Bible Commentaries
Psalms 137

Introduction

Overview

Psalms 137:1, The constancy of the Jews in captivity; Psalms 137:7, The prophet curses Edom and Babel.

Verse 1

am cir, 3463, bc cir, 541 - Title The author of this beautiful and affecting elegy is unknown, but the occasion is evident; and it was most probably composed during, or near the close of, the captivity.

the rivers: Genesis 2:10-14, Ezra 8:21, Ezra 8:31, Ezekiel 1:1, there sat, Nehemiah 1:3, Nehemiah 1:4, Nehemiah 2:3, Job 2:12, Job 2:13, Jeremiah 13:17, Jeremiah 13:18, Jeremiah 15:17, Lamentations 2:10, Ezekiel 3:15

we wept: Psalms 42:4, Psalms 102:9-14, Isaiah 66:10, Jeremiah 51:50, Jeremiah 51:51, Lamentations 1:16, Lamentations 2:11, Lamentations 2:18, Lamentations 3:48, Lamentations 3:51, Daniel 9:3, Daniel 10:2, Daniel 10:3, Luke 19:41, Revelation 11:3

Reciprocal: Ezra 8:15 - the river that runneth Job 30:31 - General Psalms 52:1 - goodness Psalms 87:4 - Babylon Psalms 126:5 - that sow Isaiah 15:7 - to the Isaiah 21:2 - all the Isaiah 44:4 - willows Isaiah 52:5 - make Jeremiah 13:4 - go Ezekiel 6:9 - remember Ezekiel 11:24 - into

Verse 2

we hanged: Willows were so plentiful at Babylon, on the banks of the Euphrates, that Isaiah calls it "the brook or river of willows." Psalms 33:2, Psalms 81:2, Isaiah 24:8, Ezekiel 26:13, Amos 8:10, Revelation 18:22

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 23:30 - stand Psalms 52:1 - goodness Psalms 149:3 - with the timbrel Isaiah 15:7 - to the Isaiah 44:4 - willows Isaiah 52:5 - make Daniel 6:18 - and passed

Verse 3

For there: Psalms 123:3, Psalms 123:4, Lamentations 2:15, Lamentations 2:16

a song: Heb. the words of a song

wasted us: Heb. laid us on heaps, Psalms 79:1, Nehemiah 4:2, Jeremiah 9:11, Jeremiah 26:18, Micah 3:12, Luke 21:6

the songs of Zion: Psalms 9:14, Psalms 65:1, 1 Chronicles 15:27, 1 Chronicles 16:7, Isaiah 35:10, Isaiah 51:11, Jeremiah 31:12, Jeremiah 31:13, Revelation 14:1-3

Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 29:27 - the song Proverbs 25:20 - so Isaiah 26:1 - in the land Jeremiah 8:21 - the hurt Lamentations 1:7 - the adversaries Lamentations 3:14 - General Zephaniah 3:18 - sorrowful

Verse 4

How shall: Ecclesiastes 3:4, Isaiah 22:12, Lamentations 5:14, Lamentations 5:15, Hosea 9:4, Amos 8:3

strange land: Heb. land of a stranger, Isaiah 49:21

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 4:13 - his heart 2 Chronicles 29:27 - the song Proverbs 25:20 - so Isaiah 26:1 - in the land Lamentations 1:7 - the adversaries

Verse 5

I forget: Psalms 84:1, Psalms 84:2, Psalms 84:10, Psalms 102:13, Psalms 102:14, Psalms 122:5-9, Nehemiah 1:2-4, Nehemiah 2:2, Nehemiah 2:3, Isaiah 62:1, Isaiah 62:6, Isaiah 62:7, Jeremiah 51:50, Daniel 6:10, Daniel 6:11

let my right: Zechariah 11:17

Reciprocal: Exodus 26:31 - cunning work Deuteronomy 26:15 - bless thy 1 Samuel 4:22 - The glory 2 Samuel 15:14 - and smite Psalms 51:18 - Do Psalms 122:9 - I will seek Daniel 9:20 - for

Verse 6

let my tongue: Psalms 22:15, Isaiah 41:17, Lamentations 4:4, Ezekiel 3:26

if I prefer: Psalms 84:10, Matthew 6:33, Acts 20:24, Philippians 1:20, 1 Thessalonians 3:7-9

my chief joy: Heb. the head of my joy

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 26:15 - bless thy 1 Samuel 4:22 - The glory 2 Samuel 15:14 - and smite 1 Kings 5:7 - Blessed Nehemiah 1:2 - I asked Nehemiah 2:3 - the city Job 29:10 - nobles held their peace Job 31:22 - let Psalms 51:18 - Do Psalms 102:14 - General Psalms 122:6 - Pray Psalms 122:9 - I will seek Isaiah 62:1 - Zion's Isaiah 66:10 - all ye that love Isaiah 66:13 - ye shall Jeremiah 51:50 - remember Daniel 9:20 - for

Verse 7

Remember: Psalms 74:18, Psalms 79:8-12, Exodus 17:14, 1 Samuel 15:2, Hosea 7:2

the children: Isaiah 63:1-6, Jeremiah 49:7-22, Lamentations 4:21, Lamentations 4:22, Ezekiel 25:12-14, Obadiah 1:10-14, Obadiah 1:18-21

Raze it: Heb. make bare

Reciprocal: Genesis 8:1 - God remembered Deuteronomy 30:7 - General Job 18:20 - his day Psalms 5:10 - let Psalms 74:8 - said Psalms 122:6 - Pray Isaiah 21:11 - me out Isaiah 34:5 - upon Idumea Jeremiah 25:21 - Edom Lamentations 1:21 - they are Lamentations 1:22 - all their Ezekiel 35:5 - thou hast had Ezekiel 35:11 - I will even Ezekiel 35:15 - didst Ezekiel 36:5 - against all Joel 3:19 - for Amos 1:11 - because Obadiah 1:11 - even Zechariah 1:15 - and Malachi 1:4 - The people Matthew 7:2 - General

Verse 8

daughter: Isaiah 47:1-5, Jeremiah 50:42, Jeremiah 51:33, Zechariah 2:7

who art: Isaiah 13:1-22, Isaiah 14:4-24, Isaiah 21:1, Isaiah 47:1, Jeremiah 25:12-14, Jeremiah 50:1 - Jeremiah 51:64, Revelation 14:8-11, Revelation 17:1-18, Revelation 18:6

destroyed: Heb. wasted

happy: Psalms 149:6-9, Isaiah 13:3-5, Isaiah 44:28, Revelation 17:5, Revelation 17:6, Revelation 17:14, Revelation 18:6, Revelation 18:20

rewardeth: etc. Heb. recompenseth unto thee thy deed which thou didst unto us, Jeremiah 50:15-29, Revelation 18:6

Reciprocal: Numbers 31:15 - General Joshua 6:21 - utterly 2 Kings 8:12 - dash 2 Kings 19:21 - the daughter Ezra 6:12 - destroy Esther 8:11 - to destroy Psalms 48:11 - because Psalms 54:5 - reward Psalms 87:4 - Babylon Psalms 109:12 - favour Psalms 149:7 - General Psalms 149:9 - to execute Isaiah 13:16 - children Isaiah 14:20 - the seed Isaiah 47:3 - I will take Jeremiah 25:14 - I Jeremiah 27:7 - until Jeremiah 30:16 - General Jeremiah 46:24 - daughter Jeremiah 50:29 - recompense Jeremiah 51:24 - General Jeremiah 51:35 - The violence Jeremiah 51:49 - As Babylon Jeremiah 51:56 - the Lord Lamentations 1:21 - they shall Hosea 13:16 - their infants Obadiah 1:15 - as Micah 7:10 - she that Nahum 3:10 - her young Habakkuk 2:8 - the violence Habakkuk 2:17 - because Matthew 7:2 - General

Verse 9

and dasheth: Isaiah 13:16, Hosea 10:14, Hosea 13:16

the stones: Heb. the rock

Reciprocal: Numbers 31:15 - General Joshua 6:21 - utterly 2 Kings 8:12 - dash Ezra 6:12 - destroy Psalms 48:11 - because Psalms 87:4 - Babylon Psalms 109:12 - favour Psalms 149:7 - General Isaiah 13:12 - General Isaiah 14:20 - the seed Isaiah 47:3 - I will take Jeremiah 27:7 - until Jeremiah 30:16 - General Jeremiah 48:4 - her Jeremiah 50:1 - against Babylon Jeremiah 50:15 - as she Jeremiah 50:29 - recompense Jeremiah 50:42 - they are cruel Jeremiah 51:3 - spare Jeremiah 51:24 - General Jeremiah 51:35 - The violence Jeremiah 51:49 - As Babylon Lamentations 1:21 - they shall Micah 7:10 - she that