By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The weeping here wasn't just about sadness; it was a profound act of remembrance, a deliberate turning towards Zion's memory when surrounded by the waters of Babylon. This posture of sitting and weeping wasn't simply passive sorrow, but a way to express their identity and connection to God's chosen place even in exile.
By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Exiled by their conquerors, the Israelites find themselves by the canals and rivers of Babylon, far from their beloved Jerusalem. The sight of these foreign waters triggers a profound grief, as they recall the beauty and sanctity of Zion, their devastated homeland. This memory brings forth their tears, a poignant expression of their deep sorrow and longing for what they have lost.
Imagine sitting by a foreign river, miles from home, with only your sorrow for company. This verse paints a vivid picture of exiled Israelites.
What does the specific location tell us about their state?
A Landscape of Loss
The Psalmist doesn't just say they were sad; he places their sadness firmly by the "rivers of Babylon." This wasn't a random spot.
Their tears weren't just for their present hardship, but for a deep, aching memory. What was it about Zion that caused such profound grief?
The Weight of What Was Lost
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The core of their sorrow wasn't just being away from home; it was the vivid, painful memory of what Zion represented and its current state.
Understand the original words
Babel · Hebrew Proper Noun
In the Old Testament, this refers to the city of Babylon, but also symbolically represents the place of exile, alienation from God’s presence, and oppression by pagan nations. It is often contrasted with Zion/Jerusalem as a place of spiritual darkness.
Tsiyyon · Hebrew Proper Noun
In the Bible, this is the mountain or city where God chose to dwell among His people. It represents the presence of God, the place of worship, the covenant kingdom, and the ultimate hope for God’s people in their restoration.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon captures Jerusalem and deports a portion of its inhabitants, including members of the royal family and skilled workers, to Babylon.
597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar deports more Judeans, including the prophet Ezekiel, following a revolt in Jerusalem.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, deporting the majority of the remaining population to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian Exile.
c. 539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great conquers the Babylonian Empire, leading to a shift in the political landscape for the Jewish exiles.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus
Cyrus issues a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple, marking the end of the Babylonian Exile.
This passage vividly describes the desolation of Jerusalem ('Zion') after its fall, mirroring the deep sorrow and remembrance of home that the captives felt in Psalm 137.
Jeremiah 51:13This verse mentions Babylon's vast waters and wealth, providing geographical context for the 'rivers of Babylon' where the exiles sat, and hinting at the prosperity of the captors contrasted with the captives' sorrow.
Ezekiel 1:1Ezekiel, another prophet in exile, also describes sitting by the river Chebar in Babylon, indicating this was a common place for the Jewish exiles to gather and reflect, reinforcing the setting of Psalm 137.
Acts 16:13This New Testament passage shows Jewish women gathering by a river outside Philippi for prayer, illustrating a historical and cultural practice of seeking quiet places by water for worship and reflection, which connects to the scene in Psalm 137.
gillPsalms 137:1: "By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion."
By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down,.... If by Babylon is meant the country, then the rivers of it are Chebar, Ulai, Tigris, Euphrates, and others; see Ezekiel 1:1 ; but if the city itself, then only Euphrates, which ran through it; and is expressed by rivers, because of the largeness of it, and because of the several canals cut out of it, for the service of the city; hence Babylon is sai…
ellicottPsalms 137:1: "By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion."
(1) By the rivers . . .—Mentioned as the characteristic feature of the country, as we say “among the mountains of Wales.” The canals which irrigated Babylonia made it what an ancient writer called it, the greatest of “cities of river places.”
The weeping here wasn't just about sadness; it was a profound act of remembrance, a deliberate turning towards Zion's memory when surrounded by the waters of Babylon. This posture of sitting and weeping wasn't simply passive sorrow, but a way to express their identity and connection to God's chosen place even in exile.
Exiled by their conquerors, the Israelites find themselves by the canals and rivers of Babylon, far from their beloved Jerusalem. The sight of these foreign waters triggers a profound grief, as they recall the beauty and sanctity of Zion, their devastated homeland. This memory brings forth their tears, a poignant expression of their deep sorrow and longing for what they have lost.
Exiled by their conquerors, the Israelites find themselves by the canals and rivers of Babylon, far from their beloved Jerusalem. The sight of these foreign waters triggers a profound grief, as they recall the beauty and sanctity of Zion, their devastated homeland. This memory brings forth their tears, a poignant expression of their deep sorrow and longing for what they have lost.
"By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion." — The weeping here wasn't just about sadness; it was a profound act of remembrance, a deliberate turning towards Zion's memory when surrounded by the waters of Babylon. This posture of sitting and weep…
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Last reviewed October 2026