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Psalms 137:6

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns ASV (1901)

What does Psalms 137:6 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, If I remember thee not; If I prefer not Jerusalem Above my chief joy.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, If I remember thee not; If I prefer not Jerusalem Above my chief joy.
Psalms 137:6 — American Standard Version

Context — Psalms 137

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
3For 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.
4How shall we sing Jehovah`s song In a foreign land?
5If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget [her skill].
6Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, If I remember thee not; If I prefer not Jerusalem Above my chief joy.
7Remember, O Jehovah, against the children of Edom The day of Jerusalem; Who said, Rase it, rase it, Even to the foundation thereof.
8O daughter of Babylon, that art to be destroyed, Happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee As thou hast served us.
9Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones Against the rock. Psalm 138 A [Psalm] of David.
← Psalms 137:5Psalms 137:7 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“If I do not remember thee - Equivalent to, “If I forget thee.” If I ever fail to remember thee; if I shall ever act as if I had forgotten thee. Singing in a strange land, among those who had perpetrated such wrongs in thee - appearing to be happy, cheerful, joyous, happy, merry there - would be understood to imply that I had ceased to remember thee, and cared nothing for thee. Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth - Compare Ezekiel 3:26. Let me be unable to speak; let my tongue be as it were attached to the upper part of the mouth, so that it could not be used. If I employ it in an unworthy purpose - in any way whereby it can be inferred that I have ceased to remember my native land,…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“If - If I do not value Jerusalem's prosperity more than all other delights. Psalms 137:7”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“let my tongue: Psa 22:15; Isa 41:17; Lam 4:4; Eze 3:26 if I prefer: Psa 84:10; Mat 6:33; Act 20:24; Phi 1:20; Th1 3:7-9 my chief joy: Heb. the head of my joy Psalms 137:7”
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Related study paths

Read Psalms 137 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification