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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 137:9 Blessed is he who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/psalms/137-9.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/16/19_Psa_137_009.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Psalm 137:9 - By the Rivers of Babylon" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Blessed is he who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks." /><script type="application/javascript" 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cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad9.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/137-8.htm" title="Psalm 137:8">◄</a> Psalm 137:9 <a href="/psalms/138-1.htm" title="Psalm 138:1">►</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 />Happy is the one who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/psalms/137.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Happy is the one who takes your babies and smashes them against the rocks!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/psalms/137.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/psalms/137.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Blessed is he who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/psalms/137.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Happy <i>shall he be</i>, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/psalms/137.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Happy the one who takes and dashes Your little ones against the rock!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/psalms/137.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Blessed will be one who seizes and dashes your children Against the rock.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/psalms/137.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />How blessed will be the one who seizes and dashes your little ones Against the rock.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/psalms/137.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />How blessed will be the one who seizes and dashes your little ones Against the rock. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/psalms/137.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />How blessed will be the one who seizes and dashes your infants Against the cliff.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/psalms/137.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />How blessed will be the one who seizes and dashes your little ones Against the rock.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/psalms/137.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Happy is he who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rocks.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/psalms/137.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Happy is he who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rocks. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/psalms/137.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones Against the rock.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/psalms/137.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />May the Lord bless everyone who beats your children against the rocks! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/psalms/137.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the rock.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/psalms/137.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Blessed is the one who grabs your little children and smashes them against a rock.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/psalms/137.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />who take your babies and smash them against a rock. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/psalms/137.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />How blessed will be the one who seizes your young children and pulverizes them against the cliff!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/psalms/137.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />How blessed will be the one who grabs your babies and smashes them on a rock! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/psalms/137.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Blessed shall he be who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/psalms/137.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.<div class="vheading2"><b>Majority Text Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/psalms/137.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Blessed is he who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/psalms/137.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Happy shall he be, who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/psalms/137.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />O the blessedness of him who seizes, and has dashed your sucklings on the rock!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/psalms/137.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> O the happiness of him who doth seize, And hath dashed thy sucklings on the rock!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/psalms/137.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Happy he taking hold and dashing in pieces thy children against the rock.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/psalms/137.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Blessed be he that shall take and dash thy little ones against the rock. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/psalms/137.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br /><V 136:9>Blessed is he who will take hold of your little ones and dash them against the rock.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/psalms/137.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Blessed the one who seizes your children and smashes them against the rock. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/psalms/137.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Happy shall they be who take your little ones and dash them against the rock!<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/psalms/137.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Blessed shall he be who takes and dashes your little ones against the stones.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/psalms/137.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Blessed is he who will seize your infants and will dash the rocks! <div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/psalms/137.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones Against the rock.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/psalms/137.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Blessed <i>shall he be</i> who shall seize and dash thine infants against the rock.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/psalms/137-9.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=17131" 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">8</span>O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, blessed is he who repays you as you have done to us. <span class="reftext">9</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/835.htm" title="835: ’aš·rê (Interjection) -- Happiness, blessedness. From 'ashar; happiness; only in masculine plural construction as interjection, how happy!">Blessed is</a> <a href="/hebrew/270.htm" title="270: še·yō·ḥêz (Pro-r:: V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- To grasp, take hold, take possession. A primitive root; to seize.">he who seizes</a> <a href="/hebrew/5768.htm" title="5768: ‘ō·lā·la·yiḵ (N-mpc:: 2fs) -- A child. Or lolal; from uwl; a suckling.">your infants</a> <a href="/hebrew/5310.htm" title="5310: wə·nip·pêṣ (Conj-w:: V-Piel-ConjPerf-3ms) -- To dash to pieces, scatter. A primitive root; to dash to pieces, or scatter.">and dashes</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self.">them</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">against</a> <a href="/hebrew/5553.htm" title="5553: has·sā·la‘ (Art:: N-ms) -- A crag, cliff. From an unused root meaning to be lofty; a craggy rock, literally or figuratively.">the rocks.</a> </span><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="/isaiah/13-16.htm">Isaiah 13:16</a></span><br />Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes, their houses will be looted, and their wives will be ravished.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/13-16.htm">Hosea 13:16</a></span><br />Samaria will bear her guilt because she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword; their little ones will be dashed to pieces, and their pregnant women ripped open.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nahum/3-10.htm">Nahum 3:10</a></span><br />Yet she became an exile; she went into captivity. Her infants were dashed to pieces at the head of every street. They cast lots for her dignitaries, and all her nobles were bound in chains.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/lamentations/2-20.htm">Lamentations 2:20</a></span><br />Look, O LORD, and consider: Whom have You ever treated like this? Should women eat their offspring, the infants they have nurtured? Should priests and prophets be killed in the sanctuary of the Lord?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/lamentations/4-10.htm">Lamentations 4:10</a></span><br />The hands of compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/8-12.htm">2 Kings 8:12</a></span><br />“Why is my lord weeping?” asked Hazael. “Because I know the evil you will do to the Israelites,” Elisha replied. “You will set fire to their fortresses, kill their young men with the sword, dash their little ones to pieces, and rip open their pregnant women.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/15-16.htm">2 Kings 15:16</a></span><br />At that time Menahem, starting from Tirzah, attacked Tiphsah and everyone in its vicinity, because they would not open their gates. So he attacked Tiphsah and ripped open all the pregnant women.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/15-33.htm">1 Samuel 15:33</a></span><br />But Samuel declared: “As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women.” And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/51-20.htm">Jeremiah 51:20-23</a></span><br />“You are My war club, My weapon for battle. With you I shatter nations; with you I bring kingdoms to ruin. / With you I shatter the horse and rider; with you I shatter the chariot and driver. / With you I shatter man and woman; with you I shatter the old man and the youth; with you I shatter the young man and the maiden. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/9-5.htm">Ezekiel 9:5-6</a></span><br />And as I listened, He said to the others, “Follow him through the city and start killing; do not show pity or spare anyone! / Slaughter the old men, the young men and maidens, the women and children; but do not go near anyone who has the mark. Now begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the temple.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/2-16.htm">Matthew 2:16-18</a></span><br />When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was filled with rage. Sending orders, he put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, according to the time he had learned from the Magi. / Then what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: / “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/18-6.htm">Revelation 18:6</a></span><br />Give back to her as she has done to others; pay her back double for what she has done; mix her a double portion in her own cup.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/18-20.htm">Revelation 18:20-21</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. / Then a mighty angel picked up a stone the size of a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying: “With such violence the great city of Babylon will be cast down, never to be seen again.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/19-44.htm">Luke 19:44</a></span><br />They will level you to the ground—you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/18-6.htm">Matthew 18:6</a></span><br />But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Happy shall he be, that takes and dashes your little ones against the stones.</p><p class="hdg">and dasheth</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/13-16.htm">Isaiah 13:16</a></b></br> Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hosea/10-14.htm">Hosea 10:14</a></b></br> Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people, and all thy fortresses shall be spoiled, as Shalman spoiled Betharbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces upon <i>her</i> children.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hosea/13-16.htm">Hosea 13:16</a></b></br> Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.</p><p class="hdg">the stones.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/psalms/137-8.htm">Blessed</a> <a href="/psalms/110-6.htm">Crushing</a> <a href="/psalms/119-116.htm">Dashed</a> <a href="/exodus/15-6.htm">Dashes</a> <a href="/leviticus/7-14.htm">Dasheth</a> <a href="/psalms/133-1.htm">David</a> <a href="/psalms/137-8.htm">Happiness</a> <a href="/psalms/137-8.htm">Happy</a> <a href="/psalms/8-2.htm">Infants</a> <a href="/psalms/114-6.htm">Little</a> <a href="/psalms/132-16.htm">Ones</a> <a href="/psalms/133-3.htm">Psalm</a> <a href="/psalms/114-8.htm">Rock</a> <a href="/psalms/104-18.htm">Rocks</a> <a href="/psalms/109-11.htm">Seize</a> <a href="/psalms/119-53.htm">Seizes</a> <a href="/psalms/102-14.htm">Stones</a> <a href="/psalms/80-11.htm">Sucklings</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/psalms/144-1.htm">Blessed</a> <a href="/proverbs/15-4.htm">Crushing</a> <a href="/isaiah/13-16.htm">Dashed</a> <a href="/nahum/2-1.htm">Dashes</a> <a href="/nahum/2-1.htm">Dasheth</a> <a href="/psalms/138-1.htm">David</a> <a href="/psalms/144-15.htm">Happiness</a> <a href="/psalms/144-15.htm">Happy</a> <a href="/isaiah/13-16.htm">Infants</a> <a href="/proverbs/5-14.htm">Little</a> <a href="/psalms/145-10.htm">Ones</a> <a href="/psalms/138-1.htm">Psalm</a> <a href="/psalms/141-6.htm">Rock</a> <a href="/psalms/141-6.htm">Rocks</a> <a href="/songs/2-15.htm">Seize</a> <a href="/proverbs/7-13.htm">Seizes</a> <a href="/psalms/144-12.htm">Stones</a> <a href="/isaiah/3-4.htm">Sucklings</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>Blessed is he</b><br>This phrase introduces a beatitude, a form of expression that pronounces a blessing or happiness upon someone. In the context of the Psalms, blessings often reflect divine justice or retribution. The use of "blessed" here is ironic and reflects the deep emotional pain and desire for justice felt by the Israelites during their Babylonian exile. It echoes the covenantal promises where blessings and curses are pronounced based on obedience or disobedience (Deuteronomy 28).<p><b>who seizes your infants</b><br>The mention of "infants" highlights the severity and totality of the judgment being called for. In ancient warfare, the destruction of the next generation was a way to ensure the complete downfall of a nation. This reflects the historical context of the Babylonian conquest, where the Israelites experienced the brutal destruction of Jerusalem and the loss of their own children. The phrase is a cry for justice, mirroring the atrocities they suffered, and is reminiscent of the prophecy against Babylon in <a href="/isaiah/13-16.htm">Isaiah 13:16</a>, where similar language is used to describe the fate of Babylon's children.<p><b>and dashes them against the rocks.</b><br>This graphic imagery underscores the intensity of the psalmist's lament and desire for retribution. In the ancient Near East, such acts were not uncommon in warfare, symbolizing the utter defeat and humiliation of an enemy. The rocks may symbolize the harsh and unyielding nature of divine justice. This phrase can be seen as a call for God to enact justice against Babylon, fulfilling prophecies like those in <a href="/jeremiah/51-24.htm">Jeremiah 51:24</a>, where God promises to repay Babylon for its deeds. While difficult to reconcile with modern sensibilities, this reflects the raw human emotion and the longing for divine justice in the face of profound suffering.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/b/babylon.htm">Babylon</a></b><br>The city and empire responsible for the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of the Israelites. Babylon symbolizes oppression and the enemies of God's people.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a></b><br>The people of God who were taken into captivity by the Babylonians. They are the ones expressing their lament and desire for justice in <a href="/bsb/psalms/137.htm">Psalm 137</a>.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/e/exile.htm">Exile</a></b><br>The period during which the Israelites were taken from their homeland and lived in Babylon. This was a time of great sorrow and longing for the Israelites.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a></b><br>The holy city of the Israelites, which was destroyed by the Babylonians. It represents the spiritual and cultural heart of the Jewish people.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/e/edomites.htm">Edomites</a></b><br>A neighboring nation that rejoiced over the fall of Jerusalem and encouraged the Babylonians to destroy it completely. They are mentioned earlier in the psalm as complicit in Jerusalem's downfall.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/u/understanding_righteous_anger.htm">Understanding Righteous Anger</a></b><br>The psalm reflects the deep pain and anger of the Israelites. It is important to recognize that expressing emotions to God is a part of a genuine relationship with Him.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/j/justice_and_vengeance.htm">Justice and Vengeance</a></b><br>The desire for justice is a natural response to wrongdoing. However, Christians are called to leave vengeance to God, trusting in His perfect justice.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/historical_context.htm">Historical Context</a></b><br>Understanding the historical and cultural context of the psalm helps us grasp the depth of the Israelites' suffering and their cry for justice.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/forgiveness_and_mercy.htm">Forgiveness and Mercy</a></b><br>While the psalm expresses a desire for retribution, the New Testament calls believers to forgive and show mercy, following the example of Christ.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/hope_in_god's_sovereignty.htm">Hope in God's Sovereignty</a></b><br>Despite the harsh imagery, the psalm ultimately points to a hope in God's sovereign justice and the eventual restoration of His people.<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/how_do_believers_reconcile_psalm_137's_violence.htm">How can believers explain the moral implications of Psalm 137’s violent language in light of the broader biblical message of love and mercy?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_psalm_137_9_align_with_a_loving_god.htm">How can Psalm 137:9 be reconciled with a just and loving God when it seems to celebrate cruelty against children? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_psalm_137_call_for_violence.htm">Why would a sacred text like Psalm 137 call for retributive violence, contradicting other passages that promote forgiveness? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_psalm_137_align_with_divine_justice.htm">How does Psalm 137 align with divine justice, given that it appears to advocate collective punishment? </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>(9) <span class= "bld">Little ones.</span>--Literally, <span class= "ital">sucklings.</span><p><span class= "bld">Stones.--</span>Better, <span class= "ital">cliff </span>or <span class= "ital">rock.</span><p>For this feature of barbarous cruelty with which ancient war was cursed see <a href="/2_kings/8-12.htm" title="And Hazael said, Why weeps my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that you will do to the children of Israel: their strong holds will you set on fire, and their young men will you slay with the sword, and will dash their children, and rip up their women with child.">2Kings 8:12</a>; <a href="/isaiah/13-16.htm" title="Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished.">Isaiah 13:16</a>; <a href="/hosea/10-14.htm" title="Therefore shall a tumult arise among your people, and all your fortresses shall be spoiled, as Shalman spoiled Betharbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces on her children.">Hosea 10:14</a>, &c; and comp. Homer, <span class= "ital">Iliad, xxii.</span> 63: "My bleeding infants dashed against the floor."<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/psalms/137.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 9.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Happy</span> shall he be, <span class="cmt_word">that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones</span>; <span class="accented">i</span>.<span class="accented">e</span>. that brings on thee the worst calamities of war (see <a href="/2_kings/8-12.htm">2 Kings 8:12</a>; <a href="/isaiah/12.htm">Isaiah 12</a>:16-18; <a href="/hosea/10-14.htm">Hosea 10:14</a>; <a href="/hosea/13-16.htm">Hosea 13:16</a>; <a href="/nahum/3-10.htm">Nahum 3:10</a>). <p> <p> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/psalms/137-9.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">Blessed is</span><br /><span class="heb">אַשְׁרֵ֤י ׀</span> <span class="translit">(’aš·rê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Interjection<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_835.htm">Strong's 835: </a> </span><span class="str2">Happiness, interjection, how happy!</span><br /><br /><span class="word">he who seizes</span><br /><span class="heb">שֶׁיֹּאחֵ֓ז</span> <span class="translit">(še·yō·ḥêz)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - relative | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_270.htm">Strong's 270: </a> </span><span class="str2">To grasp, take hold, take possession</span><br /><br /><span class="word">your infants</span><br /><span class="heb">עֹ֝לָלַ֗יִךְ</span> <span class="translit">(‘ō·lā·la·yiḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | second person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5768.htm">Strong's 5768: </a> </span><span class="str2">A suckling</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and dashes</span><br /><span class="heb">וְנִפֵּ֬ץ</span> <span class="translit">(wə·nip·pêṣ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5310.htm">Strong's 5310: </a> </span><span class="str2">To dash to pieces, scatter</span><br /><br /><span class="word">them against</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶל־</span> <span class="translit">(’el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the rocks.</span><br /><span class="heb">הַסָּֽלַע׃</span> <span class="translit">(has·sā·la‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5553.htm">Strong's 5553: </a> </span><span class="str2">A craggy rock</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/psalms/137-9.htm">Psalm 137:9 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/psalms/137-9.htm">Psalm 137:9 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/psalms/137-9.htm">Psalm 137:9 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/psalms/137-9.htm">Psalm 137:9 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/psalms/137-9.htm">Psalm 137:9 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/psalms/137-9.htm">Psalm 137:9 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/psalms/137-9.htm">Psalm 137:9 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/psalms/137-9.htm">Psalm 137:9 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/psalms/137-9.htm">Psalm 137:9 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/psalms/137-9.htm">Psalm 137:9 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/psalms/137-9.htm">OT Poetry: Psalm 137:9 Happy shall he be who takes (Psalm Ps Psa.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/psalms/137-8.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Psalm 137:8"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Psalm 137:8" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/psalms/138-1.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Psalm 138:1"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Psalm 138:1" /></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>