The Meaning of Psalms 31:11 Explained

Psalms 31:11

KJV: 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.

YLT: Among all mine adversaries I have been a reproach, And to my neighbours exceedingly, And a fear to mine acquaintances, Those seeing me without -- fled from me.

Darby: More than to all mine oppressors, I am become exceedingly a reproach, even to my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that see me without flee from me.

ASV: Because of all mine adversaries I am become a reproach, Yea, unto my neighbors exceedingly, And a fear to mine acquaintance: They that did see me without fled from me.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Psalms 31:11 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 31:1-13 - A Cry Out Of Deep Trouble
Some have supposed that this psalm was written during the Sauline persecutions; but it is more likely that it dates from Absalom's rebellion. It alternates between the depths of despondency and the heights of sublime faith, and well befits those who walk in darkness and have no light, Isaiah 50:10.
It sounds as if the soul were on a wind-swept moor, with no shelter from the storm. All is dark and wild; and it dreads to be caught in the entangling net, Psalms 31:4. What a magnificent prayer is that of Psalms 31:5! It supplied their last words to Stephen, Polycarp, Bernard, Hus, Luther, Melanchthon-above all, to our Lord, Luke 23:46; Acts 7:59. The Psalter was our Lord's prayer book. This verse is a suitable petition also, as we go forth into the unknown day, 2 Timothy 1:12.
Sin, slander, neglect make the heart break; but God is all-sufficient. Hide in Him; that life is safe which is God-encompassed. "Hid with Christ in God!" Colossians 3:1-4. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 31

1  David, showing his confidence in God, craves his help
7  He rejoices in his mercy
9  He prays in his calamity
19  He praises God for his goodness

What do the individual words in Psalms 31:11 mean?

Among all my enemies I am a reproach but among my neighbors especially and [am] repulsive to my acquaintances Those who see me outside flee from me
מִכָּל־ צֹרְרַ֨י הָיִ֪יתִי חֶרְפָּ֡ה וְלִשֲׁכֵנַ֨י ׀ מְאֹד֮ וּפַ֪חַד לִֽמְיֻדָּ֫עָ֥י רֹאַ֥י בַּח֑וּץ נָדְד֥וּ מִמֶּֽנִּי

מִכָּל־  Among  all 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
צֹרְרַ֨י  my  enemies 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: צָרַר 
Sense: to bind, be narrow, be in distress, make narrow, cause distress, besiege, be straitened, be bound.
הָיִ֪יתִי  I  am 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
חֶרְפָּ֡ה  a  reproach 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: חֶרְפָּה  
Sense: reproach, scorn.
וְלִשֲׁכֵנַ֨י ׀  but  among  my  neighbors 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: שָׁכֵן  
Sense: inhabitant, neighbour.
מְאֹד֮  especially 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מְאֹד  
Sense: exceedingly, much subst.
וּפַ֪חַד  and  [am]  repulsive 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: פַּחַד  
Sense: terror, dread.
לִֽמְיֻדָּ֫עָ֥י  to  my  acquaintances 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Pual, Participle, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
רֹאַ֥י  Those  who  see  me 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
בַּח֑וּץ  outside 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: חוּץ  
Sense: outside, outward, street, the outside.
נָדְד֥וּ  flee 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: נָדַד  
Sense: to retreat, flee, depart, move, wander abroad, stray, flutter.
מִמֶּֽנִּי  from  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: מִן 
Sense: from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than.