John Calvin Commentary Psalms 31:11

"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." — Psalms 31:11 (ASV)

I was a reproach by reason of all mine enemies. Others translate this as follows: more than mine enemies. As the Hebrew letter מ, mem, is often used as a sign of comparison, they interpret this clause to mean that David’s friends and acquaintances reproached him more than all his enemies.

But, in my opinion, he intended to express a different idea: namely, that since he was everywhere hated, and his enemies had persuaded almost the whole realm to side with them against him, he had a bad reputation even among his friends and neighbors, just as popular opinion, like a violent tempest, usually carries all before it.

I suppose, therefore, that the Hebrew copula ו, vau, is used for amplification, to show that David was an object of detestation not only to strangers to whom he was formerly unknown but also to his principal friends.

He also adds that when they saw him abroad they fled from him. By the adverb abroad, he means to say that they did not think the miserable man worthy of a near approach to them. Indeed, they fled from the very sight of him, however great the distance, for fear that the contagion of his misery might reach them, and because they considered it would be injurious and disgraceful to them to show him any sign of friendship.