Psalms 137:1
By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
Psalms 137:1 in other translations
| BSB | By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. |
|---|---|
| WEB | By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down. Yes, we wept, when we remembered Zion. |
| ASV | By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down, yea, we wept, When we remembered Zion. |
| YLT | By rivers of Babylon--There we did sit, Yea, we wept when we remembered Zion. |
| DARBY | By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down; yea, we wept when we remembered Zion. |
| BBE | By the rivers of Babylon we were seated, weeping at the memory of Zion, |
| Webster | By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yes, we wept, when we remembered Zion. |
What does Psalms 137:1 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Psa 137:1-9. This Psalm records the mourning of the captive Israelites, and a prayer and prediction respecting the destruction of their enemies.
1. rivers of Babylon--the name of the city used for the whole country. remembered Zion--or, Jerusalem, as in Psa 132:13.Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Introduction
The desolate and afflicted state of the captives in Babylon, Psa 137:1, Psa 137:2. How they were insulted by their enemies, Psa 137:3, Psa 137:4. Their attachment to their country, Psa 137:5, Psa 137:6. Judgments denounced against their enemies, Psa 137:7-9. The Vulgate, Septuagint, Ethiopic, and Arabic, say, ridiculously enough, a Psalm of David for Jeremiah. Anachronisms with those who wrote the titles to the Psalms were matters of no importance. Jeremiah never was at Babylon; and therefore could have no part in a Psalm that was sung on the banks of its rivers by the Israelitish captives. Neither the Hebrew nor Chaldee has any title; the Syriac attributes it to David. Some think it was sung when they returned from Babylon; others, while they were there. It is a matter of little importance. It was evidently composed during or at the close of the captivity. Verse 1 By the rivers of Babylon - These might have been the Tigris and Euphrates, or their branches, or streams that flowed into them. In their captivity and dispersion, it was customary for the Jews to hold their religious meetings on the banks of rivers. Mention is made of this Act 16:13, where we find the Jews of Philippi resorting to a river side, where prayer was wont to be made. And sometimes they built their synagogues here, when they were expelled from the cities.Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 137:1-4
Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain
Psalms 137:1 in the original Hebrew
Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Psalms 137:1
- Ezekiel 1:1
Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.
- Ezekiel 3:15
Then I came to them of the captivity at Tel–abib, that dwelt by the river of Chebar, and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days.
- Lamentations 2:10-11
The elders of the daughter of Zion sit upon the ground, and keep silence: they have cast up dust upon their heads; they have girded themselves with sackcloth: the virgins of Jerusalem hang down their heads to the ground. Mine eyes do fail with tears, my bowels are troubled, my liver is poured upon the earth, for the destruction of the daughter of my people; because the children and the sucklings swoon in the streets of the city.
- Lamentations 3:48
Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people.
- Lamentations 2:18
Their heart cried unto the Lord, O wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears run down like a river day and night: give thyself no rest; let not the apple of thine eye cease.
- Ezekiel 1:3
The word of the Lord came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the Lord was there upon him.
- Psalms 42:4
When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
- Nehemiah 2:3
And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?
- Jeremiah 51:50-51
Ye that have escaped the sword, go away, stand not still: remember the Lord afar off, and let Jerusalem come into your mind. We are confounded, because we have heard reproach: shame hath covered our faces: for strangers are come into the sanctuaries of the Lord’s house.
- Lamentations 1:16
For these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, because the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me: my children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed.
- Ezra 8:31
Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.
- Ezra 8:21
Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
7 The prophet curses Edom and Babel.
A.M. cir. 3463. B.C. 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.
Ge 2:10-14; Ezr 8:21,31; Eze 1:1
there sat.
Ne 1:3,4; 2:3; Job 2:12,13; Jer 13:17,18; 15:17; La 2:10; Eze 3:15
we wept.
42:4; 102:9-14; Isa 66:10; Jer 51:50,51; La 1:16; 2:11,18; 3:48,51
Da 9:3; 10:2,3; Lu 19:41; Re 11:3
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- Psalms 137:1
By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
- Psalms 137:2
We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
Psalms 137:1 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | JUNTO á los ríos de Babilonia, allí nos sentábamos, y aun llorábamos, acordándonos de Sión. |
|---|---|
| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | *Auprès des fleuves de Babylone, là nous nous sommes assis, et nous avons pleuré quand nous nous sommes souvenus de Sion. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | An den Flüssen Babels, da saßen wir und weinten, indem wir Zions gedachten. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Ipsi David. Confitebor tibi, Domine, in toto corde meo, quoniam audisti verba oris mei. In conspectu angelorum psallam tibi; |