Psalms 137:1 Meaning and Explanation
“By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Exiled Israelites weep by Babylon's rivers, overwhelmed with grief when remembering their homeland.
The Context of Psalms 137:1
The psalm opens the lament of Judean exiles during the Babylonian captivity (586–539 BCE).
What Does Psalms 137:1 Mean?
The Babylonian exile removed thousands of Judeans from their land and temple worship. They settled by the rivers of Babylon (modern Iraq), a foreign landscape vastly different from Zion's hills. The simple act of sitting down by water becomes a moment of collective sorrow.
Memory of Zion—Jerusalem and the temple—triggers their weeping. This is not mere homesickness but spiritual anguish at separation from God's covenant land. Their tears express the depth of displacement and loss during captivity.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 137:1
What does Psalms 137:1 mean?
Exiled Israelites weep by Babylon's rivers, overwhelmed with grief when remembering their homeland.
What is the context of Psalms 137:1?
The psalm opens the lament of Judean exiles during the Babylonian captivity (586–539 BCE).