For there our captors required of us songs, and our tormentors, mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The captors didn't just want a song; they demanded "mirth" from those who had been "wasted" and oppressed. This wasn't a neutral request for entertainment; it was a cruel taunt, forcing the exiles to perform joy while in deep sorrow, mocking their loss and their God.
For there our captors required of us songs, and our tormentors, mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The people of Israel are exiles in Babylon, deeply grieving for their lost homeland and the destruction of Jerusalem. Their captors, having plundered and oppressed them, cruelly demand that they perform joyous songs from their sacred tradition. This taunting request is made by those who have devastated their lives and city, highlighting the profound insult and mockery intended.
Imagine this: you're at your lowest, your world shattered, and then your oppressors demand you sing. It's not just insensitive; it's a profound insult.
The demand for a 'song' and 'mirth' from the exiled Israelites wasn't a casual request. It was a deliberate act designed to mock their suffering and their God.
A Double Insult
Why were these 'songs of Zion' so significant? It wasn't just about music; it was about identity, worship, and a deep connection to God's presence.
The demand for the 'songs of Zion' struck at the very heart of the Israelites' identity and their relationship with God. These weren't just any songs; they were sacred hymns tied to their covenant and worship.
More Than Just Melodies
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Understand the original words
shabah · Hebrew Noun
Used here to refer to those who have taken the Israelites into captivity; generally, it signifies those who exert power over God’s people in an unrighteous or oppressive manner.
shiyrah Tsiyyon · Hebrew Noun Phrase
Songs intended for the worship of Yahweh, specifically associated with the liturgical life of the Temple and the expression of devotion to the covenant God of Israel.
The psalm captures the profound sorrow and humiliation of the exiles, forced to remember their vibrant worship and homeland by their oppressors in the immediate aftermath of Jerusalem's destruction.
605 BC
First Deportation of Jews to Babylon
Under King Nebuchadnezzar II, a portion of the Jewish elite and skilled workers, including members of the royal family and prophets like Daniel, were taken to Babylon. This marked the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
597 BC
Second Deportation of Jews to Babylon
Following a revolt against Babylonian rule, King Jehoiachin and another large group of Judeans, including priests and artisans, were exiled to Babylon. This period intensified the suffering and displacement of the people.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar's forces finally destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple, the heart of Jewish worship and national identity. The remaining population was largely exiled to Babylon, leaving the land devastated.
c. 580 BC
Psalms 137 Composed
The psalm reflects the deep sorrow and longing of the exiles during their Babylonian captivity, specifically recalling the taunts and insults they faced from their captors who demanded songs of Zion.
539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquered Babylon, leading to a shift in political power and eventually allowing the Jewish exiles to return to their homeland.
538 BC
Decree of Cyrus Allowing Return
Cyrus issued a decree permitting the Jewish exiles to return to Judah and rebuild their Temple. This marked the end of the Babylonian exile for many.
This passage vividly describes Jerusalem's devastation and the grief of its people, echoing the sorrow and loss felt by the exiles in Psalm 137.
Ezekiel 33:30-32Ezekiel confronts the exiles for treating God's word as mere entertainment, a parallel to the Babylonians' demand for songs that highlights the sacredness of worship.
Job 30:1-14Job recounts his extreme suffering and mockery by his former peers, reflecting the torment and humiliation the exiles faced from their captors.
Isaiah 14:13-15This prophetic passage details the downfall of Babylon's king, who desired to exalt himself like God, paralleling the arrogance of the oppressors who demanded the songs of Zion.
gillPsalms 137:3: "For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion."
For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song,.... Or, "words of a song" (z). To repeat the words of one of the songs of Zion, as it is afterwards expressed: this the Babylonians did, as the Targum; who were they that carried the Jews into captivity; and this is given as a reason why they hung their harps o…
ellicottPsalms 137:3: "For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion."
(3) A song. —See margin. The expression is generally regarded as pleonastic, but may be explained as in Psalm 105:27 , where see Note. Perhaps “some lyric thing” would express the original. No doubt it is a Levite who is requested to sing. They that wasted us.—A peculiar Hebrew word which the LXX. and Vulg. take as synonymous…
The captors didn't just want a song; they demanded "mirth" from those who had been "wasted" and oppressed. This wasn't a neutral request for entertainment; it was a cruel taunt, forcing the exiles to perform joy while in deep sorrow, mocking their loss and their God.
The people of Israel are exiles in Babylon, deeply grieving for their lost homeland and the destruction of Jerusalem. Their captors, having plundered and oppressed them, cruelly demand that they perform joyous songs from their sacred tradition. This taunting request is made by those who have devastated their lives and city, highlighting the profound insult and mockery intended.
The people of Israel are exiles in Babylon, deeply grieving for their lost homeland and the destruction of Jerusalem. Their captors, having plundered and oppressed them, cruelly demand that they perform joyous songs from their sacred tradition. This taunting request is made by those who have devastated their lives and city, highlighting the profound insult and mockery intended.
"For there our captors required of us songs, and our tormentors, mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”" — The captors didn't just want a song; they demanded "mirth" from those who had been "wasted" and oppressed. This wasn't a neutral request for entertainment; it was a cruel taunt, forcing the exiles to…
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Last reviewed October 2026