Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach, especially to my neighbors, and an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights how David's suffering estranged him from everyone, not just his enemies. The impact was most devastating on those closest to him – his neighbors and acquaintances – who not only shunned him but actively fled from his presence, fearing association would bring them harm.
Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach, especially to my neighbors, and an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
David is deep in distress, feeling utterly forsaken and vulnerable. He's not just facing enemies who scorn him, but his own community—friends and neighbors—now shun him as if he were cursed or diseased, making him a pariah to everyone he meets. This isolation amplifies his suffering, pushing him to lament his desperate state to God.
Have you ever felt like everyone is against you, even the people you thought were on your side? David describes a devastating social isolation that cuts deeper than any physical pain.
David feels like a 'reproach'—a source of shame and scorn. This isn't just about public opinion; it's about a profound loss of dignity and standing in the community.
Enemies' Scorn
His 'adversaries' openly mock him. They likely twist his circumstances to paint him as a failure, someone forsaken by God.
Neighbors' Disdain
What's worse, his 'neighbors' and 'acquaintances'—people who know him, who should be allies—join in. This betrayal by those closest is particularly sharp. They treat him with fear and disgust, avoiding him as if he were contagious.
A Public Fleeing
The image of people fleeing from him in the street is stark. It shows how deeply he has been ostracized. He's not just disliked; he's actively avoided, a pariah in his own community.
It's one thing to be mocked, but what happens when people are actually afraid of you? David's situation isn't just about shame; it's about generating terror.
The verse reveals a chilling dynamic: David is not only a 'reproach' but also an 'object of dread' to his acquaintances.
The Power of Fear
Ask a follow-up
His enemies have successfully manipulated public perception. People fear associating with him because they believe it could bring them danger, ruin, or divine disfavor. It’s a sophisticated form of social control and persecution.
Self-Preservation
Their fleeing is a act of self-preservation. They distance themselves not necessarily out of malice, but out of a deep-seated fear of contagion—not physical, but social or spiritual. Being seen with David could make them targets.
A Warning to the Reader
This illustrates how fear can isolate individuals and fracture communities. It's a powerful tool used to ostracize and silence those deemed problematic or dangerous, even when they've done nothing wrong.
Understand the original words
tsarar · Hebrew Noun
A general term for those who oppose, hate, or act with hostility toward another. In a biblical context, it often refers to those who oppose the righteous or God Himself.
cherpah · Hebrew Noun
A state of shame, disgrace, or public dishonor, often resulting from the judgment or contempt of others. It implies a loss of standing or reputation.
pachad · Hebrew Noun
A profound feeling of fear, awe, or terror. In this context, it describes the emotional reaction others have toward the psalmist's suffering, viewing him as cursed or untouchable.
This psalm vividly captures the experience of being an outcast, driven into hiding by powerful enemies and rejected even by friends. It reflects the intense persecution David faced from King Saul and his court, leading to widespread fear and social isolation.
c. 1020-1010 BC
David Anointed King
Samuel secretly anoints David, the youngest son of Jesse, as the future king of Israel, foreshadowing his eventual rise to power but also his conflict with the reigning King Saul.
c. 1010-1000 BC— this verse
Saul Pursues David
King Saul becomes intensely jealous of David's popularity and military successes, perceiving him as a threat. Saul repeatedly attempts to kill David, forcing him to flee and live as a fugitive.
c. 1005 BC
David Flees to Philistia
In great desperation, David seeks refuge in the Philistine territory, even feigning madness before Achish of Gath, to escape Saul's relentless pursuit.
c. 1000 BC
Death of Saul and Jonathan
Saul and his son Jonathan are killed in battle against the Philistines at Mount Gilboa. This event ends Saul's pursuit of David but plunges Israel into turmoil.
This passage mirrors the Psalmist's experience, describing the prophet Jeremiah being surrounded by 'terror' and accused by his own peers, showing a recurring theme of beloved servants of God becoming social outcasts.
Luke 6:22Jesus directly addresses the disciples about the potential for rejection and scorn they will face, aligning with the Psalmist's feeling of being a reproach and an object of dread.
John 15:18Jesus explains to His followers that the world will hate them if it hated Him first, providing a divine reason for why faithful individuals might experience the social ostracism David describes.
Job 19:13-19Job's lament strikingly parallels David's, detailing how his own family and closest friends have turned against him, leaving him feeling utterly alone and despised by those nearest to him.
calvinPsalms 31:9-13: "Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly."
- Have mercy upon me, O Jehovah! for I am in trouble: mine eye, my soul, and my belly, are consumed by reason of anger. 10. For my life is wasted by reason of grief, and my years with groaning; my strength faileth in my sorrow, and my bones are consumed. 11. I was a reproach by reason of all mine enemies, yea, exceedingly to my neighbors, and a fear to my acquaintances…
cambridgePsalms 31:11: "I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me."
11 . Because of all mine adversaries I am become a reproach, Yea, unto my neighbours exceedingly. (R.V.) The original is as awkward as the translation, and we should probably connect because of all mine adversaries with the previous verse, and read, I am become a reproach unto my neighbours exceedingly : or else, with Lagarde, C…
The verse highlights how David's suffering estranged him from everyone, not just his enemies. The impact was most devastating on those closest to him – his neighbors and acquaintances – who not only shunned him but actively fled from his presence, fearing association would bring them harm.
David is deep in distress, feeling utterly forsaken and vulnerable. He's not just facing enemies who scorn him, but his own community—friends and neighbors—now shun him as if he were cursed or diseased, making him a pariah to everyone he meets. This isolation amplifies his suffering, pushing him to lament his desperate state to God.
David is deep in distress, feeling utterly forsaken and vulnerable. He's not just facing enemies who scorn him, but his own community—friends and neighbors—now shun him as if he were cursed or diseased, making him a pariah to everyone he meets. This isolation amplifies his suffering, pushing him to lament his desperate state to God.
"Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach, especially to my neighbors, and an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me." — The verse highlights how David's suffering estranged him from everyone, not just his enemies. The impact was most devastating on those closest to him – his neighbors and acquaintances – who not only…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026