New International Version If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill. New Living Translation If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget how to play the harp. English Standard Version If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill! Berean Standard Bible If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand cease to function. Berean Literal Bible If I should forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget. King James Bible If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. New King James Version If I forget you, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget its skill! New American Standard Bible If I forget you, Jerusalem, May my right hand forget its skill. NASB 1995 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, May my right hand forget her skill. NASB 1977 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, May my right hand forget her skill. Legacy Standard Bible If I forget you, O Jerusalem, May my right hand forget her skill. Amplified Bible If I forget you, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget [her skill with the harp]. Berean Annotated Bible If I forget you, O Jerusalem (city of peace), may my right hand cease to function. Christian Standard Bible If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill. Holman Christian Standard Bible If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill. American Standard Version If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget her skill. Contemporary English Version Jerusalem, if I forget you, let my right hand go limp. English Revised Version If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. GOD'S WORD® Translation If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget [how to play the lyre]. Good News Translation May I never be able to play the harp again if I forget you, Jerusalem! International Standard Version If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand cease to function. NET Bible If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand be crippled! New Heart English Bible If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand be forgotten. Webster's Bible Translation If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her skill. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleIf I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand cease to function. World English Bible If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionIf I forget you, O Jerusalem, my right hand forgets! Berean Literal Bible If I should forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget. Young's Literal Translation If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, my right hand forgetteth! Smith's Literal Translation If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, my right hand shall be forgotten. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleIf I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand be forgotten. Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand forget. New Revised Standard Version If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand wither! Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleIf I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget me. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated If I forget you, oh, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget me! OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget her cunning. Brenton Septuagint Translation If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context By the Rivers of Babylon…4How can we sing a song of the LORD in a foreign land? 5If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand cease to function. 6May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not exalt Jerusalem as my greatest joy!… Cross References If I forget you, O Jerusalem, Jeremiah 51:50 You who have escaped the sword, depart and do not linger! Remember the LORD from far away, and let Jerusalem come to mind.” Psalm 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you prosper. Isaiah 62:6-7 On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD shall take no rest for yourselves, / nor give Him any rest until He establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth. may my right hand cease to function. 1 Kings 13:4 Now when King Jeroboam, who was at the altar in Bethel, heard the word that the man of God had cried out against it, he stretched out his hand and said, “Seize him!” But the hand he stretched out toward him withered, so that he could not pull it back. Mark 3:1-5 Once again Jesus entered the synagogue, and a man with a withered hand was there. / In order to accuse Jesus, they were watching to see if He would heal on the Sabbath. / Then Jesus said to the man with the withered hand, “Stand up among us.” … Zechariah 11:17 Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May a sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be completely withered and his right eye utterly blinded!” Isaiah 49:15-16 “Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the son of her womb? Even if she could forget, I will not forget you! / Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are ever before Me. Nehemiah 1:8-9 Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses when You said, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, / but if you return to Me and keep and practice My commandments, then even if your exiles have been banished to the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for My Name.’ Jeremiah 51:50 You who have escaped the sword, depart and do not linger! Remember the LORD from far away, and let Jerusalem come to mind.” Lamentations 5:1 Remember, O LORD, what has happened to us. Look and see our disgrace! Ezekiel 3:17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me. 2 Chronicles 6:6 But now I have chosen Jerusalem for My Name to be there, and I have chosen David to be over My people Israel.’ Zechariah 2:12 And the LORD will take possession of Judah as His portion in the Holy Land, and He will once again choose Jerusalem. 1 Kings 11:36 I will give one tribe to his son, so that My servant David will always have a lamp before Me in Jerusalem, the city where I chose to put My Name. 2 Samuel 5:7 Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David). Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! Treasury of Scripture If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. I forget Psalm 84:1,2,10 To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! … Psalm 102:13,14 Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come… Psalm 122:5-9 For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David… let my right Zechariah 11:17 Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened. Jump to Previous Cunning Forget Forgetteth Hand Jerusalem Memory Right Skill WitherJump to Next Cunning Forget Forgetteth Hand Jerusalem Memory Right Skill WitherPsalm 137 1. The constancy of the Jews in captivity7. The prophet curses Edom and Babel If I forget you, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem stood as the covenant city where God placed His name and where the temple testified to His dwelling among His people. Though the captives lived far away in Babylon, they refused to treat exile as a reason to abandon the worship, promises, and identity God had given Israel. Their longing anticipated the return from captivity and ultimately points to the future peace and reign of God associated with Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:2–3; Psalm 122:6). Jer 51:50 You who have escaped the sword, depart and do not linger!… may my right hand cease to function. The psalmist calls down judgment upon his own strength and skill if he allows Jerusalem to fade from his heart. The right hand commonly represented power, work, and ability, so its loss would silence both labor and the music of worship. Remembering Jerusalem meant remaining faithful to the Lord who had chosen the city, established His covenant, and promised restoration to His repentant people. 1Ki 13:4 Now when King Jeroboam, who was at the altar in Bethel,… Persons / Places / Events 1. JerusalemThe central city of Jewish worship and identity, representing the heart of the Israelites' spiritual and national life. It is the city where the Temple stood, symbolizing God's presence among His people. 2. Babylonian Exile The historical context of Psalm 137, where the Israelites were taken captive by the Babylonians. This period was marked by longing and lament for their homeland and the Temple. 3. The Psalmist Likely a Levite or a member of the Jewish community in exile, expressing deep sorrow and a vow of remembrance for Jerusalem. Teaching Points The Importance of Spiritual RemembranceJust as the psalmist vows never to forget Jerusalem, Christians are called to remember their spiritual heritage and the centrality of Christ in their lives. The Role of Worship in Exile Even in times of spiritual exile or hardship, maintaining a focus on worship and God's promises is crucial. Commitment to God's Promises The psalmist's vow reflects a deep commitment to God's promises and His chosen city, encouraging believers to hold fast to God's Word. The Power of Lament Lament is a valid and powerful form of prayer that can lead to deeper trust and reliance on God. The Significance of Jerusalem in Biblical Theology Understanding Jerusalem's role in biblical history helps believers appreciate its symbolic representation of God's eternal kingdom. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Psalm 137:5?2. How does Psalm 137:5 emphasize the importance of Jerusalem in our faith? 3. What practical steps can we take to "remember" Jerusalem in our daily lives? 4. How does Psalm 137:5 connect with God's promises to Israel in the Bible? 5. Why is it crucial to prioritize spiritual commitments as seen in Psalm 137:5? 6. How can we apply the devotion shown in Psalm 137:5 to our worship? 7. What does Psalm 137:5 mean by "forget you, O Jerusalem" in a spiritual context? 8. How does Psalm 137:5 reflect the importance of Jerusalem in biblical history? 9. Why is Jerusalem central to the message of Psalm 137:5? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Psalm 137? What Does Psalm 137:5 Mean If I forget you• The psalmist recognizes that “forgetting” is not simply poor memory; it is a deliberate neglect of covenant love (Deuteronomy 6:12; Psalm 103:2). • In exile, pressured to assimilate (Psalm 137:1–4), the writer vows never to let distance or suffering dull loyalty to the Lord’s chosen city. • Forgetting would signal a spiritual drift similar to Israel’s tragic lapses in the wilderness (Numbers 11:5–6) and during the judges’ era (Judges 3:7). • The phrase sets the bar: wholehearted devotion remembers, recites, and relives God’s past faithfulness so present obedience stays vibrant (Psalm 105:5). O Jerusalem • Jerusalem is more than a hometown; it is the earthly seat of God’s presence and worship (2 Chronicles 6:6; Psalm 132:13). • Loving Jerusalem equals loving the Lord who chose it, much as loving the church today shows love for Christ (Ephesians 5:25). • Even in Babylon’s courts the exiles’ hearts point eastward, anticipating restoration (Daniel 6:10; Ezra 1:3). • The city also foreshadows the ultimate gathering place of God’s people, “the heavenly Jerusalem” (Hebrews 12:22), yet the psalm affirms a tangible, historical city God promised to reestablish (Isaiah 62:1–4). may my right hand cease to function • The right hand symbolizes strength, skill, and daily work (Isaiah 41:10; Ecclesiastes 10:2). Musicians in Psalm 137 had hung their harps; forfeiting hand movement would end their praise ministry. • The self‐imposed curse underscores seriousness. Losing one’s primary hand would render life powerless—better that than betraying the Lord’s covenant city (Matthew 5:30; Mark 9:43). • Such vows appear elsewhere: David swore not to rest until he found a dwelling for God (Psalm 132:2–5). Oaths like these highlight a faith that prefers personal loss over spiritual unfaithfulness. • For believers today, the verse challenges any compartmentalized faith; loyalty to Christ must engage our abilities, careers, and creativity (Colossians 3:17). summary Psalm 137:5 captures a vow of unwavering allegiance to God’s chosen city and, by extension, to God Himself. Forgetting Jerusalem would mean abandoning covenant love, so the psalmist stakes his own usefulness on faithful remembrance. The verse invites every believer to a similar, whole-life devotion: never let the pressures of exile—or modern culture—dull love for the Lord or His purposes. (5) Her cunning—i.e., the skill of playing on the harp. If at such a moment the poet can so far forget the miserable bondage of Jerusalem as to strike the strings in joy, may his hand for ever lose the skill to touch them.Verse 5. - If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning; literally, let my right hand forget; but the words supplied in the Authorized Version are necessary to bring out the sense, which is, "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, so far as to desecrate thy sacred songs by making them an entertainment for the heathen, may I never have power to strike a note again!"Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Ifאִֽם־ (’im-) Conjunction Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not I forget you, אֶשְׁכָּחֵ֥ךְ (’eš·kā·ḥêḵ) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular | second person feminine singular Strong's 7911: To mislay, to be oblivious of, from want of memory, attention O Jerusalem, יְֽרוּשָׁלִָ֗ם (yə·rū·šā·lim) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 3389: Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel may my right hand יְמִינִֽי׃ (yə·mî·nî) Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 3225: The right hand, side, the south cease to function. תִּשְׁכַּ֥ח (tiš·kaḥ) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 7911: To mislay, to be oblivious of, from want of memory, attention Additonal Resources Psalm 137:5 Blue Letter BiblePsalm 137:5 Bible Gateway Psalm 137:5 Bible.com Psalm 137:5 NIV |
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