The Bible knows the pain of betrayal: "it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance" (Psalm 55:13). Jesus Himself was betrayed with a kiss (Luke 22:48). God's answer is a safe place to put our trust: "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man" (Psalm 118:8).
Betrayal cuts deeper than other wounds because it comes from someone close: a friend who shared your secret, a spouse who was unfaithful, a family member, a business partner or a church. These twelve King James verses name that pain honestly, show that Jesus was betrayed too, and offer a path toward healing without pretending it is quick. Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday, February 10, 2027, is a natural time to read them alongside the story of Judas and Peter. For the hard work of forgiving, see forgiveness; for repairing what can be repaired, see a broken relationship.
When someone you trusted betrays you
1. Psalms 41:9
"Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me."
David's own close friend, who ate at his table, turned against him. Jesus applied this verse to Judas at the Last Supper (John 13:18). Sharing bread made the betrayal worse.
2. Psalms 55:12-14
"For 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: But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company."
An enemy's insult can be borne, David says, but this was a close friend who walked with him to the house of God. Betrayal by someone who shared your faith is especially painful, and Scripture gives you words to say so.
3. Proverbs 25:19
"Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint."
Trusting an unfaithful person in a crisis is like biting on a broken tooth or walking on a foot out of joint. It hurts exactly when you need support. The proverb is honest that some people are not safe to lean on.
4. Genesis 37:28
"Then 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."
Joseph's own brothers sold him for twenty pieces of silver. Years later he could say God meant it for good (Genesis 50:20), but the road from the pit to forgiveness took more than twenty years.
Jesus was betrayed too
5. John 13:21
"When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me."
Jesus was troubled in spirit when He said one of His friends would betray Him. Feeling deep pain at betrayal is not a lack of faith; Jesus felt it too.
6. Luke 22:48
"But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?"
Judas used a kiss, a sign of friendship, as the signal for Jesus' arrest. Jesus named the betrayal plainly. Telling the truth about what happened is part of healing. See Good Friday.
7. Matthew 26:50
"And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him."
Jesus still called Judas friend in the garden. He did not return evil for evil, even as He was taken. His calm came from trusting His Father's plan (Matthew 26:53-54).
8. Luke 22:62
"And Peter went out, and wept bitterly."
Peter denied Jesus three times, then went out and wept bitterly. After the resurrection Jesus restored him (John 21:15-17). Not every betrayal is final; some end in repentance and restoration. See restoration.
Healing after betrayal
9. Psalms 31:14
"But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God."
After describing friends who fled from him (Psalm 31:11), David turns to God and trusts Him. When people fail you, God remains trustworthy.
10. Psalms 118:8
"It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man."
People will sometimes let us down, even good people. Our deepest confidence belongs to the LORD, who never betrays. That frees us to trust people again, wisely, without making anyone our savior.
11. Psalms 56:4
"In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me."
David wrote this psalm when the Philistines seized him in Gath (see the psalm's title). He would not fear what flesh could do to him. Betrayal can make us afraid of people; God's word gives courage again.
12. 1 Peter 2:23
"Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:"
When Jesus was insulted, He did not insult back, but committed Himself to God, who judges righteously. You do not have to get even; you can hand the case to God, who sees everything. See revenge.
A short prayer
Lord Jesus, You know what it is to be betrayed by a friend. You see my hurt, my anger and my fear. I put my trust in You, not in people. Heal my heart, guard me from bitterness, and give me wisdom about whom to trust. I commit this to You, who judge righteously. Where repentance and repair are possible, make a way. Amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
New to this method? See our Bible study guide or pick a Bible reading plan.
Download our free SOAP study page · Bring your hurt to God daily with the 30-Day Prayer Journal · Get the SOAP Bible Study Journal
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about betrayal by a friend?
It says the pain is real: "mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted ... hath lifted up his heel against me" (Psalm 41:9). It also says vengeance belongs to God (Romans 12:19), that we are to forgive (Colossians 3:13), and that wisdom is needed: forgiving someone does not mean trusting them again right away. See friendship.
How do I forgive someone who betrayed me?
Forgiveness is a decision to release the debt to God, often repeated as the hurt resurfaces. It does not mean pretending, excusing or reconciling immediately. Pray for the person (Matthew 5:44), tell God the truth about your pain as David does in Psalm 55, and get help from a pastor or counselor. See forgiveness.
What does the Bible say about betrayal in marriage?
God takes unfaithfulness seriously and calls it dealing treacherously (Malachi 2:14). Healing after an affair is possible, but it takes honesty, repentance and time, and a pastor or licensed counselor can help. If betrayal comes with threats or abuse, your safety comes first. See marriage problems.
Who betrayed Jesus and why?
Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, agreed to hand Jesus over for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:15). Scripture mentions his love of money (John 12:6) and says Satan entered into him (Luke 22:3). Jesus was not surprised; He knew, and He still washed Judas' feet (John 13:5, 11). See Lent.
If betrayal has left you unable to sleep, eat or function, or you have thoughts of harming yourself, please talk to a pastor, doctor or licensed counselor. In the US you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If someone is threatening or hurting you, in the US, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or call 911 if you are in immediate danger.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: Bible verses about forgiveness · Bible verses about a broken relationship · Bible verses about revenge · Bible verses about friendship · Bible verses for Good Friday · Bible verses for Lent · Bible verses about marriage problems
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