Psalms 137:4

“How shall we sing the song of YHWH on foreign soil?”

Psalms 137:4 · direct translation from the Hebrew
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With the Hebrew beneath

4

Psalms 137:4, word by word

shall we singנָשִׁירnashir

sing

To give voice to a melody, to praise YHWH or to celebrate.

Where else “nashir” appears
the songשִׁירshir

song

A composition sung with words and melody, to praise or celebrate.

Where else “shir” appears
of YHWHיְהוָהyehva

YHWH

The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

Where else “yehva” appears
foreignנֵכָרnechar

foreign

What is foreign; "son of a foreigner" is someone of another people.

Where else “nechar” appears
soilאַדְמַתadmat

soil

Farmland, or dust.

Where else “admat” appears

The context

3For there our captors asked us for words of song, and those who tormented us for joy: “Sing for us one of the songs of Zion.”

4 · This verse (above)

5If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand forget.

Read all of Psalms 137

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