God’s Word Translation
Psalms 137:7
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.”
Psalms 137:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.
- New International Version (NIV)Remember, Lord, what the Edomites did on the day Jerusalem fell. “Tear it down,” they cried, “tear it down to its foundations!”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Remember, O Lord, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem, how they said, "Lay it bare, lay it bare, down to its foundations!"
- New King James Version (NKJV)Remember, O Lord, against the sons of Edom The day of Jerusalem, Who said, “Raze it, raze it, To its very foundation!”
Context of Psalms 137:7
5If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget ⌞how to play the lyre⌟. 6Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I don’t remember you, if I don’t consider Jerusalem my highest joy. O 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. 9Blessed is the one who grabs your little children and smashes them against a rock.
Read all of Psalms 137Psalms 137:7 word by word
זְכֹ֤ר יְהוָ֨ה׀ לִבְנֵ֬י אֱד֗וֹם אֵת֮ י֤וֹם יְֽרוּשָׁ֫לִָ֥ם הָ֭אֹ֣מְרִים עָ֤רוּ׀ עָ֑רוּ עַ֝֗ד הַיְס֥וֹד בָּֽהּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Rememberזָכַרzâkar · to rememberH2142
- O Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
- of Edomאֱדוֹם'ĕdôm 'ĕdôm · EdomH123
- in the dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- of Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵםyerûshâlaim yerûshâlayim · JerusalemH3389
- who saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Raseעָרָה‛ârâh · to uncoverH6168
- to the foundationיְסוֹדyesôd · foundationH3247
Cross-references for Psalms 137:7
- Psalms 74:18Remember how the enemy insulted you, O Lord. Remember how an entire nation of godless fools despised your name.
- Psalms 79:8Do not hold the crimes of our ancestors against us. Reach out to us soon with your compassion, because we are helpless.
- Exodus 17:14The Lord said to Moses, “Write this reminder on a scroll, and make sure that Joshua hears it, too: I will completely erase any memory of the Amalekites from the earth.”
- 1 Samuel 15:2This is what the Lord of Armies says: I will punish Amalek for what they did to Israel. They blocked Israel’s way after the Israelites came from Egypt.
- Hosea 7:2They don’t realize that I remember all the evil things they’ve done. Now their sins surround them. Their sins are in my presence.
- Isaiah 63:1Who is this coming from Bozrah in Edom with his clothes stained bright red? Who is this dressed in splendor, going forward with great strength? “It is I, the Lord. I am coming to announce my victory. I am powerful enough to save ⌞you⌟.”
- Jeremiah 49:7This is what the Lord of Armies says about Edom: Is there no longer any wisdom in Teman? Has wisdom disappeared from your people? Has their wisdom vanished?
- Lamentations 4:21“Rejoice and be glad, people of Edom, inhabitants of the country of Uz. The cup ⌞of the Lord’s fury⌟ will be passed to you next. You’ll get drunk and take off all your clothes.
- Ezekiel 25:12“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: Edom took revenge on the nation of Judah and became guilty because of it.
- Obadiah 1:10“Because of the violence you did to Jacob, your relative, you will be covered with shame. You will be destroyed forever.
Commentaries on Psalms 137:7
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom - The Edomites; the people of Idumea. On the situation of Edom or Idumea, see introductory notes to Isaiah 34. In the day of Jerusalem - In the day when Jerusalem shall be restored; in the day when punishment shall be inflicted on the nations that destroyed it; then, do not forget the Edomites, who took so large and so active a part in its overthrow. This is to be understood as a continued “remembrance” of Zion; as a…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. 7-9The poet saw how the Edomites betrayed the people of Judah, so he calls on God to judge Edom. The long conflict between Edom and Judah reached its worst point near the end of Judah’s history. At that time, the Edomites handed the Judeans over to the Babylonians (Obadiah 1:10–11) and celebrated Jerusalem's fall. This prayer asking God to bring justice uses strong language and can be shocking.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 7-97-9. Remember ... the children of Edom--(Compare Psa 132:1), that is, to punish. the day of Jerusalem--its downfall (La 4:21, 22; Ob 11-13).Read the comment
- Rashi on Tanakh · v. 7Raze it Heb. עָרוּ is an expression of destruction, and so (Jer. 51:58): “The broad walls of Babylon shall be overthrown (תתערער),” and so (Hab. 3:13): “baring (ערות) the foundation.” It is used only for something whose roots are uprooted from the ground.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 137:7
In the dictionaries
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
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