to be referred to God, as God is mentioned in the previous verse. But evidently the design is to refer to the enemies, or the principal enemy of the psalmist - the man whom he had particularly in his eye in the composition of the psalm; and the language is that of one who was "full" of the subject - who was thinking of one thing - and who did not deem it necessary to specify by name the man who had injured him, and whose conduct had so deeply pained him. He, therefore, begins the verse, "He hath put forth his hands," etc.; showing that his mind was fixed on the base conduct of his enemy. The language is such as leads us to suppose that the psalmist had Ahithophel in view, as being eminently the man that had in this cruel and unexpected manner put forth his hands against one who was his friend, and who had always treated him with confidence. He hath broken his covenant - He, Ahithophel. The margin, as the Hebrew, is, "He hath profaned." The idea is, that he had defiled, or polluted it; or he had treated it as a vile thing - a thing to be regarded with contempt and aversion, as a polluted object is. The "covenant" here referred to, according to the views expressed above, may be supposed to refer to the compact or agreement of Ahithophel with David as an officer of his realm - as an adviser and counselor - that he would be faithful to the interests of the king and to his cause. All this he had disregarded, and had treated as if it were a worthless thing, by identifying himself with Absalom in his rebellion. See Sa2 15:12, Sa2 15:31.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him - Against those who were his friends, or who had given him no occasion for war. The Septuagint and Vulgate render this, "He hath put forth his hands in recompensing;" that is, in taking vengeance. The Hebrew would bear this construction, but the more correct rendering is that in our common version. The "connection" here would seem to indicate that this is to be referred to God, as God is mentioned in the previous verse. But evidently the design is to refer to the enemies, or the principal enemy of the psalmist - the man whom he had particularly in his eye in the composition of the psalm; and the language is that of one who was "full" of the subject - who was thinking of one thing - and who did not deem it necessary to specify by name the man who had injured him, and whose conduct had so deeply pained him. He, therefore, begins the verse, "He hath put forth his hands," etc.; showing that his mind was fixed on the base conduct of his enemy. The language is such as leads us to suppose that the psalmist had Ahithophel in view, as being eminently the man that had in this cruel and unexpected manner put forth his hands against one who was his friend, and who had always treated him with confidence.

He hath broken his covenant - He, Ahithophel. The margin, as the Hebrew, is, "He hath profaned." The idea is, that he had defiled, or polluted it; or he had treated it as a vile thing - a thing to be regarded with contempt and aversion, as a polluted object is. The "covenant" here referred to, according to the views expressed above, may be supposed to refer to the compact or agreement of Ahithophel with David as an officer of his realm - as an adviser and counselor - that he would be faithful to the interests of the king and to his cause. All this he had disregarded, and had treated as if it were a worthless thing, by identifying himself with Absalom in his rebellion. See Sa2 15:12, Sa2 15:31.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
He - They, the persons last mentioned.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
He hath put forth his hands - A farther description of Ahithophel. He betrayed his friends, and he broke his covenant with his king. He had agreed to serve David for his own emolument, and a stipulation was made accordingly; but while receiving the king's pay, he was endeavoring to subvert the kingdom, and destroy the life of his sovereign.

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²³ But thou, O God [0430], shalt bring them down [03381] into the pit [0875] of destruction [07845]: bloody [01818] and deceitful [04820] men [0582] shall not live out half [02673] their days [03117]; but I will trust [0982] in thee.

¹⁵ Let death [04194] seize [05377] [03451] upon them, and let them go down [03381] quick [02416] into hell [07585]: for wickedness [07451] is in their dwellings [04033], and among [07130] them.

³¹ And one told [05046] David [01732], saying [0559], Ahithophel [0302] is among the conspirators [07194] with Absalom [053]. And David [01732] said [0559], O LORD [03068], I pray thee, turn the counsel [06098] of Ahithophel [0302] into foolishness [05528].

¹² And Absalom [053] sent [07971] for Ahithophel [0302] the Gilonite [01526], David's [01732] counsellor [03289], from his city [05892], even from Giloh [01542], while he offered [02076] sacrifices [02077]. And the conspiracy [07195] was strong [0533]; for the people [05971] increased [07227] continually [01980] with Absalom [053].