Psalms 137:4

4 How can we sing a song about ADONAI here on foreign soil?

Psalms 137:4 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 137:4

How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?
] This is the answer returned by the Jews to the above request or demand; it may be, particularly, by the Levites, whose business it was to sing these songs: so the Targum,

``immediately the Levites said, how shall we sing the hymns of the Lord in a strange land?''

This they said, not merely on account of their unsuitable circumstances, being in distress and affliction, and so not disposed for such work; nor as if unlawful to them, being forbidden: for, though sacrifices were not to be offered but at Jerusalem, yet songs of praise might be sung elsewhere, on proper occasions, as David did, ( Psalms 18:49 ) ( Psalms 57:4 Psalms 57:8 ) ( 63:1-3 ) ; but as wondering at their insolence, and complaining of their cruelty and inhumanity, thus to insult them and jeer at them: or rather, because it was "the Lord's song" they required, and so sacred, and not to be sung in any place, or at any time, and in any company; which would be but casting pearls before swine, and giving that which was holy to dogs, ( Matthew 7:6 ) ; or it may be they required this to be done in one of their temples, and to their idols, just as these songs were sung in the temple at Jerusalem, and to the honour of Jehovah; and therefore they refused to do it: for it may be rendered, or however interpreted, "in the land of a strange god" {c}; as it is by Aben Ezra, Kimchi, and Ben Melech: they required them to sing with mirth and joy, which they could not do in their present case; see ( Psalms 137:2 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F3 (rkn tmda le) "in terra peregina, sc. Dei", Muis, Michaelis.

Psalms 137:4 In-Context

2 We had hung up our lyres on the willows that were there,
3 when those who had taken us captive asked us to sing them a song; our tormentors demanded joy from us -"Sing us one of the songs from Tziyon!"
4 How can we sing a song about ADONAI here on foreign soil?
5 If I forget you, Yerushalayim, may my right hand wither away!
6 May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I fail to remember you, if I fail to count Yerushalayim the greatest of all my joys.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.