By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. On the willows there we hung up our lyres.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The weeping isn't just about missing home; it's about the profound sorrow of remembering what used to be in Zion – its worship, its beauty, and God's presence there, now replaced by desolation. This contrast between past joy and present ruin is what fuels their tears.
By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. On the willows there we hung up our lyres.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The people of Israel are in exile, forcibly removed from their homeland and their beloved city, Jerusalem (Zion). By the canals and rivers of Babylon, they gather, overcome with grief and longing for the place they've lost. Their sorrow is amplified as they recall the joys and the sacred presence of God in Zion, now a painful memory contrasted with their present desolation.
Imagine being so far from home, surrounded by a foreign landscape, that even the flowing water brings you to your knees in sorrow. What does this imagery tell us about their deep pain?
The psalmist paints a vivid picture of exile. "By the rivers of Babylon" isn't just a geographical marker; it's the backdrop for profound grief.
A Foreign Soil
Babylon was a land known for its extensive water systems – the mighty Euphrates and its many canals. This was a stark contrast to the hills and springs of Zion.
The Posture of Grief
"There we sat down" signifies more than just resting. It's the posture of mourners, a quiet, settled sorrow. They weren't just passing through; they were dwelling in their grief, finding a place by these foreign waters to let their pain flow.
What makes a memory hurt so much that it brings you to tears? This verse reveals the sharp contrast between past joy and present despair.
The core of their weeping wasn't just the present hardship; it was the memory of what they had lost.
The Joy of Zion
Remembering Zion meant recalling a place of worship, community, and God's presence. It was the sanctuary, the city of God, filled with songs, sacrifices, and fellowship.
The Agony of Contrast
This vivid memory of Zion made their current state in Babylon unbearable. The 'what was' amplified the 'what is.' Their past blessings only served to deepen the sting of their present exile and the desolation of their beloved homeland.
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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.
This psalm captures the profound sorrow of exile. The imagery of weeping by the rivers of Babylon vividly portrays the shock and grief of a people forcibly removed from their homeland and separated from the sacred presence of God in Zion.
722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting a significant portion of its population and scattering them throughout the empire. This event marked the beginning of large-scale forced deportations of Israelites.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian army defeats the Egyptians and besieges Jerusalem. As a result, King Jehoiakim and many prominent citizens and skilled workers, including the prophet Daniel, are exiled to Babylon.
597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar deports more Judeans to Babylon, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel. This event further diminishes the population and strength of Jerusalem.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
The Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar breach Jerusalem's walls, destroy the First Temple, and carry off most of the remaining population as captives to Babylon. This is the most devastating event for the Judean people.
c. 539 BC
Fall of Babylon to Persia
Cyrus the Great conquers the Babylonian Empire. This conquest ushers in a new era and eventually leads to the decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to their homeland.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus
Cyrus the Great issues a decree permitting the Jewish exiles to return to Judah and rebuild their Temple in Jerusalem. This marks the beginning of the return from Babylonian captivity.
This passage describes Babylon as a city 'full of merchandise' situated 'by abundant waters,' directly echoing the geographical setting and the sense of overwhelming presence of water mentioned in Psalm 137:1.
Lamentations 1:1-2These verses paint a vivid picture of Jerusalem's desolation after its fall, mirroring the profound sorrow and 'remembering Zion' that caused the exiles to weep by the rivers of Babylon.
Ezekiel 1:1Ezekiel, also a captive in Babylon, describes receiving his visions 'by the river Chebar,' a location that aligns with the setting of the Psalm and emphasizes the spiritual experience amidst exile.
Nehemiah 1:4Nehemiah's deep sorrow and weeping upon hearing about Jerusalem's state shows a similar heartbroken remembrance of Zion, even generations later, highlighting the enduring pain of exile.
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 isn't just about missing home; it's about the profound sorrow of remembering what used to be in Zion – its worship, its beauty, and God's presence there, now replaced by desolation. This contrast between past joy and present ruin is what fuels their tears.
The people of Israel are in exile, forcibly removed from their homeland and their beloved city, Jerusalem (Zion). By the canals and rivers of Babylon, they gather, overcome with grief and longing for the place they've lost. Their sorrow is amplified as they recall the joys and the sacred presence of God in Zion, now a painful memory contrasted with their present desolation.
The people of Israel are in exile, forcibly removed from their homeland and their beloved city, Jerusalem (Zion). By the canals and rivers of Babylon, they gather, overcome with grief and longing for the place they've lost. Their sorrow is amplified as they recall the joys and the sacred presence of God in Zion, now a painful memory contrasted with their present desolation.
"By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. On the willows there we hung up our lyres." — The weeping isn't just about missing home; it's about the profound sorrow of remembering what used to be in Zion – its worship, its beauty, and God's presence there, now replaced by desolation. Thi…
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Last reviewed October 2026