1 By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down, yea, we wept, When we remembered Zion.Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- By the rivers H5104 (נָהָר) — a stream (including the sea; expectation the Nile, Euphrates, etc.); figuratively, prosperity
- of Babylon H894 (בָּבֶל) — Babel (i.e. Babylon), including Babylonia and the Babylonian empire
- there we sat down H3427 (יָשַׁב) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
- yea, we wept H1058 (בָּכָה) — to weep; generally to bemoan
- when we remembered H2142 (זָכַר) — properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention; to be male
- Zion H6726 (צִיּוֹן) — Tsijon (as a permanent capital), a mountain of Jerusalem
2 Upon the willows in the midst thereof We hanged up our harps.Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- We hanged H8518 (תָּלָה) — to suspend (especially to gibbet)
- our harps H3658 (כִּנּוֹר) — a harp
- upon the willows H6155 (עָרָב) — a willow (from the use of osiers as wattles)
- in the midst H8432 (תָּוֶךְ) — a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre
3 For there they that led us captive required of us songs, And they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- For there they that carried us away captive H7617 (שָׁבָה) — to transport into captivity
- required H7592 (שָׁאַל) — to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand
- of us a song H7892 (שִׁיר) — a song; abstractly, singing
- of us a song H1697 (דָּבָר) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
- and they that wasted H8437 (תּוֹלָל) — causing to howl, i.e. an oppressor
- mirth H8057 (שִׂמְחָה) — blithesomeness or glee, (religious or festival)
- Sing H7891 (שִׁיר) — to sing
- of the songs H7892 (שִׁיר) — a song; abstractly, singing
- of Zion H6726 (צִיּוֹן) — Tsijon (as a permanent capital), a mountain of Jerusalem
4 How shall we sing Jehovah’s song In a foreign land?Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- How shall we sing H7891 (שִׁיר) — to sing
- Yhwh’s H3068 (יְהֹוָה) — (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God
- ong H7892 (שִׁיר) — a song; abstractly, singing
- n a strange H5236 (נֵכָר) — foreign, or (concretely) a foreigner, or (abstractly) heathendom
- and? H127 (אֲדָמָה) — soil (from its general redness)
5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget her skill.Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- If I forget H7911 (שָׁכַח) — to mislay, i.e. to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention
- thee, O Jerusalem H3389 (יְרוּשָׁלִַ͏ם) — Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine
- let my right hand H3225 (יָמִין) — the right hand or side (leg, eye) of a person or other object (as the stronger and more dexterous); locally, the south
- forget H7911 (שָׁכַח) — to mislay, i.e. to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention
6 Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, If I remember thee not; If I prefer not Jerusalem Above my chief joy.Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- If I do not remember H2142 (זָכַר) — properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention; to be male
- thee, let my tongue H3956 (לָשׁוֹן) — the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of…
- cleave H1692 (דָּבַק) — properly, to impinge, i.e. cling or adhere; figuratively, to catch by pursuit
- to the roof of my mouth H2441 (חֵךְ) — properly, the palate or inside of the mouth; hence, the mouth itself (as the organ of speech, taste and kissing)
- if I prefer H5927 (עָלָה) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
- not Jerusalem H3389 (יְרוּשָׁלִַ͏ם) — Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine
- above my chief H7218 (רֹאשׁ) — the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
- joy H8057 (שִׂמְחָה) — blithesomeness or glee, (religious or festival)
7 Remember, O Jehovah, against the children of Edom The day of Jerusalem; Who said, Rase it, rase it, Even to the foundation thereof.Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- Remember H2142 (זָכַר) — properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention; to be male
- O Yhwh H3068 (יְהֹוָה) — (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God
- the children H1121 (בֵּן) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition,…
- of Edom H123 (אֱדֹם) — Edom, the elder twin-brother of Jacob; hence the region (Idumaea) occupied by him
- in the day H3117 (יוֹם) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated ter…
- of Jerusalem H3389 (יְרוּשָׁלִַ͏ם) — Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine
- who said H559 (אָמַר) — to say (used with great latitude)
- Rase H6168 (עָרָה) — to be (causatively, make) bare; hence, to empty, pour out, demolish
- to the foundation H3247 (יְסוֹד) — a foundation (literally or figuratively)
8 O daughter of Babylon, that art to be destroyed, Happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee As thou hast served us.Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- O daughter H1323 (בַּת) — a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
- of Babylon H894 (בָּבֶל) — Babel (i.e. Babylon), including Babylonia and the Babylonian empire
- who art to be destroyed H7703 (שָׁדַד) — properly, to be burly, i.e. (figuratively) powerful (passively, impregnable); by implication, to ravage
- happy H835 (אֶשֶׁר) — happiness; only in masculine plural construction as interjection, how happy!
- that rewardeth H7999 (שָׁלַם) — to be safe (in mind, body or estate); figuratively, to be (causatively, make) completed; by implication, to be friendly; by extension, to reciprocate (in variou…
- thee as thou hast served H1576 (גְּמוּל) — treatment, i.e. an act (of good or ill); by implication, service or requital
- thee as thou hast served H1580 (גָּמַל) — to treat a person (well or ill), i.e. benefit or requite; by implication (of toil), to ripen, i.e. (specifically) to wean
9 Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones Against the rock.Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- Happy H835 (אֶשֶׁר) — happiness; only in masculine plural construction as interjection, how happy!
- that taketh H270 (אָחַז) — to seize (often with the accessory idea of holding in possession)
- and dasheth H5310 (נָפַץ) — to dash to pieces, or scatter
- thy little ones H5768 (עוֹלֵל) — a suckling
- against the stones H5553 (סֶלַע) — a craggy rock, literally or figuratively (a fortress)