Psalms 137:6

Psalms 137:6 in other versions

• King James Version (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.
• New International Version (NIV)May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy!
• New King James Version (NKJV)If I do not remember you, Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth— If I do not exalt Jerusalem Above my chief joy.

Context of Psalms 137:6

4How could we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land? 5If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget ⌞how to play the lyre⌟. Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I don’t remember you, if I don’t consider Jerusalem my highest joy. 7O Lord, remember the people of Edom. Remember what they did the day Jerusalem ⌞was captured⌟. They said, “Tear it down! Tear it down to its foundation.” 8You destructive people of Babylon, blessed is the one who pays you back with the same treatment you gave us.

Psalms 137:6 word by word

תִּדְבַּ֥ק־לְשׁוֹנִ֨י׀ לְחִכִּי֮ אִם־לֹ֪א אֶ֫זְכְּרֵ֥כִי אִם־לֹ֣א אַ֭עֲלֶה אֶת־יְרוּשָׁלִַ֑ם עַ֝֗ל רֹ֣אשׁ שִׂמְחָתִֽי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• If I do not rememberזָכַרzâkar · to rememberH2142
• thee, let my tongueלָשׁוֹןlâshôn lâshôn leshônâh · tongueH3956
• cleaveדָּבַקdâbaq · to cleaveH1692
• to the roof of my mouthחֵךְchêk · palateH2441
• if I preferעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: establishH5927
• not Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵםyerûshâlaim yerûshâlayim · JerusalemH3389
• above my chiefרֹאשׁrô'sh · head: topH7218
• joyשִׂמְחָהώimchâh · joyH8057

Cross-references for Psalms 137:6

• Psalms 22:15My strength is dried up like pieces of broken pottery. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You lay me down in the dust of death.
• Isaiah 41:17“The poor and needy are looking for water, but there is none. Their tongues are parched with thirst. I, the Lord, will answer them. I, the God of Israel, will not abandon them.
• Lamentations 4:4The tongues of nursing infants stick to the roofs of their mouths because of their thirst. Little children beg for bread, but no one will break off a piece for them.
• Ezekiel 3:26I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you can’t talk or criticize them, even though they are rebellious people.
• Psalms 84:10One day in your courtyards is better than a thousand ⌞anywhere else⌟. I would rather stand in the entrance to my God’s house than live inside wicked people’s homes.
• Matthew 6:33But first, be concerned about his kingdom and what has his approval. Then all these things will be provided for you.
• Acts 20:24But I don’t place any value on my own life. I want to finish the race I’m running. I want to carry out the mission I received from the Lord Jesus—the mission of testifying to the Good News of God’s kindness.
• Philippians 1:20I eagerly expect and hope that I will have nothing to be ashamed of. I will speak very boldly and honor Christ in my body, now as always, whether I live or die.
• 1 Thessalonians 3:7So brothers and sisters, your faith has encouraged us in all our distress and trouble.

Commentaries on Psalms 137:6

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6If I do not remember thee - Equivalent to, “If I forget thee.” If I ever fail to remember thee; if I shall ever act as if I had forgotten thee. Singing in a strange land, among those who had perpetrated such wrongs in thee - appearing to be happy, cheerful, joyous, happy, merry there - would be understood to imply that I had ceased to remember thee, and cared nothing for thee. Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth - Compare Ezekiel 3:26. Let me be…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-9Verses 5-9 What we love, we love to think of. Those that rejoice in God, for his sake make Jerusalem their joy. They stedfastly resolved to keep up this affection. When suffering, we should recollect with godly sorrow our forfeited mercies, and our sins by which we lost them. If temporal advantages ever render a profession, the worst calamity has befallen him. Far be it from us to avenge ourselves; we will leave it to Him who has said, Vengeance is mine…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5-6The psalmist pledges his loyalty to Jerusalem, the city at the center of God’s reign and the location of fellowship with him.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 5-65-6. For joyful songs would imply forgetfulness of their desolated homes and fallen Church. The solemn imprecations on the hand and tongue, if thus forgetful, relate to the cunning or skill in playing, and the power of singing.Read the comment
• Rashi on Tanakh · v. 6If I do not bring up Jerusalem The remembrance of the mourning of its destruction I shall bring up to mention at the head of every joyous occasion of mine.Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 137:6

• Church
• Country
• Jerusalem
• Music
• Patriotism

In the dictionaries

• Jerusalem
• Cleave
• Cunning
• Music
• Prefer
• Roof
• Willows
• Haggai
• Mouth
• Psalms, Book of

Commentaries on Psalms 137

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• The Treasury of David
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary