Psalm 137:9 Happy [shall he be], that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.
2007-02-19 16:39:31 · 16 answers · asked by Sheik Yerbouti 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Little ones clealry refers to babies, not only in this psalm, but everywhere else the phrase occurs in the old testament, e.g. Gen 34:29, 43:8, 45:19, 46:5, 47:24, 50:8, 50:21; Exd 10: 10, 10:24; Num 14:3, 31:9, 31:17, 32:16, 32:17, 32:24; 32:26; Deu 1: 39, 2:34, 3:19, 20: 14... I could go on. Check them out for yourself.
2007-02-19 16:54:19 · update #1
Why do people seem to think that God wrote the Bible? You're quoting a book written by man and translated time and again by man...
Are you absolutely certain that book speaks for God?
2007-02-19 16:43:23 · answer #1 · answered by shoujomaniac101 5 · 2⤊ 3⤋
This is why proper interpretation is needed in understanding the Bible. Also the situation where we need to recognize the fact that the Bible contains different form of literature. Psalm 137:9 is an example of a literature form called idiom. Idiom is a good example where the meaning is not determined by what the word(s) generally mean. Remember, how the word "bad" can now mean "good". That's what we have here in Psalm 137:9. Other example are "I have love Jacob, Esau I have hated." "As numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand of the seashore".
Psalm 137:9, if interpreted without recognizing the idiom is very repulsive, uncivilized and unChristian. But such scenario is not uncommon during the OT time (2 King 8:12; Isa. 13:16,18, Hosea 10:14, Nah. 3:10). The Psalmist desires God justice upon Babylon and uses an idiom describing a defeat or an overthrow of a nation. What we have here is not exactly a detail desire of a Psalmist to massacre the infants but for God justice to destroy an evil empire. Simply put, the idiom is a description of a kingdom that was defeated or overthrown, and that's what the Psalmist wanted upon Babylon.
2007-02-20 00:45:24 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
First of All Psalm 137:9 is referencing verse 7 where it says Lay it bare, lay it bare to the "foundation" within it. The foundation is made out of a stone or a crag. Verse 9 does not mean to bash childrens skulls against stones. It says: Happy will he be that grabs ahold and does dash to pieces. Your children against the crag. It is referencing rewards to the daughters of Babylon. Those being children. The crag being Babylon. At least that's how I interpreted it. Whether it is a clear and precise interpretation...I'd have to do some research.
2007-02-20 00:42:55 · answer #3 · answered by AmandaHugNKiss 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sheik: You have MISquoted this scripture. What is says is this: "Happy is the one who takes YOUR babies and smashes them against the rocks." (Psalm 137, verse 9). This is talking about a future prophecy concerning invading enemy nations. This will be the twisted mind-set of the invaders, actually rejoicing in the murder of a baby ! Could this be Muslim extremists "blessing" our lands with the presence of their bent views on their interpretation of the Q'uran ? I hope not ! But with our North American laid-back approach to our enemies, anything is possible.
2007-02-20 00:56:14 · answer #4 · answered by guraqt2me 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He was talking about Israel in slavery. Some people believe it is better to kill your infants than to raise them in slavery. I don't believe that David was advocating infanticide - it's kind of like us saying things like "I wish I'd never been born" when extreme calamity hits us. But the "shall he be" can refer to those who are the enslavers who kill the children. God does not hate babies at all - in fact He says in the New Testament "allow the little children to come unto be and forbid them not." In the Old Testament He says (speaking of children) "happy is the man whose quiver is full of them" - meaning happy is the man who has lots of children.
If you are going to ask about Scripture, look at the context of what is actually being said first and that will resolve your questions.
2007-02-20 00:57:33 · answer #5 · answered by wd 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sheik yerbouti That's a great name. Passage, however does not refer to babies. Do you know what a metaphor is? Keep looking, there are many bloody passages in the Old Testament. You can do a much better job with your attempts at being clever and combative
2007-02-20 00:47:26 · answer #6 · answered by skimdaddy 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
in other references - particularly in those involving fighting against an enemy army.. the same original word is translated as "young men".
so unless someone thinks that God lusts after fighting men to throw one another against the stones.. the phrase - dash against the stones - is a jewish saying.. that is not to be taken literally. but its meaning has to do with defeating the enemy.
a search word study shows this about "happy" = rejoice = triumph over.
clearly then it does not refer to babies because one doesnt have to do something sadistically violent to triumph over a baby.
2007-02-20 00:53:25 · answer #7 · answered by opalist 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The scripture is not talking about God but a man. Now the god of this world has been killing children and babies since Genesis 4
2007-02-20 00:50:19 · answer #8 · answered by son of God 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
In context this is about a experience in captivity David was writting about.
Really some weired answeres above me...lol.
2007-02-20 00:49:14 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Only a simpleton, unschooled in literature would think that God hates babies.
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2007-02-20 00:50:32 · answer #10 · answered by Jimmy Dean 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋