Psalm 137 7

Psalm 137:7 kjv

Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.

Psalm 137:7 nkjv

Remember, O LORD, against the sons of Edom The day of Jerusalem, Who said, "Raze it, raze it, To its very foundation!"

Psalm 137:7 niv

Remember, LORD, what the Edomites did on the day Jerusalem fell. "Tear it down," they cried, "tear it down to its foundations!"

Psalm 137:7 esv

Remember, O LORD, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem, how they said, "Lay it bare, lay it bare, down to its foundations!"

Psalm 137:7 nlt

O LORD, remember what the Edomites did
on the day the armies of Babylon captured Jerusalem.
"Destroy it!" they yelled.
"Level it to the ground!"

Psalm 137 verses

Psalm 137 7 Meaning

Psalm 137:7 is a heartfelt plea from the exiled Israelites to the LORD, asking Him to remember and exact divine justice against the nation of Edom. This is requested because Edom, their kindred nation, rejoiced and actively encouraged the total destruction of Jerusalem ("Lay it bare, lay it bare, Down to its very foundation!") during its fall to the Babylonians. It expresses a profound cry for God to respond to the malicious betrayal and complicity of a supposedly related people.

Psalm 137 7 Context

Psalm 137 is a poignant lament sung by the Judean exiles deported to Babylon after the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC. They vividly recall their grief "by the rivers of Babylon" and their longing for Zion, refusing to sing the LORD's songs in a foreign land. The psalm shifts from profound sorrow (vv. 1-6) to intense imprecation in its concluding verses (vv. 7-9). Verse 7 specifically directs the exiles' passionate call for justice against Edom, a nation with a complex and often hostile history with Israel, being descendants of Esau (Jacob's brother). During the "day of Jerusalem's" downfall, Edom not only failed to aid their "brother" but actively participated in the tragedy by celebrating Judah's ruin, preventing fugitives from escaping, and even joining in the looting, as extensively detailed in the book of Obadiah and other prophetic writings. This betrayal deeply festered in the minds of the exiled Israelites, leading to this fervent prayer for divine reckoning.

Psalm 137 7 Word analysis

• "Remember" (זְכֹר, zekhor): This is more than a passive recall; it's an imperative plea for the LORD to act decisively. In biblical context, for God to "remember" often means He will bring justice or intervene according to His covenant or promises. It implies active intervention and judgment.

• "O LORD" (יְהוָה, YHWH): The covenant name of God, signifying His eternal, self-existent nature and His special relationship with Israel. The psalmist appeals to God on the basis of their covenant.

• "against the sons of Edom" (בְּנֵי אֱדוֹם, b'ney 'Edowm): Directly addresses the nation of Edom. As descendants of Esau, they were related to Israel (descendants of Jacob), which made their actions of complicity and malicious glee during Jerusalem's fall an even more profound betrayal.

• "The day of Jerusalem" (יוֹם יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, yom Yerushalayim): This phrase refers specifically to the catastrophic day of Jerusalem's destruction by the Babylonians in 586 BC, when the city and its Temple were sacked and burned.

• "Who said" (הָאֹמְרִים, ha'omrim): Emphasizes their verbal, active participation and vocal encouragement for the city's destruction. They weren't just onlookers; they were instigators in spirit.

• "Lay it bare, lay it bare" (עָרוּ עָרוּ, ‘aru ‘aru): An intense, repeated imperative. The root word implies stripping, emptying, or making naked. The repetition serves to intensify the plea for complete and utter razing, desiring the removal of every stone and structure. It signifies total devastation.

• "Down to its very foundation!" (עַד הַיְסוֹד בָּהּ, ‘ad hayesod bah): This phrase underscores the extremeness of Edom's desire for Jerusalem's destruction. They wished for Jerusalem to be dismantled stone by stone until nothing remained but the bare ground upon which it was built, emphasizing total annihilation and eradication.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Remember, O LORD, against the sons of Edom": This phrase encapsulates a profound prayer for divine intervention and righteous judgment. It's an appeal for God's covenant justice to be unleashed against a specific nation that sinned egregiously against His people and His holy city. It underlines the belief that God is actively involved in history and judges nations for their deeds.
  • "The day of Jerusalem, Who said, 'Lay it bare, lay it bare, Down to its very foundation!'": This passage details Edom's specific transgression and its heinous nature. It highlights their gloating and verbal advocacy for absolute destruction, revealing a deep-seated malice and antipathy far beyond simple indifference. This vocal complicity is singled out as deserving of God's memory and subsequent judgment.

Psalm 137 7 Bonus section

The intense language of Psalm 137, including verse 7 and the subsequent verse against Babylon, belongs to a category of biblical prayers known as "imprecatory psalms." These psalms are often difficult for believers today, yet they serve crucial theological functions within the context of the Hebrew Bible:

• They are prayers for divine justice: The psalmist entrusts the execution of vengeance solely to God, reflecting principles like "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay" (Deut 32:35; Rom 12:19).
• They articulate righteous indignation: They express the human pain and longing for moral order when justice seems to be subverted, crying out to God to demonstrate His character as a righteous judge.
• They confess the depth of suffering: The severe emotional language reveals the profound trauma and outrage felt by those who witnessed the horrors of the destruction and betrayal.
• They are prophetic in nature: The specific judgments called for, particularly against Edom, find their fulfillment in historical events and prophecies (e.g., Obadiah), indicating God's eventual judgment upon unrepentant nations that oppose His will and harm His people. Edom, indeed, faced a desolate end, fulfilling these prophetic imprecations.

Psalm 137 7 Commentary

Psalm 137:7, embedded within the laments of Israelite exiles, is a raw cry for divine justice stemming from the deep anguish and betrayal experienced during Jerusalem's destruction. It isn't a call for personal vengeance but an appeal to the LORD, who alone holds the right to execute vengeance. The psalmist vividly recalls Edom's malicious glee and active encouragement ("Lay it bare, lay it bare, Down to its very foundation!"), not just their passive observance. This betrayal by a "brother" nation amplified the pain, highlighting the stark contrast between Esau (Edom) and Jacob (Israel) as ongoing antagonists in redemptive history. The plea for God to "remember" Edom’s actions means a prayer for Him to enact His righteous judgment in light of their transgressions against His covenant people and the holy city. It reminds us that while God is merciful, He is also a just judge who remembers wickedness and will hold nations accountable for their actions, particularly against His chosen ones. This intense prayer, while seemingly harsh to modern ears, is a faithful expression of reliance on God to rectify injustices in His timing and way, ultimately reaffirming His sovereignty and judicial power over all the earth.