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 Living Translation (NLT)May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I fail to remember you, if I don’t make Jerusalem my greatest joy.

Context of Psalms 137:6

4How shall we sing the Lord’s song In a foreign land? 5If I forget you, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget its skill! 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. 7Remember, O Lord, against the sons of Edom The day of Jerusalem, Who said, “Raze it, raze it, To its very foundation!” 8O daughter of Babylon, who are to be destroyed, Happy the one who repays you as you have served 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 a potsherd, And My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death.
• Isaiah 41:17“The poor and needy seek water, but there is none, Their tongues fail for thirst. I, the Lord, will hear them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
• Lamentations 4:4The tongue of the infant clings To the roof of its mouth for thirst; The young children ask for bread, But no one breaks it for them.
• Ezekiel 3:26I will make your tongue cling to the roof of your mouth, so that you shall be mute and not be one to rebuke them, for they are a rebellious house.
• Psalms 84:10For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
• Matthew 6:33But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
• Acts 20:24But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
• Philippians 1:20according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.
• 1 Thessalonians 3:7therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith.

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