Psalms 87:1-6

1 On 1the holy mount 2stands the city he founded;
2 the LORD 3loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
3 4Glorious things of you are spoken, O 5city of God. Selah
4 Among those who 6know me I mention 7Rahab and Babylon; behold, Philistia and Tyre, with 8Cush[a]-- "This one was born there," they say.
5 And of Zion it shall be said, "This one and that one were born in her"; for the Most High himself will 9establish her.
6 The LORD records as he 10registers the peoples, "This one was born there." Selah

Psalms 87:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 87

\\<>\\. Whether this psalm was composed by David, in a view of the temple to be built by his son Solomon; or whether by one that returned from the Babylonish captivity, who wrote it for the comfort of those that wept at the laying of the foundation of the second temple; it seems evident that the subject matter of it is the church of God in Gospel times, and especially in the latter day glory: the title in the Syriac version is, ``concerning the redemption of Jerusalem.''

Cross References 10

  • 1. See Psalms 48:1
  • 2. Isaiah 28:16
  • 3. Psalms 78:67, 68
  • 4. [Isaiah 60:1]; See Isaiah 54:1-3
  • 5. Psalms 46:4
  • 6. Psalms 36:10; [John 10:14]
  • 7. See Job 9:13; See Isaiah 19:22-25
  • 8. See Psalms 68:31
  • 9. Psalms 48:8
  • 10. See Psalms 69:28

Footnotes 1

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.