Remember, O LORD, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem, how they said, “Lay it bare, lay it bare, down to its foundations!”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The most striking part here is the specific, guttural cry of the Edomites: "Lay it bare, lay it bare, down to its foundations!" This isn't just Schadenfreude; it's a desire for utter annihilation, a complete erasure of Jerusalem’s existence, driven by an ancient, deep-seated hostility despite their shared heritage.
Remember, O LORD, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem, how they said, “Lay it bare, lay it bare, down to its foundations!”
English Standard Version (ESV)
As the exiles weep by the rivers of Babylon, their hearts ache for Jerusalem. This verse marks a shift from their personal sorrow to a cry for divine justice against those who not only allowed but actively participated in Jerusalem's destruction. Specifically, it calls out the Edomites, their kinsmen, for their cruel taunts and destructive actions on the day their city fell.
Why would the Psalmist call down judgment on the Edomites? It wasn't just about proximity, but a deep betrayal of kinship and a cruel delight in suffering.
The Edomites, descendants of Esau (Jacob's brother), had a shared ancestry with the Israelites. Yet, in Jerusalem's darkest hour, they didn't offer comfort or aid. Instead, they actively participated in its destruction, even shouting, 'Lay it bare, lay it bare, down to its foundations!' This wasn't just an act of war; it was a malicious glee in their cousins' devastation. The commentary highlights this as a significant betrayal, a 'cruel joy' that stemmed from an 'old grudge' and a profound lack of compassion, turning brother against brother in the most brutal way.
When God 'remembers,' it's not forgetfulness being corrected. It's a purposeful recall for justice and accountability.
The Psalmist's plea, 'Remember, O LORD,' isn't a reminder to a forgetful deity. In biblical terms, God 'remembering' often signifies an active recollection that leads to divine action – judgment for the wicked and deliverance for the faithful. Here, it's a cry for justice against the Edomites' brutal actions. The commentaries point out that this isn't a personal, vengeful prayer in the human sense, but an invocation of God's righteous judgment, confirming His promises of retribution against those who harm His people. It's about holding evil accountable.
Is this plea for vengeance, or something deeper? Understanding the Psalmist's perspective reveals a prayer rooted in divine justice, not mere human anger.
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The intense language of 'Lay it bare, lay it bare, down to its foundations!' and the subsequent call for God to 'Remember' can feel harsh. However, biblical scholars note that these are not simply outbursts of personal hatred. The Psalmist, inspired by the Spirit, is acting as a prophet, echoing God's own pronouncements of judgment found in prophetic books like Obadiah and Ezekiel. This isn't about the Psalmist seeking vengeance for himself, but about acknowledging God's sovereign justice and His declared judgment against those who oppose Him and oppress His people. It's a prophetic declaration that God will bring account.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God revealed to Israel. It signifies His eternal self-existence, His faithfulness to His promises, and His intimate relationship with His people.
'Ĕdōm · Hebrew Noun
The descendants of Esau, brother of Jacob; they represent a historical rival and hostile neighbor to Israel. In prophetic literature, they are often used as an archetype of those who despise God's people and rejoice in their suffering.
This psalm was likely written by an exile remembering the brutal fall of Jerusalem. The specific mention of the Edomites highlights their betrayal as kinsmen who not only stood by but actively encouraged the destruction, making their role a particularly bitter memory for the defeated Judeans.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportations
King Nebuchadnezzar begins deporting Jewish elites to Babylon, including figures like Daniel. This marks the start of the Babylonian exile and the weakening of Judah.
c. 588-587 BC— this verse
Siege and Destruction of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar's forces lay siege to Jerusalem. The Edomites, kinsmen of the Israelites, sided with the Babylonians, actively participating in the city's destruction and the suffering of its people.
c. 587 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
Jerusalem falls, its walls are torn down, and Solomon's Temple is destroyed. Many Judeans are exiled to Babylon, leaving behind a devastated homeland.
c. 580-520 BC
Prophets Denounce Edom
Prophets like Obadiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel deliver messages of judgment against Edom for their actions during Jerusalem's fall, detailing their cruelty and celebrating their downfall.
c. 539 BC
Fall of Babylon
The mighty Babylonian empire is conquered by the Persians, leading to a shift in regional power and the eventual return of some Jewish exiles to Jerusalem.
This passage directly describes Edom's hostile actions against their brother Jacob (Israel) during Jerusalem's downfall, mirroring the cry to 'lay it bare' in Psalm 137.
Lamentations 4:21-22Here, the prophet warns Edom, speaking of the same historical event and charging them with rejoicing in Judah's destruction and desiring its utter ruin.
Ezekiel 25:12Ezekiel prophesies judgment against Edom for acting vengefully against Judah and thus showing contempt. This highlights the deep-seated enmity mentioned in the Psalm.
Jeremiah 49:7-11This prophecy denounces Edom for its pride and for abandoning its kin in their time of distress, echoing the sentiment of betrayal and cruelty in Psalm 137.
ellicottPsalms 137:7: "Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof."
(7) Remember . . .— Remember, Jehovah, for the children of Edom the day of Jerusalem. The prophecy of Obadiah gives the best comment on this verse: “For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever. In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his for…
clarkePsalms 137:7: "Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof."
Remember - the children of Edom - It appears from Jeremiah 12:6 ; Jeremiah 25:14 ; Lamentations 4:21 , Lamentations 4:22 ; Ezekiel 25:12 ; Obadiah 1:11-14 ; that the Idumeans joined the army of Nebuchadnezzar against their brethren the Jews; and that they were main instruments in rasing the walls of Jerusalem even to the ground.
The most striking part here is the specific, guttural cry of the Edomites: "Lay it bare, lay it bare, down to its foundations!" This isn't just Schadenfreude; it's a desire for utter annihilation, a complete erasure of Jerusalem’s existence, driven by an ancient, deep-seated hostility despite their shared heritage.
As the exiles weep by the rivers of Babylon, their hearts ache for Jerusalem. This verse marks a shift from their personal sorrow to a cry for divine justice against those who not only allowed but actively participated in Jerusalem's destruction. Specifically, it calls out the Edomites, their kinsmen, for their cruel taunts and destructive actions on the day their city fell.
As the exiles weep by the rivers of Babylon, their hearts ache for Jerusalem. This verse marks a shift from their personal sorrow to a cry for divine justice against those who not only allowed but actively participated in Jerusalem's destruction. Specifically, it calls out the Edomites, their kinsmen, for their cruel taunts and destructive actions on the day their city fell.
"Remember, O LORD, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem, how they said, “Lay it bare, lay it bare, down to its foundations!”" — The most striking part here is the specific, guttural cry of the Edomites: "Lay it bare, lay it bare, down to its foundations!" This isn't just Schadenfreude; it's a desire for utter annihilation, a…
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Last reviewed October 2026