Table of Contents
- 1 What is Psalms 137 talking about?
- 2 What emotions does the speaker express in Psalm 137?
- 3 What can we learn from Psalms 137?
- 4 What is the meaning of Rivers of Babylon?
- 5 What is the purpose of imprecatory psalms?
- 6 What does the term Imprecatory mean?
- 7 Which Psalm did Moses write?
- 8 What is the meaning of Psalm 137 9?
- 9 What does happy shall he be that taketh mean?
- 10 Does Psalm 137 prove God is exactly how Richard Dawkins describes him?
What is Psalms 137 talking about?
Psalm 137 is a hymn expressing the yearnings of the Jewish people during their Babylonian exile. In its whole form of nine verses, the psalm reflects the yearning for Jerusalem as well as hatred for the Holy City’s enemies with sometimes violent imagery.
What emotions does the speaker express in Psalm 137?
Psalm 137 is a lament, a cry of a conquered, beaten, exiled people to their God.
How many imprecatory psalms are there in the Bible?
Day suggests that there are 14 psalms which may rightly be classified as imprecatory psalms. The following psalms in the Psalter are generally considered to be imprecatory psalms in the sense that a major part of each psalm contains imprecations: Psalms 7, 35, 55, 58, 59, 69 79, 83, 109 and 137.
What can we learn from Psalms 137?
Complete loyalty to YHWH: In Ps 137, the psalmist has complete loyalty and devotion towards YHWH. The psalmist’s love for Jerusalem and Zion is not separate from the love of God. The psalmist’s devotion to YHWH is seen when he deems it impossible or unthinkable that he would forget Jerusalem.
What is the meaning of Rivers of Babylon?
Therefore, “By the rivers of Babylon” refers to living in a repressive society and the longing for freedom, just like the Israelites in captivity. Rastafarians also identify themselves as belonging to the Twelve Tribes of Israel.
What is the genre of Psalm 137?
Psalm 137 is representative of one of the most difficult genres of the Old Testament poetic literature, that of imprecation[1].
What is the purpose of imprecatory psalms?
Imprecatory Psalms, contained within the Book of Psalms of the Hebrew Bible (Hebrew: תנ”ך), are those that imprecate – invoke judgment, calamity or curses upon one’s enemies or those perceived as the enemies of God.
What does the term Imprecatory mean?
To invoke evil upon; curse.
What does the word psalm mean in Hebrew?
In Hebrew the word psalms [tehilìm] derivates from the root He-Lamed-Lamed that produces the words to praise; to shine, i.e. the root of the Hebrew words for shining and psalms includes instructions for those who intend to sing psalms: the psalmist must flash forth light; 2.
Which Psalm did Moses write?
Psalm 90
Psalm 90 is the 90th psalm from the Book of Psalms. In the slightly different numbering system of the Greek Septuagint version of the bible, and in its Latin translation, the Vulgate, this psalm is Psalm 89. Uniquely among the Psalms, it is attributed to Moses.
What is the meaning of Psalm 137 9?
Psalm 137:9 (ASV) Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones Against the rock. Psalm 137:9 (BBE) Happy is the man who takes your little ones, crushing them against the rocks. Psalm 137:9 (CEB) A blessing on the one who seizes your children and smashes them against the rock!
What does Psalm 137 say about smashing babies against rocks?
Psalm 137:9 (KJVA) Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones. Psalm 137:9 (LEB) Happy [shall be he] who seizes and smashes your children against the rock. Psalm 137:9 (MSG) Yes, a reward to the one who grabs your babies and smashes their heads on the rocks!
What does happy shall he be that taketh mean?
Happy shall he be that taketh – Margin, as in Hebrew, rock. This refers to what was not uncommon in ancient warfare, as it is now among savage tribes – the indiscriminate slaughter of those of all ages, and of both sexes, in war.
Does Psalm 137 prove God is exactly how Richard Dawkins describes him?
It is using these texts that leads people to make these kind of arguments against God. Psalm 137:9 Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones. It is claimed that the verse is a command of God and that it is proof that god is in fact exactly how Richard Dawkins described him.