In the title compound, {[Tb(C(12)H(8)NO(2))(3)(H(2)O)(2)]·H(2)O}(n), the Tb(III) cation is in an eight-coordinate environment, ligated by six carboxylate O atoms from five 3-(pyridin-4-yl)benzoate (L) ligands and by two O atoms from water molecules. The cations are bridged by the carboxylate O atoms of the L ligands to form a two-stranded polymeric chain which is assembled into a three-dimensional supramolecular network through regular interchain O-H···N hydrogen bonding. On excitation at 320 nm, the title compound displays a series of emissions, which were assigned to the characteristic electronic transitions of Tb(III).