King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget [her cunning].
Complete Jewish Bible:
If I forget you, Yerushalayim, may my right hand wither away!
Berean Standard Bible:
If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand cease to function.
American Standard Version:
If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget her skill.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
If I forget{H7911} thee, O Jerusalem{H3389}, let my right hand{H3225} forget{H7911} her cunning.
Cross-References (KJV):
Jeremiah 51:50
- Ye that have escaped the sword, go away, stand not still: remember the LORD afar off, and let Jerusalem come into your mind.
Daniel 6:10
- Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
Daniel 6:11
- ¶ Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
Zechariah 11:17
- Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword [shall be] upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.
Psalms 122:5
- For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.
Psalms 122:9
- Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.
Isaiah 62:1
- ¶ For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp [that] burneth.
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Commentary for Psalms 137:5
Psalm 137:5 is part of a lament psalm that expresses the deep sorrow and longing of the Jewish people during the Babylonian exile. This period, which began around 586 BCE, saw the destruction of Jerusalem and the forced migration of many Jews to Babylon. The verse reflects the intense emotional connection the exiles had with their homeland, particularly the city of Jerusalem, which was not only the political capital but also the spiritual and religious center of Judaism.
In the verse, the psalmist declares that if he were to forget Jerusalem, he would want his right hand to forget its skill—implying a loss of identity, purpose, or livelihood. The right hand is often associated with strength and skill, so for it to forget its cunning would be a severe disability. This dramatic statement underscores the idea that forgetting Jerusalem would be akin to losing an essential part of oneself. The verse speaks to the themes of memory, loyalty, and the profound significance of place and heritage in the Jewish faith. It is a poignant expression of the pain of displacement and a testament to the enduring bond between the Jewish people and their ancestral land, a bond that transcends physical presence and resides in the collective memory and identity of the nation.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H7911
There are 95 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁכַח
Transliteration: shâkach
Pronunciation: shaw-kakh'
Description: or שָׁכֵחַ; a primitive root; to mislay, i.e. to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention; [idiom] at all, (cause to) forget. - Strong's Number: H3389
There are 600 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם
Transliteration: Yᵉrûwshâlaim
Pronunciation: yer-oo-shaw-lah'-im
Description: rarely יְרוּשָׁלַיִם; a dual (in allusion to its two main hills (the true pointing, at least of the former reading, seems to be that of יְרוּשָׁלֵם)); probably from (the passive participle of) יָרָה and שָׁלַם; founded peaceful; Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine; Jerusalem. - Strong's Number: H3225
There are 133 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָמִין
Transliteration: yâmîyn
Pronunciation: yaw-meen'
Description: from יָמַן; the right hand or side (leg, eye) of a person or other object (as the stronger and more dexterous); locally, the south; [phrase] left-handed, right (hand, side), south.