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Psalms 137
1By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down. Yes, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
2On the willows in its midst, we hung up our harps.
3For there, those who led us captive asked us for songs. Those who tormented us demanded songs of joy: "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!"
4How can we sing Yahweh's song in a foreign land?
5If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill.
6Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I don't remember you; if I don't prefer Jerusalem above my chief joy.
7Remember, Yahweh, against the children of Edom, the day of Jerusalem; who said, "Raze it! Raze it even to its foundation!"
8Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, he will be happy who rewards you, as you have served us.
9Happy shall he be, who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock. By David.
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Babylon: City of Prophecies Concerning Psalm 137:8, 9
O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, blessed is he who repays you as you have done to us. / Blessed is he who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks.
Babylon: Empire of Prophetic Denunciations Against Psalm 137:8, 9
O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, blessed is he who repays you as you have done to us. / Blessed is he who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks.
Babylon: Grief of the Jews In Psalm 137:1–6
By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. / There on the willows we hung our harps, / for there our captors requested a song; our tormentors demanded songs of joy: “Sing us a song of Zion.”
Babylon: Watered by the Rivers Euphrates and Tigris Psalm 137:1
By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.
Child Abuse Psalm 137:9
Blessed is he who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks.
Church: Love For Psalm 137:1–6
By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. / There on the willows we hung our harps, / for there our captors requested a song; our tormentors demanded songs of joy: “Sing us a song of Zion.”
Church: Loved by Believers Psalm 137:5
If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand cease to function.
Church: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Psalm 137:1–6
By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. / There on the willows we hung our harps, / for there our captors requested a song; our tormentors demanded songs of joy: “Sing us a song of Zion.”
Church: Zion Psalm 137:1
By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.
Cities: Built: Beside Rivers Psalm 137:1
By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.
Country: Love of Psalm 137:1–6
By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. / There on the willows we hung our harps, / for there our captors requested a song; our tormentors demanded songs of joy: “Sing us a song of Zion.”
Edomites: A Jewish Prophet in Babylon Denounces Psalm 137:7
Remember, O LORD, the sons of Edom on the day Jerusalem fell: “Destroy it,” they said, “tear it down to its foundations!”
Forgetting God: The People of God Psalm 137:5
If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand cease to function.
Harp: Hung on the Willows by the Captive Jews Psalm 137:2
There on the willows we hung our harps,
Jerusalem: Beloved Psalm 137:1–7
By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. / There on the willows we hung our harps, / for there our captors requested a song; our tormentors demanded songs of joy: “Sing us a song of Zion.”
Jerusalem: The Jews: Loved Psalm 137:5, 6
If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand cease to function. / May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not exalt Jerusalem as my greatest joy!
Music: Generally Put Aside in Times of Affliction Psalm 137:2–4
There on the willows we hung our harps, / for there our captors requested a song; our tormentors demanded songs of joy: “Sing us a song of Zion.” / How can we sing a song of the LORD in a foreign land?
Music: Instruments of Harp Psalm 137:2
There on the willows we hung our harps,
Music: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Psalm 137:1–6
By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. / There on the willows we hung our harps, / for there our captors requested a song; our tormentors demanded songs of joy: “Sing us a song of Zion.”
Patriotism: General Scriptures Concerning Psalm 137:1–6
By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. / There on the willows we hung our harps, / for there our captors requested a song; our tormentors demanded songs of joy: “Sing us a song of Zion.”
Prophecies Concerning Israel: Captivity of Patriotism of Psalm 137:1
By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.
Psalms: Afflictions Psalm 137:1
By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.
Rivers of Babylon Psalm 137:1
By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.
Rivers: Banks of Places of Common Resort Psalm 137:1
By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary
Historical, contextual, and verse-level study notes for deeper biblical exploration.
Psalms 137:1-9 This Psalm records the mourning of the captive Israelites,
and a prayer and prediction respecting the destruction of their enemies.
Psalms 137:1 Verse 1
rivers of Babylon--the name of the city used for the whole country. remembered Zion--or, Jerusalem, as in Ps 132:13.
Psalms 137:2 Verse 2
upon the willows--which may have grown there then, if not now; as the palm, which was once common, is now rare in Palestine.
Psalms 137:3-4 Verses 3-4
Whether the request was in curiosity or derision, the answer intimates that a compliance was incongruous with their mournful feelings (Pr 25:20).
Psalms 137:5-6 Verses 5-6
For joyful songs would imply forgetfulness of their desolated homes and fallen Church. The solemn imprecations on the hand and tongue, if thus forgetful, relate to the cunning or skill in playing, and the power of singing. 7-9. Remember ... the children of Edom--(Compare Ps 132:1), that is, to punish. the day of Jerusalem--its downfall (La 4:21, 22; Ob 11-13).
Psalms 137:8 Verse 8
daughter of Babylon--the people (Ps 9:13). Their destruction had been abundantly foretold (Isa 13:14; Jer 51:23). For the terribleness of that destruction, God's righteous judgment, and not the passions of the chafed Israelites, was responsible. PSALM 138
Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
Pastoral and devotional reflections focused on spiritual formation and application.
Psalms 137:1-4 Verses 1-4
Their enemies had carried the Jews captive from their own land. To complete their woes, they insulted over them; they required of them mirth and a song. This was very barbarous; also profane, for no songs would serve but the songs of Zion. Scoffers are not to be compiled with. They do not say, How shall we sing, when we are so much in sorrow? but, It is the Lord's song, therefore we dare not sing it among idolaters.
Psalms 137:5-9 Verses 5-9
What we love, we love to think of. Those that rejoice in God, for his sake make Jerusalem their joy. They stedfastly resolved to keep up this affection. When suffering, we should recollect with godly sorrow our forfeited mercies, and our sins by which we lost them. If temporal advantages ever render a profession, the worst calamity has befallen him. Far be it from us to avenge ourselves; we will leave it to Him who has said, Vengeance is mine. Those that are glad at calamities, especially at the calamities of Jerusalem, shall not go unpunished. We cannot pray for promised success to the church of God without looking to, though we do not utter a prayer for, the ruin of her enemies. But let us call to mind to whose grace and finished salvation alone it is, that we have any hopes of being brought home to the heavenly Jerusalem.