Psalms 137
Study sheet, King James Version, with the original-language words this chapter turns on.
The text
1By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
2We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
3For 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.
4How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?
5If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.
6If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.
7Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.
8O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.
9Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.
Words in this chapter
Definitions are Strong's own wording from his Exhaustive Concordance (1890). Counts are how often each word appears in this chapter, from the tagged text.
- אֵתʼêthH8536× in this chapter
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
- עַלʻalH59214× in this chapter
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
- זָכַרzâkarH21423× in this chapter
properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention; to be male
- יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִםYᵉrûwshâlaimH33893× in this chapter
Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine
- אִםʼimH5183× in this chapter
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
- שִׁירshîyrH78923× in this chapter
a song; abstractly, singing
- יְהֹוָהYᵉhôvâhH30682× in this chapter
Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
- לֹאlôʼH38082× in this chapter
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
- עָרָהʻârâhH61682× in this chapter
to be (causatively, make) bare; hence, to empty, pour out, demolish
- צִיּוֹןTsîyôwnH67262× in this chapter
Tsijon (as a permanent capital), a mountain of Jerusalem
- שִׁירshîyrH78912× in this chapter
to sing
- שָׁכַחshâkachH79112× in this chapter
to mislay, i.e. to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention
- שָׁםshâmH80332× in this chapter
there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence
- שִׂמְחָהsimchâhH80572× in this chapter
blithesomeness or glee, (religious or festival)
- אֶשֶׁרʼesherH8352× in this chapter
happiness; only in masculine plural construction as interjection, how happy!
- בָּבֶלBâbelH8942× in this chapter
Babel (i.e. Babylon), including Babylonia and the Babylonian empire
- בָּכָהbâkâhH10581× in this chapter
to weep; generally to bemoan
- בֵּןbênH11211× in this chapter
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
- אֱדֹםʼĔdômH1231× in this chapter
Edom, the elder twin-brother of Jacob; hence the region (Idumaea) occupied by him
- אֲדָמָהʼădâmâhH1271× in this chapter
soil (from its general redness)
- בַּתbathH13231× in this chapter
a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
- גַּםgamH15711× in this chapter
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
- גְּמוּלgᵉmûwlH15761× in this chapter
treatment, i.e. an act (of good or ill); by implication, service or requital
- גָּמַלgâmalH15801× in this chapter
to treat a person (well or ill), i.e. benefit or requite; by implication (of toil), to ripen, i.e. (specifically) to wean
- דָּבַקdâbaqH16921× in this chapter
properly, to impinge, i.e. cling or adhere; figuratively, to catch by pursuit
- דָּבָרdâbârH16971× in this chapter
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
- חֵךְchêkH24411× in this chapter
properly, the palate or inside of the mouth; hence, the mouth itself (as the organ of speech, taste and kissing)
- אָחַזʼâchazH2701× in this chapter
to seize (often with the accessory idea of holding in possession)
- יוֹםyôwmH31171× in this chapter
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
- יָמִיןyâmîynH32251× in this chapter
the right hand or side (leg, eye) of a person or other object (as the stronger and more dexterous); locally, the south
- יְסוֹדyᵉçôwdH32471× in this chapter
a foundation (literally or figuratively)
- יָשַׁבyâshabH34271× in this chapter
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
- אֵיךְʼêykH3491× in this chapter
how? or how!; also where
- כִּיkîyH35881× in this chapter
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
- כִּנּוֹרkinnôwrH36581× in this chapter
a harp
- לָשׁוֹןlâshôwnH39561× in this chapter
the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of water)
- אֵלʼêlH4131× in this chapter
near, with or among; often in general, to
- נָהָרnâhârH51041× in this chapter
a stream (including the sea; expectation the Nile, Euphrates, etc.); figuratively, prosperity
- נֵכָרnêkârH52361× in this chapter
foreign, or (concretely) a foreigner, or (abstractly) heathendom
- נָפַץnâphatsH53101× in this chapter
to dash to pieces, or scatter