O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed, blessed shall he be who repays you with what you have done to us! Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock!
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse doesn't just express a desire for revenge; it declares a blessing on the one who enacts divine justice. The phrase "doomed to be destroyed" is a proleptic statement, anticipating a future judgment that is certain, even if not yet fully realized. It highlights how this retribution is framed not as personal vengeance, but as the execution of God's righteous plan.
O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed, blessed shall he be who repays you with what you have done to us! Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock!
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalm expresses the deep sorrow and anger of exiled Israelites in Babylon, remembering their homeland and the cruelty they suffered. This verse directly curses Babylon, prophesying its destruction and blessing whoever enacts vengeance upon it as they had done to the Israelites. It anticipates God's judgment falling on their oppressors, looking forward to the day of retribution.
The psalm cries out for justice, but calls the act of vengeance a 'blessing.' How can something so harsh sound so right?
The psalm speaks of Babylon as 'doomed to be destroyed.' This isn't just a wish; it's a prophetic declaration.
A Doom Foreseen
Even though Babylon was a powerful empire, for the people of God, its ultimate destruction was a certainty, foretold by prophets. The Hebrew word translated 'doomed to be destroyed' carries a sense of inherent ruin, like something already 'wasted' in God's eyes, even if the physical destruction hadn't fully happened yet. It's a recognition that God’s judgment is sure, and what is coming is inevitable.
The 'Blessing' of Retribution
The verse calls the one who enacts this destruction 'blessed.' This doesn't mean vengeance is good in itself, but that the instrument of God's judgment is fulfilling His righteous plan. It's a 'blessing' to be used by God to right wrongs and bring His justice to bear. Think of it as a 'well done' from God for carrying out His intended justice, not an endorsement of a cruel heart.
This verse feels incredibly intense, even angry. How does such raw human emotion fit into Scripture?
The Psalms are a prayer book, meant to capture the full spectrum of human experience before God. This verse, born from immense suffering and trauma, shows us that God isn't afraid of our anger or our cries for justice.
A Window into Suffering
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The psalmist has just described the horrific abuse of their people, including the brutal killing of children (implied in the following verse). In the face of such unimaginable pain, their instinct is to seek justice and retribution. This isn't a polished theological treatise; it's a gut-wrenching cry from people who have been utterly devastated.
God's Open Ear
What's profound is that these raw, even vengeful, feelings are brought directly to God. The psalm doesn't shy away from this; it includes it. This teaches us that we can bring our deepest angers, our cries for justice, and even our desire for enemies to be repaid, right into our conversation with God. He hears it all, and in His wisdom, He uses these cries to reveal His ultimate justice and judgment.
Understand the original words
baṯ · Hebrew Noun
A poetic designation for a city or nation, often implying a personification of its inhabitants or culture. It highlights the city's character and susceptibility to judgment.
Bāḇel · Hebrew Noun
The ancient empire that conquered Judah and destroyed the Temple. In the Bible, it serves as the ultimate archetype of godless pride, idolatry, and opposition to the kingdom of God.
šādōḏ · Hebrew Adjective/Participle
A condition or status of being marked for certain judgment or catastrophe due to sin or divine decree. It conveys the certainty and finality of God's coming retribution.
'ešer · Hebrew Adjective
A pronouncement of divine favor or happiness. In a biblical context, it describes the state of one who is aligned with God's purposes or participating in His righteous justice.
This psalm was likely composed during the Babylonian exile, a period of intense suffering for the people of Judah. The raw emotion expressed in verse 8 reflects their deep pain and yearning for justice against the empire that destroyed their home and scattered their people.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
King Nebuchadnezzar captures Jerusalem and deports a portion of its population, including members of the royal family and skilled laborers, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Jewish exile.
587/586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Babylonian forces under Nebuchadnezzar destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling most of the remaining population. This devastating event forms the backdrop for the lament and vengeful cries in Psalm 137.
539 BC
Fall of Babylon to Persia
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon, ending the Neo-Babylonian Empire. This pivotal event ushers in a new era and fulfills prophecies of Babylon's downfall.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus
Cyrus issues a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to their homeland and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. This marks the beginning of the return from exile.
c. 4th century BC
Decline of Babylon
Although it remained a significant city for a time under Persian rule, Babylon gradually declined in importance and population, foreshadowing its eventual ruin.
This passage directly echoes the brutal vengeance prophesied against Babylon in Psalm 137, detailing the horrific violence against children that the Psalmist calls down upon the city.
Jeremiah 50:15This verse in Jeremiah contains a divine command to retaliate against Babylon, directly mirroring the 'repay her as she has served' sentiment found in Psalm 137:8.
Revelation 18:6This New Testament passage describes a future judgment upon 'Babylon,' using language that reflects the desire for retribution and justice for wrongs committed, as seen in the Psalm.
Romans 12:19While Psalm 137 expresses a desire for vengeance, Romans 12:19 offers a contrasting perspective, urging believers not to 'take the law into their own hands' but to leave vengeance to God, highlighting the tension between human desire for justice and divine prerogative.
pulpitPsalms 137:8: "O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us."
Verse 8. - O daughter of Babylon; i.e. O nation of the Babylonians (comp. Isaiah 47:1, 5; Psalm 9:14, etc.). Who art to be destroyed; literally, thou desolated one. The desolation of Babylon began with its capture by Cyrus, but was not completed for many centuries. In the Archaemenian period it was one of the chief cities of the empire. Even under the Parthians it was s…
ellicottPsalms 137:8: "O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us."
(8) Daughter of Babylon— i.e., Babylon itself. (See Psalm 9:14 , Note.) Who art to be destroyed.—Considerable doubt attaches to the meaning of the Hebrew word here. Our version is that of Theodotion. Aquila and Jerome have “wasted” (comp. Prayer Book version); Symmachus, “robber;” the LXX. and Vulg., “wretched.” As pointed, the word is a passive participle, and must be…
This verse doesn't just express a desire for revenge; it declares a blessing on the one who enacts divine justice. The phrase "doomed to be destroyed" is a proleptic statement, anticipating a future judgment that is certain, even if not yet fully realized. It highlights how this retribution is framed not as personal vengeance, but as the execution of God's righteous plan.
The psalm expresses the deep sorrow and anger of exiled Israelites in Babylon, remembering their homeland and the cruelty they suffered. This verse directly curses Babylon, prophesying its destruction and blessing whoever enacts vengeance upon it as they had done to the Israelites. It anticipates God's judgment falling on their oppressors, looking forward to the day of retribution.
The psalm expresses the deep sorrow and anger of exiled Israelites in Babylon, remembering their homeland and the cruelty they suffered. This verse directly curses Babylon, prophesying its destruction and blessing whoever enacts vengeance upon it as they had done to the Israelites. It anticipates God's judgment falling on their oppressors, looking forward to the day of retribution.
"O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed, blessed shall he be who repays you with what you have done to us! Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock!" — This verse doesn't just express a desire for revenge; it declares a blessing on the one who enacts divine justice. The phrase "doomed to be destroyed" is a proleptic statement, anticipating a future…
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Last reviewed October 2026