Psalm 137 6

Psalm 137:6 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.

Psalm 137:6 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.

Psalm 137:6 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.

Psalm 137:6 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!

Psalm 137:6 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.

Psalm 137 verses

Psalm 137 6 Meaning

Psalm 137:6 is a solemn and passionate vow of undying loyalty and remembrance to Jerusalem, spoken by the Jewish exiles in Babylon. It declares that if the psalmist were ever to forget the spiritual and historical significance of Jerusalem, symbolizing their covenantal identity and the presence of God, then may their own right hand lose its ability and skill. This represents a profound self-imprecation, expressing that life would be meaningless and effectiveness impossible without the central place of Jerusalem in their hearts and minds. It underscores an unshakeable commitment to their heritage, worship, and national hope.

Psalm 137 6 Context

Psalm 137, an exilic psalm, encapsulates the deep anguish and steadfast hope of the Jewish people deported to Babylon after the destruction of Jerusalem and its sacred Temple in 586 BC by Nebuchadnezzar. The opening verses paint a picture of their sorrow, "By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion" (Ps 137:1), having hung their harps in despair. The captors taunted them, demanding "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!" (Ps 137:3), a cruel mockery asking them to profane sacred songs in a foreign land. In this desolate setting, the exiles declare their utter refusal to forget Jerusalem or perform their sacred music for their captors (Ps 137:4-5). Verse 6 is the zenith of this pledge, a solemn vow. It's not merely nostalgia but a profound declaration of enduring covenantal identity, refusing to assimilate into Babylonian culture or abandon their core allegiance to the God of Israel and His chosen city, which represented their spiritual and national lifeblood.

Psalm 137 6 Word analysis

• If I forget you, O Jerusalem:

  • This is a conditional clause, marking a deep hypothetical betrayal. The "If" (Hebrew: im) introduces a severe oath.
  • To "forget" (Hebrew: shakach) here means more than a simple memory lapse; it implies abandoning loyalty, forsaking, or disowning. It's a failure to cherish and maintain covenantal allegiance.
  • "O Jerusalem" (Hebrew: Yerushalayim): Addressing the city directly emphasizes the psalmist's personal, emotional, and spiritual attachment. Jerusalem was the administrative, religious, and spiritual heart of Israel—the City of David, the location of the Temple, and thus, symbolically, the dwelling place of God's presence and the epicenter of their identity and worship. To forget Jerusalem was to forget their heritage, their God, and their hope.

• let my right hand forget its skill!:

  • This is a self-imprecation, a form of solemn oath where the speaker calls down a curse upon themselves if they fail to uphold their vow.
  • "My right hand" (Hebrew: yemini): The right hand symbolizes power, strength, skill, and effectiveness. It was the hand used for crafting, playing musical instruments (like the harps mentioned in Ps 137:2), writing, warfare (holding weapons), and taking oaths. It signifies one's livelihood and ability to contribute to society and perform their life's calling.
  • "Forget its skill": Implies a profound and devastating loss of capability. It means becoming utterly useless or ineffective, a crippling affliction. For a musician, it's losing the ability to play; for a craftsman, the inability to work; for a warrior, the inability to fight. This signifies a self-imposed judgment: if their spiritual focus on Jerusalem were lost, then their ability to function meaningfully would likewise cease. The psalmist expresses that he would rather be incapacitated than disloyal to Jerusalem.

• words-group: "If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill!":

  • This entire phrase forms an antithetical parallelism within a covenantal oath. The forgetting of Jerusalem is mirrored by the forgetting of the hand's skill. The profoundness of the oath demonstrates the utter commitment.
  • It is a defiance against cultural assimilation. The exiles were under pressure to adopt Babylonian gods and ways. This vow rejects that entirely, pledging ultimate allegiance to their divine heritage represented by Jerusalem.
  • The psalmist’s readiness to invoke such a dire consequence upon himself illustrates the extraordinary importance of Jerusalem as the symbol of their national, religious, and spiritual identity. Their physical capacities were utterly bound to their spiritual commitment.

Psalm 137 6 Bonus section

In ancient Near Eastern cultures, oaths invoking self-curse were extremely serious, serving as binding covenants where the person would effectively consign themselves to a terrible fate if they broke their word. This specific oath in Psalm 137:6 showcases a level of solemnity beyond mere strong feelings; it's a sacred vow designed to prevent spiritual or national defection, binding the very functionality of their physical being to their profound commitment to Zion. It represents a spiritual resolve that even under immense duress, the people of God prioritize their connection to Him and His sacred symbols above all earthly considerations, including personal well-being or convenience. This psalm's concluding verses, while unsettling to modern readers, further underscore the intense emotion and fervent desire for vindication and ultimate justice for Jerusalem.

Psalm 137 6 Commentary

Psalm 137:6 is a deeply poignant expression of unwavering devotion. In the crucible of Babylonian exile, with Jerusalem a heap of ruins, the psalmist pronounces an ultimate loyalty oath. The core sentiment is that their identity, skill, and very effectiveness in life are inextricably linked to the remembrance and value of Jerusalem. For them, Jerusalem was more than just a city; it embodied God's covenant presence, their heritage, their corporate worship, and their national future. The self-imprecation—wishing physical incapacitation (the right hand forgetting its skill)—underscores the depth of this commitment. It’s a vow that life would be unlivable and purpose utterly lost if they ever betrayed this foundational bond. This commitment speaks against succumbing to despair, spiritual apathy, or assimilation into a foreign culture. It teaches us the importance of holding fast to our spiritual heritage and convictions, prioritizing our ultimate allegiances above temporal comfort or external pressures. For the believer, this resonates as a commitment to the heavenly Jerusalem (Heb 12:22), the church, and the Kingdom of God—that our spiritual abilities and service would cease if we were to forsake our true allegiance.