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.

For there they that carried us away captive {H7617} required {H7592} of us a song {H1697}{H7892}; and they that wasted {H8437} us required of us mirth {H8057}, saying, Sing {H7891} us one of the songs {H7892} of Zion {H6726}.

when those who had taken us captive asked us to sing them a song; our tormentors demanded joy from us -"Sing us one of the songs from Tziyon!"

for there our captors requested a song; our tormentors demanded songs of joy: “Sing us a song of Zion.”

For there they that led us captive required of us songs, And they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.

Commentary

Commentary on Psalms 137:3 (KJV)

Psalm 137 is a poignant lament expressing the deep sorrow and longing of the Jewish exiles during the Babylonian captivity. Verse 3 vividly portrays the cruel demand made by their captors.

Historical and Cultural Context

Following the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 586 BC, many Israelites were forcibly deported to Babylon, a foreign land. This period of exile, lasting about seventy years, was a time of immense national humiliation, loss, and spiritual questioning. The opening verses of Psalm 137 describe the exiles sitting by the rivers of Babylon, weeping as they remembered Zion (Jerusalem). Their harps, instruments of praise and joy, hung silent. Against this backdrop of profound grief, the Babylonian captors, or "they that wasted us," made a chilling demand: "Sing us [one] of the songs of Zion." This was not a request for cultural exchange but likely a taunt, an attempt to mock their faith and their former glory, or simply to be entertained by the sacred songs of a conquered people.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Profound Sorrow and Oppression: The verse highlights the deep anguish of the exiles, contrasting their sorrow with the captors' demand for "mirth." It underscores the brutality of the oppressors who sought to extract entertainment from the suffering of their captives.
  • Desecration of the Sacred: The "songs of Zion" were hymns of praise to God, often celebrating Jerusalem, the Temple, and God's covenant with Israel. To demand these sacred songs for casual entertainment or mockery was a profound act of disrespect and spiritual violation.
  • Loss of Home and Identity: Zion represents not just a physical place but the spiritual heart of Israel, the dwelling place of God. Being forced to sing its songs in a foreign, pagan land emphasized their displacement and the shattering of their national and religious identity.
  • The Nature of True Joy: The demand for "mirth" reveals a superficial understanding of joy. True joy, for the Israelites, was intrinsically linked to their relationship with God and their worship in Zion. It could not be coerced or performed on command, especially in a context of deep sorrow and spiritual defilement.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "song" is shir, a general term for a song. "Mirth" translates the Hebrew word simchah, meaning joy, gladness, or rejoicing. The juxtaposition of their deep sorrow ("we wept," verse 1) with the demand for simchah underscores the cruelty of the request. The "songs of Zion" (shirey Tsiyon) specifically refer to the sacred songs associated with Jerusalem and the worship of Yahweh. The following verse, Psalm 137:4, directly addresses the impossibility of fulfilling this demand: "How shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land?"

Practical Application

This verse resonates with anyone who has experienced deep sorrow, loss, or oppression. It reminds us that:

  • Grief is Valid: There are times when joy cannot be forced, and it is right to mourn. The psalm acknowledges the legitimacy of sorrow in the face of immense suffering.
  • Preserving the Sacred: Believers are called to preserve the sanctity of their faith and worship, even when pressured by a hostile world. Not everything sacred should be exposed to mockery or trivialization.
  • Hope in Despair: While this verse highlights despair, the broader context of the Psalms and prophetic books (like Isaiah 35:10 promising the return of the ransomed to Zion with singing) offers hope for future restoration and genuine joy. It reminds us that even in the darkest times, God's people cling to their identity and hope in His ultimate deliverance.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Luke 21:6 (5 votes)

    [As for] these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

  • Lamentations 2:15 (4 votes)

    All that pass by clap [their] hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, [saying, Is] this the city that [men] call The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth?

  • Lamentations 2:16 (4 votes)

    All thine enemies have opened their mouth against thee: they hiss and gnash the teeth: they say, We have swallowed [her] up: certainly this [is] the day that we looked for; we have found, we have seen [it].

  • Micah 3:12 (4 votes)

    Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed [as] a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.

  • Psalms 65:1 (3 votes)

    ¶ To the chief Musician, A Psalm [and] Song of David. Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed.

  • Revelation 14:1 (3 votes)

    ¶ And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty [and] four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.

  • Revelation 14:3 (3 votes)

    And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred [and] forty [and] four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.