Psalms 137:8-9
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)
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This verse doesn't just express anger; it sees Babylon as already "doomed" and "destroyed" in God's eyes, even while it's still a powerful force. The pronouncement of "blessedness" on the one who exacts vengeance is a declaration that this retribution isn't just human revenge, but the execution of divine justice.
The psalm plunges into the raw pain of exile, with the captives sitting by Babylonian rivers, lamenting their lost homeland. This verse then shifts to a passionate curse against Babylon, personified as a doomed "daughter," calling for vengeance and declaring that whoever inflicts the same suffering on Babylon as they endured will be blessed. The surrounding verses detail the brutal methods of this retribution, emphasizing a desire for complete destruction.
In the depths of exile, the Psalmist cries out not just in pain, but with a vision of justice. How can such strong words of retribution be found in Scripture?
This verse is a powerful prophetic declaration of judgment against Babylon. The phrase 'O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed' isn't just an angry outburst; it's a foretelling based on God's sovereign plan. Even though Babylon stood mighty, the prophets saw its inevitable downfall as God's righteous decree. The Hebrew word translated 'destroyed' (or 'wasted' in some translations) speaks of a future desolation that was certain in God's eyes, even if not yet accomplished in human history. This isn't a call for personal vengeance, but an acknowledgment of God's ultimate justice that will bring ruin to oppressors.
The verse speaks of a 'blessed' or 'happy' person who will enact revenge. Who is this person, and what does 'happy' truly mean here?
The Psalmist declares, 'blessed shall he be who repays you with what you have done to us!' This 'blessedness' isn't about personal joy or a moral endorsement of revenge. Instead, it points to the person who becomes God's chosen instrument to carry out His judgment against Babylon. Historically, this points to figures like Cyrus the Great, who conquered Babylon. For the Jewish exiles, seeing Babylon destroyed by an outside force like Cyrus was an act of divine vindication. This 'happiness' or 'blessedness' is the fulfillment of God's justice through a human agent, proving that God is indeed working out His purposes, even through conquest.
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 or finalized after the fall of Babylon, looking back at the deep wounds inflicted by the exile and expressing a raw, human desire for justice. It reveals the intense emotional landscape of God's people during a period of immense suffering and deliverance.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar's forces capture Jerusalem, initiating the Babylonian exile by deporting some of the Jewish nobility and skilled workers. This marks the beginning of the period of Babylonian domination over Judah.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling most of the remaining population to Babylon. This catastrophic event fuels the deep sorrow and longing expressed in Psalms 137.
c. 539 BC
Fall of Babylon to Persia
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon, ending the Neo-Babylonian Empire. This event is seen by the psalmists and prophets as divine judgment against Babylon.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus
Cyrus issues a decree allowing Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. While a moment of hope, the memory of Babylonian cruelty remains.
This passage directly parallels the sentiment of Psalm 137:8, explicitly calling for retaliation against Babylon for its sins against God's people.
Isaiah 13:16This prophecy against Babylon speaks of the brutal violence that will befall its inhabitants, echoing the harshness of the retribution described in Psalm 137:8.
Revelation 18:6This New Testament passage describes the judgment of 'Babylon' (understood as a symbolic representation of oppressive systems) and calls for her to be repaid for her deeds, mirroring the imprecatory tone of the psalm.
Romans 12:19While Psalm 137:8 expresses a desire for retributive justice, Romans 12:19 offers a contrasting divine perspective, calling believers to 'never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God,' highlighting the tension between human anger and God's justice.
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 anger; it sees Babylon as already "doomed" and "destroyed" in God's eyes, even while it's still a powerful force. The pronouncement of "blessedness" on the one who exacts vengeance is a declaration that this retribution isn't just human revenge, but the execution of divine justice.
The psalm plunges into the raw pain of exile, with the captives sitting by Babylonian rivers, lamenting their lost homeland. This verse then shifts to a passionate curse against Babylon, personified as a doomed "daughter," calling for vengeance and declaring that whoever inflicts the same suffering on Babylon as they endured will be blessed. The surrounding verses detail the brutal methods of this retribution, emphasizing a desire for complete destruction.
The psalm plunges into the raw pain of exile, with the captives sitting by Babylonian rivers, lamenting their lost homeland. This verse then shifts to a passionate curse against Babylon, personified as a doomed "daughter," calling for vengeance and declaring that whoever inflicts the same suffering on Babylon as they endured will be blessed. The surrounding verses detail the brutal methods of this retribution, emphasizing a desire for complete destruction.
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c. 5th century BC
Possible Composition of Psalm 137
While debated, many scholars date Psalm 137 to the post-exilic period, reflecting on the trauma of the exile and the eventual fall of Babylon. The psalm expresses a powerful, albeit harsh, yearning for divine justice.
"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 anger; it sees Babylon as already "doomed" and "destroyed" in God's eyes, even while it's still a powerful force. The pronouncement of "blessedness" on the one who e…
