תהלים, פרק ל״א, פסוק י״ב

A person's darkest moments of suffering often bring a crushing sense of isolation, stripping away every layer of social support. The psalmist finds himself at a deep physical and social rock bottom, where his intense pain alienates everyone, from his bitterest foes to his closest loved ones.

Driven by relentless persecution, he is reduced to an object of deep shame, mockery, and insult [רש״י, רד״ק, שטיינזלץ, מאירי]. The toll of his sorrow and illness is so severe that his physical appearance has drastically changed, making him look despised and repulsive even in the eyes of the very people hunting him [אלשיך].

This disgrace cuts even deeper within his immediate community. His neighbors, who are not strangers but his own people, view him with contempt [רד״ק]. Because they live nearby and witness his downfall and the actions of his enemies firsthand, the humiliation he experiences in their presence is especially intense [אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד].

Moving to the most intimate circle of friends, relatives, and acquaintances [מצודת ציון, שטיינזלץ], the reaction shifts from mockery to fear. The primary approach among commentators is that these loved ones are terrified for his safety, watching his strength fade and constantly worrying that he might be killed by his persecutors at any moment [רד״ק, מאירי, שטיינזלץ]. Others suggest a more self-centered fear, where his friends worry that his tragic fate might soon strike them as well [מצודת דוד]. A third perspective points to his ruined, sickly appearance, which shocks and frightens those who remember the glory he once possessed [אלשיך].

This profound alienation reaches its peak out in the public streets. When people see him outside, they actively recoil and walk away. Some explain this as a natural human reaction to avoid the sight of someone so miserable, sick, and difficult to look at [אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד, שטיינזלץ]. Others note that his acquaintances intentionally distance themselves, trembling at his current state and completely giving up any hope that he will survive [רד״ק, מאירי].