Psalms 137:6

KJV

If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.

KJV (with Strong's)

If I do not remember {H2142} thee, let my tongue {H3956} cleave {H1692} to the roof of my mouth {H2441}; if I prefer {H5927} not Jerusalem {H3389} above my chief {H7218} joy {H8057}.

Complete Jewish Bible

May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I fail to remember you, if I fail to count Yerushalayim the greatest of all my joys.

Berean Standard Bible

May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not exalt Jerusalem as my greatest joy!

American Standard Version

Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, If I remember thee not; If I prefer not Jerusalem Above my chief joy.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 137:6 is a profound and passionate self-imprecatory vow from a Jewish exile in Babylon, expressing an unwavering and supreme loyalty to Jerusalem. It declares that if the psalmist were to ever forget the holy city or fail to prioritize it above all personal joy, then their tongue should become useless, symbolizing a catastrophic loss of identity, voice, and the ability to praise God. This verse encapsulates the intense longing for their spiritual homeland and underscores the centrality of Jerusalem to their national and religious identity, even amidst the profound despair and displacement of captivity.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 137 is a poignant lament psalm, distinguished by its raw and visceral expression of grief, anger, and profound longing from the perspective of the Jewish exiles in Babylon. The psalm opens with the evocative imagery of the exiles weeping by the rivers of Babylon as they remembered Zion (Jerusalem). The preceding verses vividly portray the cruel taunts of their captors, who mockingly demanded "songs of Zion," a request met with the exiles' resolute refusal to "sing the Lord's song in a strange land" ([Psalms 137:4](/psalms/137-4 "Psalm 137:4 - The Exiles' Refusal to Sing")). Verse 6, together with verse 5, forms a solemn and powerful oath, a declaration of unyielding allegiance to Jerusalem. This vow stands in stark contrast to the initial despair, highlighting the enduring spiritual commitment that precedes the psalm's final, violent imprecation against Babylon. It underscores that despite their immense suffering and displacement, the exiles' spiritual and national identity remained inextricably bound to the holy city.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical setting for Psalms 137 is the traumatic period of the Babylonian Exile, which commenced in 586 BC with the conquest of the Kingdom of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar II. Jerusalem, including the revered Temple, was utterly destroyed, and a significant portion of its inhabitants were forcibly deported to Babylon, as chronicled in [2 Kings 25](/2_kings/25 "2 Kings 25 - The Fall of Jerusalem and Exile"). For the Israelites, Jerusalem was far more than a mere political capital; it was Yahweh's chosen dwelling place, the hallowed site of the Temple, and the very epicenter of their covenant relationship with God. The loss of Jerusalem was thus a catastrophic spiritual and existential blow, severing their tangible connection to God's presence and their spiritual home. The cultural practice of making solemn vows, frequently accompanied by self-curses, was a prevalent custom in the ancient Near East, serving to underscore the gravity and sincerity of such an oath. The vivid imagery of the "tongue cleaving to the roof of the mouth" was a well-understood idiom for extreme distress, thirst, or an utter inability to speak, often associated with divine judgment or profound grief, as powerfully depicted in [Lamentations 4:4](/lamentations/4-4 "Lamentations 4:4 - Children Fainting from Thirst").

* **Key Themes:** This verse profoundly contributes to several overarching themes within the psalm and the broader biblical narrative. Foremost is the theme of **Exile and Profound Longing**, capturing the deep sorrow, displacement, and yearning for home experienced by a dispossessed people. It powerfully highlights the **Centrality of Jerusalem**, not merely as a geographical location, but as the spiritual heart of Israel's identity, faith, and their unwavering hope for future restoration. The explicit self-imprecatory vow underscores the theme of **Unwavering Loyalty and Supreme Priority**, demonstrating that their spiritual heritage and their covenantal connection to God, symbolized by Jerusalem, transcended all personal comfort, earthly pleasures, or the dire circumstances of their captivity. This profound commitment reflects the covenant faithfulness that God continually desired from His people, even when they were far removed from the promised land. The self-imprecation also touches upon the theme of **Divine Judgment and Consequence**, implying that forgetting God's sacred city would constitute a profound act of unfaithfulness, deserving of a severe physical and spiritual consequence, echoing the solemn warnings found throughout the prophetic books regarding Israel's covenant obligations, such as those detailed in [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Remember (Hebrew, _zâkar'_):** H2142, a primitive root meaning "to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention." In this context, "remember" is far more than a passive mental recall; it signifies an active, covenantal remembrance. It implies holding Jerusalem in one's deepest affections, prioritizing its significance, and acting in accordance with its sacred status. To "not remember" Jerusalem would be an act of profound spiritual forgetfulness, a betrayal of their identity as God's people, and a disregard for the covenant promises tied to the city.
* **Cleave (Hebrew, _dâbaq'_):** H1692, a primitive root meaning "properly, to impinge, i.e. cling or adhere; figuratively, to catch by pursuit; abide fast, cleave (fast together)." This word vividly describes the tongue sticking immovably to the palate, rendering speech utterly impossible. It is a powerful physical manifestation of a spiritual inability – the inability to sing praises, to lament, or to articulate their identity as God's people, a direct and severe consequence of forgetting their sacred bond with Jerusalem.
* **Jerusalem (Hebrew, _Yᵉrûwshâlaim'_):** H3389, "the capital city of Palestine." More than a mere geographical location, Jerusalem represents the spiritual heart of Israel, the chosen dwelling place of God's presence (the Temple), and the focal point of their national and religious identity. To "prefer not Jerusalem" is to elevate something else—any personal pleasure or earthly pursuit—above the very essence of their covenant relationship with God and their sacred heritage.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"If I do not remember thee,"**: This clause establishes the first condition of the solemn oath. The pronoun "thee" refers directly to Jerusalem, which has been the central object of the psalmist's longing and sorrow throughout the preceding verses. The act of "remembering" here is not a casual recollection but an active, conscious, and deeply emotional commitment to Jerusalem's profound significance as the spiritual and national center of Israel. It implies maintaining unwavering loyalty, deep affection, and an enduring sense of belonging to the holy city and all that it represents in their covenant with God.
* **"let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth;"**: This is the self-imprecation, the severe consequence invoked should the first condition be violated. A tongue cleaving to the roof of the mouth signifies extreme dryness, an utter inability to speak, sing, or even swallow. In the broader context of the psalm, where the exiles refuse to "sing the Lord's song in a strange land," this curse implies a complete and devastating loss of their voice for praise, lament, or the articulation of their identity. It represents a literal and symbolic silencing that would be a profound and fitting punishment for forgetting their sacred bond with Jerusalem.
* **"if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy."**: This second condition powerfully reinforces the depth and exclusivity of the psalmist's devotion. "Prefer" (derived from `ʻâlâh`, H5927, meaning to ascend or lift up) implies elevating Jerusalem to the absolute highest position of value, affection, and priority in one's life. "My chief joy" (from `rôʼsh`, H7218, meaning head or summit, and `simchâh`, H8057, meaning blithesomeness or glee) refers to the pinnacle of personal happiness, delight, or pleasure. This clause declares unequivocally that Jerusalem, as the embodiment of their spiritual heritage and God's presence, must hold the supreme and preeminent place in their heart, surpassing any personal happiness, earthly delight, or worldly pursuit.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 137:6 is richly imbued with **Hyperbole** and vivid **Imagery**, powerfully conveying the psalmist's profound emotional and spiritual commitment. The declaration "let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth" is a striking hyperbole, expressing an extreme and dramatic consequence for the unthinkable act of disloyalty. This potent **Imagery** evokes a physical sensation of paralysis and loss of voice, directly linking the physical body to the spiritual fidelity of the individual. The phrase "prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy" employs both **Metaphor** and **Symbolism**, where Jerusalem stands as a profound symbol for Israel's entire religious and national identity, their sacred covenant relationship with God, and their ultimate hope for restoration. The "chief joy" serves as a metaphor for the highest personal good or ultimate earthly happiness, against which Jerusalem is weighed and found immeasurably superior. The entire verse functions as a **Solemn Vow** or **Oath**, a common literary and cultural device in ancient Near Eastern texts, used to emphasize the gravity and binding nature of a commitment, often accompanied by a self-curse for its breach.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 137:6 stands as a powerful testament to the enduring theological truth that God's people are called to a singular, unwavering devotion to His kingdom and purposes, symbolized here by Jerusalem. This commitment transcends personal comfort, earthly pleasures, or even the most dire circumstances of exile and suffering. It speaks to the ultimate priority of God's presence and His chosen dwelling place in the hearts of believers. The self-imprecation highlights the profound severity of spiritual apathy or forgetfulness, suggesting that a loss of focus on God's kingdom leads to a deep spiritual incapacitation—a silencing of the soul's ability to truly worship, praise, and express its identity in Him. This verse foreshadows the New Testament emphasis on seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, recognizing that true joy, purpose, and fulfillment are found only in alignment with divine priorities.

* [Nehemiah 1:4](/nehemiah/1-4 "Nehemiah's Prayer for Jerusalem's Restoration")
* [Luke 12:34](/luke/12-34 "Where Your Treasure Is, There Your Heart Will Be Also")
* [Philippians 3:8](/philippians/3-8 "Paul Counts Everything as Loss for Christ")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The psalmist's passionate vow in Psalms 137:6 serves as a powerful and searching challenge, compelling us to deeply examine the true priorities that govern our hearts. In a world saturated with endless distractions, fleeting pleasures, and competing allegiances, what truly holds the place of "chief joy" in our lives? Is it personal success, material possessions, worldly recognition, or transient delights? Or is it the Kingdom of God, His Church, and the advancement of His eternal purposes? This verse calls us to cultivate an unwavering, singular loyalty to Christ and His spiritual Jerusalem—the Church—ensuring that our deepest affections, ultimate aspirations, and daily decisions are profoundly centered on Him. It serves as a stark reminder that true spiritual vitality, the authentic ability to "sing the Lord's song" with conviction and joy, is intrinsically linked to our active remembrance and our supreme preference for God's sacred dwelling place and His will in our lives. To forget or de-prioritize this spiritual home is to risk a profound silencing of our spiritual voice, a loss of our true identity in Christ, and a diminishing of our capacity for genuine worship and service.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What currently occupies the place of "chief joy" in my life, and how does its prominence compare to my devotion to God and His Kingdom?**
* **In what practical ways might I be spiritually "forgetting" God's presence, His commands, or His call on my life, and what might be the consequences of such forgetfulness?**
* **How can I actively cultivate a deeper and more profound preference for God's purposes and His spiritual "Jerusalem" (the Church) in my daily thoughts, actions, and priorities?**

### FAQ
**What does "let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth" mean in a literal sense?**

Answer: Literally, this vivid phrase describes a physical condition where the tongue becomes stuck immovably to the palate, rendering it impossible to speak, sing, or even swallow. It is a powerful physical manifestation of extreme thirst, profound distress, or a state of paralysis. In the specific context of Psalms 137:6, it functions as a self-imposed curse, implying that if the speaker were to forget Jerusalem, they would lose their fundamental ability to vocalize, to praise, or to express their very identity. This symbolizes a profound spiritual and existential incapacitation. This striking imagery is also found in other biblical texts to denote severe suffering or divine judgment, such as in [Lamentations 4:4](/lamentations/4-4 "Lamentations 4:4 - Children Fainting from Thirst"), where children's tongues cleave to the roof of their mouths from thirst.

**Why was Jerusalem so important to the Jewish exiles that they would make such a vow?**

Answer: Jerusalem was far more than just a geographical city; it was the spiritual, national, and theological heart of Israel. It was the sacred site of the Temple, God's chosen dwelling place on earth, and the very epicenter of their worship, their covenant relationship with Yahweh, and their national identity. For the exiles, its destruction and their forced removal represented a catastrophic loss of their identity, their tangible connection to God, and their hope for the future. Their solemn vow reflects their profound understanding that their very existence as God's chosen people was inextricably linked to Jerusalem. It symbolized their heritage, their faith, the presence of God among them, and their ultimate hope for restoration, as beautifully articulated in [Psalm 48:1-2](/psalms/48-1-2 "Psalm 48:1-2 - God's Greatness in Jerusalem").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Psalms 137:6 expresses the exiles' profound and singular loyalty to earthly Jerusalem, its ultimate spiritual fulfillment is found in Jesus Christ and the heavenly Jerusalem. For believers today, Jesus Christ is the ultimate "chief joy," surpassing all earthly pleasures, pursuits, and even life itself. The Apostle Paul powerfully articulates this truth in [Philippians 3:8](/philippians/3-8 "Philippians 3:8 - Paul's Renunciation of Earthly Gain"), where he counts everything as loss for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus his Lord. Our supreme allegiance is no longer primarily to a physical city, but to the person of Christ and His eternal Kingdom. He is the new Temple, the very dwelling place of God among humanity, as [John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh") declares, for in Him "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." Furthermore, the New Testament speaks of a "heavenly Jerusalem" ([Hebrews 12:22](/hebrews/12-22 "Hebrews 12:22 - The Heavenly Jerusalem")) and portrays the Church as the spiritual city of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone ([Ephesians 2:19-22](/ephesians/2-19-22 "Ephesians 2:19-22 - Fellow Citizens with the Saints")). Thus, the psalmist's passionate vow to prefer Jerusalem above his chief joy finds its ultimate and glorious echo in the believer's unwavering commitment to Christ and His body, the Church, recognizing that our true citizenship, eternal hope, and deepest joy reside in Him and the new creation He inaugurates.

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

Ezekiel 3:26

And I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth, that thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be to them a reprover: for they [are] a rebellious house.

Psalms 22:15

My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

Job 29:10

The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.

Philippians 1:20

According to my earnest expectation and [my] hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but [that] with all boldness, as always, [so] now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether [it be] by life, or by death.

1 Thessalonians 3:7

Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:

1 Thessalonians 3:9

For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;

Lamentations 4:4

The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, [and] no man breaketh [it] unto them.