David, who lived from around 1010 to 970 BC, composed Psalm 55 in a time of deep turmoil. Although the psalm does not specify a particular incident in his life, it depicts his betrayal at the hands of a close companion. In Psalm 55:21 David observes and laments the cunning smoothness of deceptive words:
“His speech was smoother than butter, but his heart was war;
His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.” (v.21)
The verse begins with David portraying the treacherous individual’s silky speech when he says, “His speech was smoother than butter…” (v.21). This illustration highlights how outwardly kind and gentle the betrayer’s words were. In the cultural context of Israel, words carried strong relational weight, so taking a friend at his word was usually a sign of trust. But although such speech might give the impression of warmth, David states that the true motive beneath the surface was war—a hidden aggression ready to strike. This sharp juxtaposition between outward appearance and inner intention resonates with Jesus’s warning about inwardly ravenous wolves coming in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15).
David continues with a similar contrast, “His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords” (v.21). In the ancient world, oil was known for its comforting and soothing properties, implying that these smooth conversations produced no immediate alarm. Nonetheless, they concealed the dangerous reality of swords that were ready to wound. King David came to experience many forms of betrayal in his lifetime, from King Saul’s jealous pursuit (1 Samuel 18:10-11) to the rebellion of David’s own son Absalom (2 Samuel 15-18). In each case, his psalms testify that circumstances could look peaceful on the surface while harboring havoc underneath—an insight that remains relevant.
Betrayal is painful because it stems from an intimate relationship, yet this verse also foreshadows the greater betrayal Judas would carry out against Jesus centuries later. Jesus Himself speaks of the hypocrisy of false appearances when He warns His disciples about hearts filled with iniquity behind pious language or action (Matthew 23:27-28). The consolation for believers in any age is that God sees the heart’s motives and is a perfect judge (Hebrews 4:13).
This verse teaches us how to recognize that all outwardly charming words are not necessarily trustworthy, urging us to place our faith in God and not merely in smooth talk.
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Psalms 55:21 meaning
David, who lived from around 1010 to 970 BC, composed Psalm 55 in a time of deep turmoil. Although the psalm does not specify a particular incident in his life, it depicts his betrayal at the hands of a close companion. In Psalm 55:21 David observes and laments the cunning smoothness of deceptive words:
“His speech was smoother than butter, but his heart was war;
His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.” (v.21)
The verse begins with David portraying the treacherous individual’s silky speech when he says, “His speech was smoother than butter…” (v.21). This illustration highlights how outwardly kind and gentle the betrayer’s words were. In the cultural context of Israel, words carried strong relational weight, so taking a friend at his word was usually a sign of trust. But although such speech might give the impression of warmth, David states that the true motive beneath the surface was war—a hidden aggression ready to strike. This sharp juxtaposition between outward appearance and inner intention resonates with Jesus’s warning about inwardly ravenous wolves coming in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15).
David continues with a similar contrast, “His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords” (v.21). In the ancient world, oil was known for its comforting and soothing properties, implying that these smooth conversations produced no immediate alarm. Nonetheless, they concealed the dangerous reality of swords that were ready to wound. King David came to experience many forms of betrayal in his lifetime, from King Saul’s jealous pursuit (1 Samuel 18:10-11) to the rebellion of David’s own son Absalom (2 Samuel 15-18). In each case, his psalms testify that circumstances could look peaceful on the surface while harboring havoc underneath—an insight that remains relevant.
Betrayal is painful because it stems from an intimate relationship, yet this verse also foreshadows the greater betrayal Judas would carry out against Jesus centuries later. Jesus Himself speaks of the hypocrisy of false appearances when He warns His disciples about hearts filled with iniquity behind pious language or action (Matthew 23:27-28). The consolation for believers in any age is that God sees the heart’s motives and is a perfect judge (Hebrews 4:13).
This verse teaches us how to recognize that all outwardly charming words are not necessarily trustworthy, urging us to place our faith in God and not merely in smooth talk.