Psalms 137:2

KJV

We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.

KJV (with Strong's)

We hanged {H8518} our harps {H3658} upon the willows {H6155} in the midst {H8432} thereof.

Complete Jewish Bible

We had hung up our lyres on the willows that were there,

Berean Standard Bible

There on the willows we hung our harps,

American Standard Version

Upon the willows in the midst thereof We hanged up our harps.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 137:2 vividly portrays the profound grief and spiritual despondency of the Jewish exiles in Babylon. By hanging their harps upon the willows, the psalmist communicates the cessation of joyful worship and the overwhelming sorrow that rendered them unable to sing the songs of Zion in a foreign land. This act symbolizes a deep spiritual paralysis, where the instruments of praise, once central to their identity and communion with God, are silenced and left neglected in a place of captivity and lament.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is an integral part of Psalm 137, a powerful and poignant lament that captures the raw emotion of the Israelites during their forced exile in Babylon. The preceding verse, [Psalms 137:1](/psalms/137-1 "Psalms 137:1 - By the Rivers of Babylon"), sets the scene, depicting the exiles sitting by the rivers, weeping as they remember Zion. Verse 2 directly follows, illustrating a concrete action that embodies their grief. The subsequent verses, particularly [Psalms 137:3-4](/psalms/137-3 "Psalms 137:3-4 - Captors' Demands and Refusal to Sing"), reveal the cruel mockery of their captors, who demand songs of Zion, only to be met with the exiles' resolute refusal, emphasizing the impossibility of joyful worship in such a desolate state. The psalm then escalates into a fierce imprecation, reflecting the depth of their trauma and longing for divine justice and restoration.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop for Psalm 137 is the Babylonian Exile, a traumatic period in Israelite history following the destruction of Jerusalem and the First Temple in 586 BC by Nebuchadnezzar II, as detailed in [2 Kings 25](/2_kings/25 "2 Kings 25 - Fall of Jerusalem and Exile"). Thousands of Jews were forcibly deported to Babylon, a foreign land with different gods, customs, and landscapes. For the Israelites, the Temple in Jerusalem was the dwelling place of God, the center of their worship, and the heart of their national identity. Its destruction and their subsequent exile were not merely political or geographical calamities but profound theological crises, raising questions about God's covenant and presence. Willows were common trees along the rivers of Mesopotamia, often associated with mourning and melancholy in ancient Near Eastern poetry, making them a fitting symbol for the exiles' despair.

* **Key Themes:** Psalms 137:2 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the psalm and broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it powerfully conveys **Profound Sorrow and Loss**, illustrating the deep anguish experienced by a people dispossessed of their homeland, their sacred Temple, and their spiritual routines. The harps, instruments of joy and praise in Israelite worship (e.g., [Psalms 33:2](/psalms/33-2 "Psalms 33:2 - Praise with the Harp")), are rendered useless, symbolizing the silencing of their spiritual song. Secondly, the verse highlights the **Inability to Praise in Captivity**, emphasizing that the environment of exile was antithetical to the spirit of praise. Their hearts were too heavy with sorrow to "sing the Lord's song in a strange land," a sentiment explicitly articulated in [Psalms 137:4](/psalms/137-4 "Psalms 137:4 - Singing in a Strange Land"). Finally, the image underscores **Despair and Despondency**, portraying a community overwhelmed by dejection, unable to find hope for immediate celebration or spiritual expression in their current circumstances.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Hanged (Hebrew, _tâlâh'_):** This primitive root means "to suspend," often with the connotation of putting something out of use or displaying it, sometimes even to gibbet. In this context, it signifies a deliberate act of putting the harps away, not merely setting them down. It suggests a profound and intentional cessation of their musical function, an act born of deep grief and a sense of spiritual paralysis, rather than a casual resting of the instruments.
* **Harps (Hebrew, _kinnôwr'_):** Derived from a root meaning "to twang," the _kinnôwr_ was a stringed instrument, typically a lyre, widely used in Israelite worship, celebration, and prophetic contexts (e.g., [1 Samuel 10:5](/1_samuel/10-5 "1 Samuel 10:5 - Prophetic Music")). It was an instrument of joy, praise, and comfort. Its suspension symbolizes the silencing of collective worship, the absence of gladness, and the profound disruption of their spiritual life.
* **Willows (Hebrew, _ʻârâb'_):** This term refers to the willow tree, known for growing near water (like the rivers of Babylon) and often associated with weeping or mourning. The imagery of the harps hanging on these trees of sorrow powerfully amplifies the sense of lamentation and the unsuitability of the environment for joyful praise. The willows become silent witnesses to the exiles' despair, their branches serving as a poignant, temporary tomb for the instruments of praise.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"We hanged our harps":** This clause describes the deliberate action taken by the exiles. The "we" emphasizes the collective experience of the community, sharing in a common sorrow. The act of "hanging" implies a cessation of use, a putting away of the instruments of joy and worship. It is not merely a temporary pause but a symbolic act of abandoning their accustomed spiritual expression due to overwhelming grief.
* **"upon the willows":** This specifies the location where the harps were hung. The willows, commonly found by rivers, are trees often associated with sadness and mourning. Their choice as a resting place for the harps underscores the melancholic atmosphere of their exile. It suggests that the very environment they were in was imbued with sorrow, rendering it impossible to engage in joyful praise.
* **"in the midst thereof":** This phrase clarifies the precise location, referring to "the midst" of the rivers of Babylon mentioned in [Psalms 137:1](/psalms/137-1 "Psalms 137:1 - By the Rivers of Babylon"). It emphasizes that this act of silencing their harps occurred in the heart of their captivity, surrounded by the foreignness and oppression of Babylon. It highlights the profound contrast between their former life in Zion and their current desolate reality, where even the natural surroundings echoed their lament.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 137:2 is rich in **Symbolism** and **Imagery**. The harps symbolize joy, praise, and the vibrant worship life of Israel, particularly within the Temple. Their silence and suspension represent the profound grief and spiritual paralysis of the exiles, who found themselves unable to sing the Lord's songs in a foreign land. The willows, often associated with weeping and growing by water, symbolize sorrow, mourning, and the desolate environment of their Babylonian captivity. The act of hanging the harps on these trees creates a powerful visual **metaphor** for the cessation of praise and the overwhelming despair that had taken root in their hearts. The entire verse functions as a vivid **tableau**, painting a poignant picture of a people stripped of their spiritual identity and joy, leaving a lasting impression of their deep sorrow.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 137:2 offers a profound theological insight into the nature of lament and the human experience of profound spiritual and existential grief. It teaches that there are seasons in life where sorrow is so overwhelming that the customary expressions of praise and joy become impossible. This is not a failure of faith but an honest acknowledgment of the depth of human suffering in a fallen world. The exiles' inability to sing is a testament to their loyalty to Zion and their God; they would not profane the sacred songs by performing them for their captors in a place of idolatry and oppression. This verse validates the experience of spiritual despondency, reminding us that God understands and embraces our laments, even when our voices for praise are silenced by pain.

* [Lamentations 1:1-3](/lamentations/1-1 "Lamentations 1:1-3 - Jerusalem's Desolation")
* [Job 30:31](/job/30-31 "Job 30:31 - Harp Turned to Mourning")
* [Isaiah 61:1-3](/isaiah/61-1 "Isaiah 61:1-3 - Garment of Praise for Spirit of Heaviness")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 137:2 offers a profound and empathetic insight into the human condition, particularly during seasons of overwhelming sorrow, loss, or spiritual dryness. It grants us permission to lament, to acknowledge that there are times when our hearts are too heavy, our circumstances too dire, or our grief too profound for us to naturally express joy or engage in praise. This verse reminds us that genuine faith does not always manifest as exuberant worship but can also be expressed through honest lament, quiet endurance, and the painful recognition of what has been lost. It teaches us that God meets us in our deepest despair, understanding the silence of our harps. In such moments, remembering God's past faithfulness and longing for His future restoration, even without a song on our lips, can be a profound act of trust. It calls us to extend grace to ourselves and others who are navigating seasons where their "harps are hung up," trusting that the melody will return in God's perfect timing.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **When have you felt your "harp" silenced by circumstances, and how did you navigate that season of spiritual despondency?**
* **What does this verse teach us about the validity and importance of lament in our spiritual journey?**
* **How can we support others who are in a season where they feel unable to praise or express joy?**

### FAQ
**Why did they hang their harps specifically on willows?**

Answer: The choice of willows is highly symbolic and culturally significant. Willows (Hebrew: _ʻârâb_) are trees that typically grow near water, such as the "rivers of Babylon" mentioned in [Psalms 137:1](/psalms/137-1 "Psalms 137:1 - By the Rivers of Babylon"). In ancient Near Eastern poetry and tradition, trees growing by water were often associated with sadness, weeping, and mourning. By hanging their harps—instruments of joy and worship—on these trees of sorrow, the exiles created a powerful visual metaphor for their profound grief, the cessation of their joyful praise, and the desolate spiritual state they experienced in captivity. It underscored that the very environment of their exile was antithetical to the spirit of worship.

**Does this verse imply that it is wrong to praise God during times of deep sorrow?**

Answer: No, this verse does not imply that it is wrong to praise God during sorrow, but rather it acknowledges the profound human reality that sometimes grief is so overwhelming that the heart cannot naturally produce a song of praise. The exiles' act was less about a refusal to praise God and more about their inability to do so in an authentic, joyful manner under the mocking gaze of their captors, in a foreign land that had desecrated their homeland and Temple. It highlights the integrity of their sorrow and their refusal to profane the sacred songs of Zion by performing them for entertainment in a place of idolatry. The Bible encourages both praise in all circumstances ([1 Thessalonians 5:18](/1_thessalonians/5-18 "1 Thessalonians 5:18 - Give Thanks in All Circumstances")) and honest lament before God ([Psalms 42:3](/psalms/42-3 "Psalms 42:3 - Tears as Food")). This verse validates the latter, showing that God understands and accepts our deepest laments and the seasons when our spiritual "music" is silenced by pain.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 137:2, with its poignant image of silenced harps and a people unable to sing the Lord's song, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus. The Babylonian exile represents humanity's ultimate spiritual exile from God due to sin, where the "harps" of true worship and joyful communion were silenced. Humanity, in its fallen state, was truly "in a strange land," unable to offer acceptable praise. Jesus Christ, the ultimate exile who left the glory of heaven to dwell among us, fully entered into this human condition of sorrow and alienation. He experienced the deepest lament, crying out from the cross, "[My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")," a moment where the "harp" of divine communion seemed utterly silenced. Yet, through His perfect obedience, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection, Christ broke the bonds of our spiritual captivity. He became the new Temple, the true Zion, and the means by which our harps are unhung. Through Him, we are no longer in a foreign land but are brought near to God, enabled to offer a "sacrifice of praise" continually ([Hebrews 13:15](/hebrews/13-15 "Hebrews 13:15 - Sacrifice of Praise")). The New Covenant, established by His blood, allows for worship "in spirit and truth" ([John 4:23-24](/john/4-23 "John 4:23-24 - True Worshipers")), transcending physical location or earthly circumstances. Ultimately, the longing expressed in Psalms 137:2 for a return to joyful worship finds its glorious consummation in Christ, who will one day wipe away every tear, ensuring that in the new heaven and new earth, our harps will never again be silenced, and our songs of praise will resound eternally ([Revelation 21:4](/rev/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No More Tears")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 24:8

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

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.

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.

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;