Betrayal

Betrayal is the breaking of trust by a friend, companion or kin. Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, David lamented betrayal by his own familiar friend, and God remains faithful when others forsake.

Betrayed by a close friend

• Psalm 41:9
  Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.Even my close friend whom I trusted, the one who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.
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• Psalm 55:12-14
  ¹²For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:For it is not an enemy who insults me; that I could endure. It is not a foe who rises against me; from him I could hide. ¹³But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.But it is you, a man like myself, my companion and close friend. ¹⁴We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.We shared sweet fellowship together; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.
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• Psalm 55:20-21
  ²⁰He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant. ²¹The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed.
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• Proverbs 25:19
  Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.Like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.
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Judas betrays Jesus

• Matthew 26:14-16
  ¹⁴Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,Then one of the Twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests ¹⁵And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?” And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver. ¹⁶And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.So from then on Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus.
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• Matthew 26:47-50
  ⁴⁷And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and elders of the people. ⁴⁸Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The One I kiss is the man; arrest Him.” ⁴⁹And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.Going directly to Jesus, he said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. ⁵⁰And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.“Friend,” Jesus replied, “do what you came for.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus, and arrested Him.
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• Luke 22:47-48
  ⁴⁷And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.While He was still speaking, a crowd arrived, led by the man called Judas, one of the Twelve. He approached Jesus to kiss Him. ⁴⁸But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?But Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
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• Matthew 27:3-5
  ³Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,When Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was filled with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. ⁴Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.“I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.” ⁵And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.So Judas threw the silver into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
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Betrayal within families

• Genesis 37:26-28
  ²⁶And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? ²⁷Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay a hand on him; for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And they agreed. ²⁸Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.So when the Midianite traders passed by, his brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.
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• Micah 7:5-7
  ⁵Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.Do not rely on a friend; do not trust in a companion. Seal the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your arms. ⁶For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own house.For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies are the members of his own household. ⁷Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.
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• Luke 21:16
  And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death.
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God remains faithful

• Psalm 27:10
  When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.
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• 2 Timothy 4:16-17
  ¹⁶At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.At my first defense, no one stood with me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be charged against them. ¹⁷Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles would hear it. So I was delivered from the mouth of the lion.
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• Hebrews 13:5
  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”
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• Genesis 50:20
  But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people.
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See also

• Friendship
• Forgiveness
• Enemies
• Revenge
• Faithfulness of God

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.