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Psalm 55:13
But it was you, a man like me, my companion, and my familiar friend.
11Destructive forces are within her. Threats and lies don’t depart from her streets.
12For it was not an enemy who insulted me, then I could have endured it. Neither was it he who hated me who raised himself up against me, then I would have hidden myself from him.
13But it was you, a man like me, my companion, and my familiar friend.
14We took sweet fellowship together. We walked in God’s house with company.
15Let death come suddenly on them. Let them go down alive into Sheol. For wickedness is among them, in their dwelling.
Notice
“But it was you” marks the shock of harm from someone close, where the memory of companionship becomes part of the grief.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What changes in the lament when the speaker says, “But it was you”?
Write on thisWhat, if anything, makes “my familiar friend” hard for you to read today?
Write on thisConnect
Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Micah 7:5Micah warns against placing confidence in a friend; the psalm laments harm from someone known as a familiar friend.
Matthew 10:36A man’s foes will be those of his own household.Both texts locate hostility within close relationships: a familiar friend in the psalm, members of a household in Matthew.
Jeremiah 9:4“Everyone beware of his neighbor, and don’t trust in any brother; for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbor will go around like a slanderer.Jeremiah warns of treachery among brothers and neighbors; the psalm names the pain of harm from a companion.
2 Samuel 15:12Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. The conspiracy was strong, …David’s counselor appears in the account of Absalom’s conspiracy, echoing the psalm’s wounded companionship without establishing the unnamed friend’s identity.
Mark 14:44–45Now he who betrayed him had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I will kiss, that is he. Seize him, and lead him away safely.”Mark describes a kiss used as a sign of betrayal; the psalm names companionship in its lament over harm.
Luke 22:47–48While he was still speaking, a crowd appeared. He who was called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He came near to Jesus to kiss him.Judas approaches Jesus as one of the twelve while leading a crowd; the psalm likewise identifies trouble coming from someone close.
2 Samuel 16:23The counsel of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if a man inquired at the inner sanctuary of God. All the counsel of Ahithophel was like this …Ahithophel’s counsel carried great weight with David and Absalom; the psalm also concerns a valued relationship, though it names no counselor.
Psalm 41:9Yes, my own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, who ate bread with me, has lifted up his heel against me.Both psalms use “familiar friend” for someone whose closeness makes his hostility part of the lament.
Luke 22:21But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table.Jesus identifies his betrayer at the same table; the psalm identifies the person who hurt him as his companion.
1 Chronicles 27:33Ahithophel was the king’s counselor. Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend.Chronicles names the king’s counselor and friend; the psalm names companionship, though Chronicles says nothing here about betrayal.
John 19:13When Pilate therefore heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called “The Pavement”, but in Hebrew, “Gabbatha.”The connection is limited: John describes Pilate’s judgment seat, while the psalm addresses a familiar friend; no specific shared detail appears.
Matthew 26:47–50While he was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and elders of …Matthew identifies Judas as one of the twelve arriving with an armed crowd; the psalm names harm from a companion.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
If a friend has hurt you, there is room to name what that friendship meant before God. The psalm preserves the word “companion” within the lament.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).