Psalms 137:8
O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Psalm 137 reflects the Babylonian exile (586-538 BC) when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem, burned the temple, and deported Judah's population to Babylon (2 Kings 25). The psalm's opening—"By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion" (137:1)—captures the exiles' profound grief. Babylonian captors mocked them, demanding songs of Zion (137:3), adding insult to catastrophic loss.
Verse 8's prophecy of Babylon's destruction was fulfilled in 539 BC when Cyrus the Persian conquered Babylon (Isaiah 44:28-45:1; Daniel 5). Though the conquest was relatively bloodless, Babylon's empire collapsed, never regaining supremacy. Later, under Persian, Greek, and Parthian rule, Babylon declined into ruins, fulfilling prophecies of complete desolation (Isaiah 13:19-22; Jeremiah 51:37).
The theological significance extends beyond historical vengeance. Babylon symbolizes worldly opposition to God's kingdom throughout Scripture (Genesis 11:1-9; Revelation 17-18). The "fall of Babylon" represents God's ultimate triumph over evil empires. For exiled Jews, this psalm affirmed that their suffering wasn't meaningless—God would vindicate them and judge their oppressors. This hope sustained faithfulness during captivity and anticipates eschatological judgment when God finally rights all wrongs (Revelation 18:6-8).
Questions for Reflection
- How should Christians understand and apply imprecatory psalms that call for God's judgment on enemies?
- What is the difference between calling for divine justice and seeking personal revenge?
- How do these psalms of lament and imprecation model honest prayer about injustice and suffering?
- In what ways does Christ's teaching on loving enemies relate to passages like Psalm 137?
- What does Babylon's eventual destruction reveal about God's sovereignty over human empires and historical events?
Analysis & Commentary
O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us. This imprecatory psalm verse expresses intense desire for divine justice against Babylon. "Daughter of Babylon" (bat-bavel, בַּת־בָּבֶל) personifies the city and empire as a woman, a common biblical metaphor (Isaiah 47:1). "Who art to be destroyed" (hashedudah, הַשְּׁדוּדָה) is passive participle, meaning "the devastated one"—prophetically certain though future.
"Happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us" invokes lex talionis (law of retaliation)—"eye for eye, tooth for tooth" (Exodus 21:24). The Hebrew word ashrei (אַשְׁרֵי, "happy/blessed") introduces beatitude language, declaring blessed the agent of God's retributive justice. This isn't personal vengeance but appeal to divine justice: Babylon receives what it inflicted. The verb gamal (גָּמַל, "rewarded/repaid") suggests appropriate recompense, echoing Deuteronomy's covenant justice principles.
Modern readers find imprecatory psalms disturbing, but they serve crucial theological functions:
These psalms don't justify personal revenge but anticipate God's righteous judgment. Ultimately, Christ absorbs God's wrath against sin (Isaiah 53:10), satisfying justice while extending mercy to repentant sinners, even from nations that oppressed Israel.