Original Word: פְתִחָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: pthikhah
Pronunciation: peh-thee-KHAH
Phonetic Spelling: (peth-ee-khaw')
KJV: drawn sword
NASB: drawn swords
Word Origin: [from H6605 (פָּתַח - To open)]

1. something opened, i.e. a drawn sword

drawn sword

From pathach; something opened, i.e. A drawn sword -- drawn sword.

see HEBREW pathach

Word Origin
from pathach
Definition
a drawn sword
NASB Translation
drawn swords (1).

[מְּתִיחָה] noun [feminine] drawn sword; — plural מְּתִחוֺת Psalm 55:22 (figurative of words; compare Ezekiel 21:33; Psalm 37:14).

Canonical Occurrence

פְתִחָה (pethichah) appears once, in Psalm 55:21, where David laments betrayal by a trusted companion: “His speech is smooth as butter, but war lurks in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are unsheathed swords” (Berean Standard Bible). The noun pictures a sword already “opened,” that is, drawn from its scabbard and poised to strike.

Literary and Theological Context

Psalm 55 is a lament that moves from terror (verses 4-8) to indignation (verses 9-15) and finally to confidence in God (verses 16-23). Verse 21 stands at the emotional peak of the psalm’s betrayal theme, contrasting soothing words with lethal intent. Hebrew parallelism heightens the irony: butter/oil versus war/swords. פְתִחָה captures the moment duplicity becomes violence—deceit crosses the threshold into open hostility.

Imagery of the Unsheathed Sword

1. Military Readiness: An unsheathed blade in the ancient Near East signaled imminent combat (Numbers 22:23; Joshua 5:13). The vocabulary of “opening” conveys decisive, irreversible action.
2. Verbal Hypocrisy: Scripture repeatedly links sharp weapons to treacherous speech. “Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword” (Proverbs 12:18), and “Their tongues are deadly arrows” (Jeremiah 9:8). פְתִחָה turns the metaphor vivid—smooth conversation can morph without warning into a surgical strike.
3. Covenant Betrayal: David’s wounding by a confidant foreshadows greater covenant betrayal against the Son of David (cf. John 13:18). The psalmist’s plight anticipates the Messiah, whose betrayer’s kiss masked a murderous plot.

Moral and Pastoral Implications

• Guarded Speech: “Put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor” (Ephesians 4:25). Duplicity is not merely impolite; it is weaponized evil.
• Discernment: Believers must weigh words by observing consistent fruit (Matthew 7:16-20). A soothing tone does not guarantee a safe heart.
• Integrity in Leadership: Pastors and elders model transparency; hidden agendas fracture Christ’s body. “With the tongue we bless… and with it we curse” (James 3:9-10) must not describe church shepherds.
• Comfort for the Betrayed: Psalm 55 assures the wounded that God hears, judges, and sustains: “Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you” (Psalm 55:22).

Christological Connection

David’s experience mirrors Jesus’ own betrayal. Like David’s companion, Judas offered a sign of fellowship even as he handed the Redeemer to death. The drawn-sword imagery anticipates the nocturnal arrest in Gethsemane (Luke 22:52). In Christ the psalm is both experienced and fulfilled, guaranteeing deliverance for all who suffer treachery.

Applications for Worship and Ministry

• Corporate Liturgy: Psalm 55 may be read responsively to give voice to congregants processing betrayal or church conflict.
• Counseling: פְתִחָה reminds counselees that Scripture names and confronts verbal abuse—God is not silent about hidden violence cloaked in kind words.
• Evangelism: The verse exposes the heart’s deceit (Jeremiah 17:9), preparing listeners for the gospel’s diagnosis and cure.
• Homiletics: Preachers may pair Psalm 55:21 with Romans 16:18 (“by smooth talk and flattering words they deceive the hearts of the naive”) to warn against doctrinal predators.

Related Biblical Motifs

– Smooth but Deceptive Speech: Proverbs 5:3-4; Proverbs 26:24-26; Romans 16:18.

– Drawn or “Opened” Swords: Psalm 37:14; Ezekiel 21:3; Revelation 19:15 (the victorious Word opposed to deceitful words).

– Divine Response to Betrayal: Psalm 41:9; Zechariah 13:7; Acts 1:16-20.

Summary

פְתִחָה compresses the tragedy of hypocrisy into a single image: words as sheaths concealing steel. David’s lament warns every generation that sin often speaks softly before it strikes hard. Yet the same psalm affirms that the LORD, who knows the heart, rescues the upright and judges treachery. Believers therefore practice truthful speech, discern flattery, and entrust every betrayal to the God who vindicated His Son.

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