Psalm 137

Psalms · Chapter 137

Psalms 137:2

1By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.2We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.3For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.4How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a strange land?5If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.6If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.7Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.8O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.9Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
2We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.There on the willows we hung our harps,Upon the willows in the midst thereof We hanged up our harps.

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Hebrew words

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
onעַֽל־'al-H5921A
upon

עַל (al) prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) …

poplarsעֲרָבִ֥ים'a-ra-VIMH6155H
willow

עֲרָבָה (a.ra.vah) 1) poplar, willow 1a) a tree characterised by dark wood

in [the] midst of itבְּתוֹכָ֑הּbe-to-KHAHH8432
midst

תָּ֫וֶךְ (ta.vekh) 1) midst, middle 1a) midst, middle 1b) into, through (after verbs of motion) 1c) among (of a number of persons) 1d) between (of things arranged by twos) 1e) from among (as to take or separate etc)

we hung upתָּ֝לִ֗ינוּta-LI-nuH8518
to hang

תָּלָה (ta.lah) 1) to hang 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to hang 1a1a) to hang up (any object) 1a1b) to put to death by hanging 1b) (Niphal) to be hanged 1c) (Piel) to hang, hang up (for display)

harps ourכִּנֹּרוֹתֵֽינוּ׃ki-no-ro-TEI-nuH3658
lyre

כִּנּוֹר (kin.nor) lyre, harp

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.