Psalm 137

Psalms · Chapter 137

Psalms 137:9

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
9Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.Blessed is he who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks.Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones Against the rock.

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
how blessed!אַשְׁרֵ֤י׀'ash-REIH0835
blessed

אֶ֫שֶׁר (e.sher) 1) happiness, blessedness 1a) often used as interjection 1b) blessed are

[is one] who he will seizeשֶׁיֹּאחֵ֓זshei-yo-CHEZH0270
to grasp

אָחַז (a.chaz) 1) grasp, take hold, seize, take possession 1a) (Qal) to grasp, take hold of 1b) (Niphal) to be caught, grasped, be settled 1c) (Piel) to enclose, overlay 1d) (Hophal) fastened

and he will smashוְנִפֵּ֬ץve-ni-PETZH5310A
to shatter

נָפַץ (na.phats) 1) to shatter, break, dash, beat in pieces 1a)(Qal) 1a1) to shatter 1a2) shattering (infinitive) 1b) (Piel) to dash to pieces 1c) (Pual) to pulverise

children yourעֹ֝לָלַ֗יִךְ'o-la-LA-yikhH5768
infant

עוֹלֵל (o.lel) child, boy

toאֶל־'el-H0413
to(wards)

אֶל (el) 1) to, toward, unto (of motion) 2) into (limit is actually entered) 2a) in among 3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion) 4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character) 5) in addition to, to 6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of 7) according to (rule or standard) 8) at, by, against (of one's presence) 9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)

the rockהַסָּֽלַע׃ha-SA-la'H5553H
crag

סֶ֫לַע (se.la) 1) crag, cliff, rock 1a) crag, cliff 1b) as stronghold of Jehovah, of security (fig.)

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