Psalms 137:9
Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.
Original Language Analysis
אַשְׁרֵ֤י׀
Happy
H835
אַשְׁרֵ֤י׀
Happy
Strong's:
H835
Word #:
1 of 7
happiness; only in masculine plural construction as interjection, how happy!
שֶׁיֹּאחֵ֓ז
shall he be that taketh
H270
שֶׁיֹּאחֵ֓ז
shall he be that taketh
Strong's:
H270
Word #:
2 of 7
to seize (often with the accessory idea of holding in possession)
אֶֽת
H853
אֶֽת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
4 of 7
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
Cross References
Isaiah 13:16Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished.Hosea 13:16Samaria 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.Nahum 3:10Yet was she carried away, she went into captivity: her young children also were dashed in pieces at the top of all the streets: and they cast lots for her honourable men, and all her great men were bound in chains.Hosea 10:14Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people, and all thy fortresses shall be spoiled, as Shalman spoiled Beth-arbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces upon her children.2 Kings 8:12And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child.
Historical Context
Babylon's 586 BC destruction was genocidal. Children murdered before parents' eyes. Psalm 137 captures trauma and rage. Babylon fell to Persia in 539 BC, experiencing similar violence. History confirmed divine justice.
Questions for Reflection
- How do you handle Scripture expressing violent rage?
- What distinguishes imprecatory prayer from personal vengeance?
- How does loving enemies relate to psalms calling for judgment?
Analysis & Commentary
Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones. Scripture's most disturbing verse, expressing raw rage against Babylon. Context: Psalm 137 laments exile, remembering Babylon's brutal child-killing (Lamentations 2:19-21). This invokes lex talionis: "as you did, so shall it be done." It's imprecatory (calling for divine justice), not prescriptive. God did judge Babylon. Such passages validate righteous anger while reminding us vengeance belongs to God (Romans 12:19).