Psalms 137 · Verse 2

Psalms 137:2

We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
Psalms 137:2, King James Version

Psalms 137:2 in other translations

BSBThere on the willows we hung our harps,
WEBOn the willows in that land, we hung up our harps.
ASVUpon the willows in the midst thereof We hanged up our harps.
YLTOn willows in its midst we hung our harps.
DARBYWe hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
BBEHanging our instruments of music on the trees by the waterside.
WebsterWe hung our harps upon the willows in the midst of it.

What does Psalms 137:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
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.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 We hanged our harps upon the willows - The ערבים arabim or willows were very plentiful in Babylon. The great quantity of them that were on the banks of the Euphrates caused Isaiah, Isa 15:7, to call it the brook or river of willows. This is a most affecting picture. Perhaps resting themselves after toil, and wishing to spend their time religiously, they took their harps, and were about to sing one of the songs of Zion; but, reflecting on their own country, they became so filled with distress, that they unstrung their harps with one consent, and hung them on the willow bushes, and gave a general loose to their grief. Some of the Babylonians, who probably attended such meetings for the sake of the music, being present at the time here specified, desired them to sing one of Zion's songs: this is affectingly told.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 137:1-4

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.

Read the full comment on Psalms 137:1-4 →

Psalms 137:2 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.

עַֽל\־'al-onH5921
עֲרָבִ֥ים'a.ra.VimpoplarsH6155
בְּתוֹכָ֑הּbe.to.Khahin [the] midst of itH8432
תָּ֝לִ֗ינוּta.Li.nuwe hung upH8518
כִּנֹּרוֹתֵֽינוּ\׃ki.no.ro.Tei.nuharps ourH3658

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 137:2

  • Ezekiel 26:13

    And I will cause the noise of thy songs to cease; and the sound of thy harps shall be no more heard.

  • Isaiah 24:8

    The mirth of tabrets ceaseth, the noise of them that rejoice endeth, the joy of the harp ceaseth.

  • Revelation 18:22

    And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;

  • Psalms 81:2

    Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.

  • Amos 8:10

    And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day.

  • Psalms 33:2

    Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
we hanged.Willows were so plentiful at Babylon, on the banks of the Euphrates, that Isaiah calls it "the brook or river of willows."
33:2; 81:2; Isa 24:8; Eze 26:13; Am 8:10; Re 18:22

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 137:3

    For 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.

Read all of Psalms 137

Psalms 137:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Sobre los sauces en medio de ella colgamos nuestras arpas.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Aux saules qui étaient au milieu d’elle nous avons suspendu nos harpes.
German
Elberfelder 1871		An die Weiden in ihr hängten wir unsere Lauten.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		adorabo ad templum sanctum tuum, et confitebor nomini tuo: super misericordia tua et veritate tua; quoniam magnificasti super omne, nomen sanctum tuum.