Psalms 87:1-6

1 On the holy mountain stands the city founded by the LORD .

2 He loves the city of Jerusalem more than any other city in Israel.

3 O city of God, what glorious things are said of you! Interlude

4 I will count Egypt and Babylon among those who know me— also Philistia and Tyre, and even distant Ethiopia. They have all become citizens of Jerusalem!

5 Regarding Jerusalem it will be said, “Everyone enjoys the rights of citizenship there.” And the Most High will personally bless this city.

6 When the LORD registers the nations, he will say, “They have all become citizens of Jerusalem.” Interlude

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.''

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew He loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. See note on 44:4 .
• [b]. Hebrew Rahab, the name of a mythical sea monster that represents chaos in ancient literature. The name is used here as a poetic name for Egypt.
• [c]. Hebrew Cush.
• [d]. Hebrew Zion.