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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Psalm 137:4 How can we sing a song of the LORD in a foreign land?</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/psalms/137-4.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/10/19_Psa_137_004.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Psalm 137:4 - By the Rivers of Babylon" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="How can we sing a song of the LORD in a foreign land?" /><script type="application/javascript" 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cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad4.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/psalms/137-3.htm" title="Psalm 137:3">◄</a> Psalm 137:4 <a href="/psalms/137-5.htm" title="Psalm 137:5">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/psalms/137.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/psalms/137.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />How can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a foreign land?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/psalms/137.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />But how can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a pagan land?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/psalms/137.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/psalms/137.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />How can we sing a song of the LORD in a foreign land?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/psalms/137.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/psalms/137.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />How shall we sing the LORD’s song In a foreign land?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/psalms/137.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />How can we sing the LORD’S song In a foreign land?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/psalms/137.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />How can we sing the LORD&#8217S song In a foreign land?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/psalms/137.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />How can we sing the LORD’s song In a foreign land?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/psalms/137.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />How can we sing a song of Yahweh In a foreign land?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/psalms/137.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />How can we sing the LORD’S song In a strange <i>and</i> foreign land?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/psalms/137.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />How can we sing the LORD’s song on foreign soil?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/psalms/137.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />How can we sing the LORD&#8217s song on foreign soil? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/psalms/137.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />How shall we sing Jehovah's song In a foreign land?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/psalms/137.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Here in a foreign land, how can we sing about the LORD? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/psalms/137.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/psalms/137.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />How could we sing the LORD's song in a foreign land?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/psalms/137.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />How can we sing a song to the LORD in a foreign land? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/psalms/137.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />How are we to sing the song of the LORD on foreign soil?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/psalms/137.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />How can we sing a song of the LORD in a foreign land?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/psalms/137.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />How can we sing a song to the LORD in a foreign land? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/psalms/137.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />How can we sing the LORD's song in a foreign land?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/psalms/137.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a foreign land?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/psalms/137.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />How can we sing Yahweh’s song in a foreign land? <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/psalms/137.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />How do we sing the song of YHWH, "" On the land of a stranger?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/psalms/137.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> How do we sing the song of Jehovah, On the land of a stranger?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/psalms/137.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />How shall we sing the song of Jehovah upon the land of a stranger?<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/psalms/137.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />How shall we sing the song of the Lord in a strange land? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/psalms/137.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br /><V 136:4>How can we sing a song of the Lord in a foreign land?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/psalms/137.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />But how could we sing a song of the LORD in a foreign land? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/psalms/137.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />How could we sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land?<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/psalms/137.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/psalms/137.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />How will we sing to you the praises of LORD JEHOVAH in a foreign land?<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/psalms/137.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />How shall we sing the LORD'S song In a foreign land?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/psalms/137.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />How should we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/psalms/137-4.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nFaD2oDhKPc?start=17091" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/psalms/137.htm">By the Rivers of Babylon</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">3</span>for there our captors requested a song; our tormentors demanded songs of joy: “Sing us a song of Zion.” <span class="reftext">4</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/349.htm" title="349: ’êḵ (Interjection) -- How?. Also eykah; and teykakah; prolonged from 'ay; how? Or how!; also where.">How</a> <a href="/hebrew/7891.htm" title="7891: nā·šîr (V-Qal-Imperf-1cp) -- To sing. Or shuwr; a primitive root; to sing.">can we sing</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7892.htm" title="7892: šîr- (N-msc) -- A song, singing. Or feminine shiyrah; from shiyr; a song; abstractly, singing.">a song</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">of the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘al (Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">in</a> <a href="/hebrew/5236.htm" title="5236: nê·ḵār (N-ms) -- That which is foreign, foreignness. From nakar; foreign, or a foreigner, or heathendom.">a foreign</a> <a href="/hebrew/127.htm" title="127: ’aḏ·maṯ (N-fsc) -- Ground, land. From 'adam; soil.">land?</a> </span><span class="reftext">5</span>If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand cease to function.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/29-7.htm">Jeremiah 29:7</a></span><br />Seek the prosperity of the city to which I have sent you as exiles. Pray to the LORD on its behalf, for if it prospers, you too will prosper.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/lamentations/1-7.htm">Lamentations 1:7</a></span><br />In the days of her affliction and wandering Jerusalem remembers all the treasures that were hers in days of old. When her people fell into enemy hands she received no help. Her enemies looked upon her, laughing at her downfall.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/3-15.htm">Ezekiel 3:15</a></span><br />I came to the exiles at Tel-abib who dwelt by the River Kebar. And for seven days I sat where they sat and remained there among them, overwhelmed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/24-11.htm">Isaiah 24:11</a></span><br />In the streets they cry out for wine. All joy turns to gloom; rejoicing is exiled from the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/25-11.htm">2 Kings 25:11</a></span><br />Then Nebuzaradan captain of the guard carried into exile the people who remained in the city, along with the deserters who had defected to the king of Babylon and the rest of the population.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/1-3.htm">Nehemiah 1:3</a></span><br />And they told me, “The remnant who survived the exile are there in the province, in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/daniel/1-1.htm">Daniel 1:1-2</a></span><br />In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. / And the Lord delivered into his hand Jehoiakim king of Judah, along with some of the articles from the house of God. He carried these off to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, where he put them in the treasury of his god.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/36-19.htm">2 Chronicles 36:19-21</a></span><br />Then the Chaldeans set fire to the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem. They burned down all the palaces and destroyed every article of value. / Those who escaped the sword were carried by Nebuchadnezzar into exile in Babylon, and they became servants to him and his sons until the kingdom of Persia came to power. / So the land enjoyed its Sabbath rest all the days of the desolation, until seventy years were completed, in fulfillment of the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/51-50.htm">Jeremiah 51:50</a></span><br />You who have escaped the sword, depart and do not linger! Remember the LORD from far away, and let Jerusalem come to mind.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/52-5.htm">Isaiah 52:5</a></span><br />And now what have I here? declares the LORD. For My people have been taken without cause; those who rule them taunt, declares the LORD, and My name is blasphemed continually all day long.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/18-20.htm">Revelation 18:20</a></span><br />Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced for you His judgment against her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/5-44.htm">Matthew 5:44</a></span><br />But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/4-21.htm">John 4:21-24</a></span><br />“Believe Me, woman,” Jesus replied, “a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. / You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. / But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/16-25.htm">Acts 16:25</a></span><br />About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/2-11.htm">1 Peter 2:11-12</a></span><br />Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul. / Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">How shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land?</p><p class="hdg">how shall</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ecclesiastes/3-4.htm">Ecclesiastes 3:4</a></b></br> A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/22-12.htm">Isaiah 22:12</a></b></br> And in that day did the Lord GOD of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/lamentations/5-14.htm">Lamentations 5:14,15</a></b></br> The elders have ceased from the gate, the young men from their musick… </p><p class="hdg">strange land.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/49-21.htm">Isaiah 49:21</a></b></br> Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where <i>had</i> they <i>been</i>?</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/psalms/114-1.htm">Foreign</a> <a href="/psalms/126-1.htm">Jehovah's</a> <a href="/psalms/132-13.htm">LORD's</a> <a href="/psalms/137-3.htm">Sing</a> <a href="/psalms/105-35.htm">Soil</a> <a href="/psalms/137-3.htm">Song</a> <a href="/psalms/137-3.htm">Songs</a> <a href="/psalms/120-5.htm">Strange</a> <a href="/psalms/119-19.htm">Stranger</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/proverbs/23-27.htm">Foreign</a> <a href="/proverbs/16-11.htm">Jehovah's</a> <a href="/proverbs/3-33.htm">LORD's</a> <a href="/psalms/138-1.htm">Sing</a> <a href="/songs/5-3.htm">Soil</a> <a href="/psalms/144-9.htm">Song</a> <a href="/psalms/138-5.htm">Songs</a> <a href="/psalms/144-7.htm">Strange</a> <a href="/psalms/144-7.htm">Stranger</a><div class="vheading2">Psalm 137</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/137-1.htm">The constancy of the Jews in captivity</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/137-7.htm">The prophet curses Edom and Babel</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/137.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/psalms/137.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>How can we sing</b><br>This phrase reflects the deep emotional struggle of the Israelites during their Babylonian exile. Singing was an integral part of worship and community life in Israel, often used to express joy, lament, and devotion to God. The question posed here highlights the difficulty of maintaining worship practices in a context of oppression and displacement. In the broader biblical narrative, singing is frequently associated with deliverance and celebration, as seen in the songs of Moses (Exodus 15) and Miriam, and later in the Psalms of David.<p><b>a song of the LORD</b><br>The "song of the LORD" refers to the sacred hymns and psalms that were part of Israel's worship. These songs were not merely artistic expressions but were considered acts of worship and declarations of God's covenant faithfulness. The use of "LORD" (YHWH) underscores the covenant relationship between God and Israel. In the New Testament, the concept of singing to the Lord is expanded to include the church, as seen in <a href="/ephesians/5-19.htm">Ephesians 5:19</a> and <a href="/colossians/3-16.htm">Colossians 3:16</a>, where believers are encouraged to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.<p><b>in a foreign land?</b><br>The "foreign land" is Babylon, where the Israelites were taken captive after the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC. This exile was a significant event in Israel's history, marking a period of profound loss and identity crisis. The geographical distance from Jerusalem, the center of their worship, compounded their sense of alienation. Theologically, the exile was seen as a consequence of Israel's disobedience, yet it also became a time of reflection and hope for future restoration, as prophesied by Jeremiah and Ezekiel. The longing for their homeland and the temple is echoed in other exilic psalms and prophetic writings, emphasizing the hope for return and renewal.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a></b><br>The people of God who are in exile, experiencing deep sorrow and longing for their homeland, Jerusalem.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/b/babylon.htm">Babylon</a></b><br>The foreign land where the Israelites are held captive, representing a place of spiritual and physical exile.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a></b><br>The holy city, symbolizing the presence of God and the center of worship for the Israelites.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/b/babylonian_captivity.htm">Babylonian Captivity</a></b><br>The historical event where the Israelites were taken captive by the Babylonians, leading to a period of reflection and lamentation.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/l/levites.htm">Levites</a></b><br>The priests and musicians responsible for leading worship, who are now challenged to sing the Lord's songs in a foreign land.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_challenge_of_worship_in_exile.htm">The Challenge of Worship in Exile</a></b><br>Worship is not confined to a location but is a matter of the heart. Even in difficult circumstances, believers are called to maintain their devotion to God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_spiritual_identity.htm">The Importance of Spiritual Identity</a></b><br>The Israelites' struggle to sing in a foreign land highlights the importance of maintaining one's spiritual identity amidst worldly influences.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/longing_for_god's_presence.htm">Longing for God's Presence</a></b><br>The lament in this verse reflects a deep longing for God's presence, reminding believers of the ultimate hope and restoration found in Christ.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faithfulness_in_adversity.htm">Faithfulness in Adversity</a></b><br>Like Daniel and his friends, believers are called to remain faithful and uphold their values, even when surrounded by a culture that opposes them.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/hope_in_god's_promises.htm">Hope in God's Promises</a></b><br>Despite the sorrow of exile, the Israelites held onto the hope of God's promises, encouraging believers to trust in God's faithfulness and future restoration.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_psalm_137.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Psalm 137</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/did_foreign_kings_ever_honor_israel's_god.htm">Psalm 138:4-5 speaks of all kings praising God. Is there any historical evidence that surrounding nations' rulers ever truly honored Israel's God in this way?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_reconcile_temple's_ruin_with_psalm_27_4.htm">(Psalm 27:4) How can one reconcile the desire to 'dwell in the house of the LORD' forever with the archaeological record of the ancient temple's destruction?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_reconcile_god's_deeds_with_israel's_woes.htm">Isaiah 12:5: How do we reconcile the emphasis on 'excellent things' done by God with the historical records of suffering and defeat experienced by the Israelites?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_psalm_98_align_with_injustice.htm">Psalm 98 portrays God as righteous and just, yet countless injustices have occurred throughout history--how does this align with a fair divine judgment?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/psalms/137.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(4) <span class= "bld">Strange land.--</span>The feeling expressed in this question is too natural to need any such explanation as that it was contrary to the Law to sing a sacred song in a strange land. Nehemiah's answer (<a href="/context/nehemiah/2-2.htm" title="Why the king said to me, Why is your countenance sad, seeing you are not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,">Nehemiah 2:2-3</a>) offers a direct illustration.<p>Of Jerusalem's choir in Babylon it might truly be said:<p>"Like strangers' voices here they sound,<p>In lands where not a memory strays.<p>Nor landmark breathes of other days,<p>But all is new unhallowed ground."<p>TENNYSON: <span class= "ital">In Mcmoriam.</span><p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/psalms/137.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 4.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?</span> The "songs of Zion" are Jehovah's songs, used in his worship, suited only for religious occasions. It would be desecration to sing them "in a strange land," among strange people, not to call forth devotional sentiment, but to gratify curiosity. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/psalms/137-4.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">How</span><br /><span class="heb">אֵ֗יךְ</span> <span class="translit">(’êḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Interjection<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_349.htm">Strong's 349: </a> </span><span class="str2">How?, how!, where</span><br /><br /><span class="word">can we sing</span><br /><span class="heb">נָשִׁ֥יר</span> <span class="translit">(nā·šîr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7891.htm">Strong's 7891: </a> </span><span class="str2">To sing</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a song</span><br /><span class="heb">שִׁיר־</span> <span class="translit">(šîr-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7892.htm">Strong's 7892: </a> </span><span class="str2">A song, singing</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the LORD</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוָ֑ה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in</span><br /><span class="heb">עַ֝֗ל</span> <span class="translit">(‘al)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> </span><span class="str2">Above, over, upon, against</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a foreign</span><br /><span class="heb">נֵכָֽר׃</span> <span class="translit">(nê·ḵār)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5236.htm">Strong's 5236: </a> </span><span class="str2">That which is foreign, foreignness</span><br /><br /><span class="word">land?</span><br /><span class="heb">אַדְמַ֥ת</span> <span class="translit">(’aḏ·maṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_127.htm">Strong's 127: </a> </span><span class="str2">Ground, land</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/psalms/137-4.htm">Psalm 137:4 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/psalms/137-4.htm">Psalm 137:4 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/psalms/137-4.htm">Psalm 137:4 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/psalms/137-4.htm">Psalm 137:4 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/psalms/137-4.htm">Psalm 137:4 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/psalms/137-4.htm">Psalm 137:4 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/psalms/137-4.htm">Psalm 137:4 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/psalms/137-4.htm">Psalm 137:4 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/psalms/137-4.htm">Psalm 137:4 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/psalms/137-4.htm">Psalm 137:4 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/psalms/137-4.htm">OT Poetry: Psalm 137:4 How can we sing Yahweh's song (Psalm Ps Psa.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/psalms/137-3.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Psalm 137:3"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Psalm 137:3" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/psalms/137-5.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Psalm 137:5"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Psalm 137:5" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>