Psalms 87:1-6

Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. A song.

1 He has founded his city on the holy mountain.

2 The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the other dwellings of Jacob.

3 Glorious things are said of you, city of God:^[a]

4 “I will record Rahab^[b] and Babylon among those who acknowledge me— Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush^[c] — and will say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’ ”^[d]

5 Indeed, of Zion it will be said, “This one and that one were born in her, and the Most High himself will establish her.”

6 The LORD will write in the register of the peoples: “This one was born in Zion.”

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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.''

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 8

1. S Psalms 48:1
2. Psalms 2:6; Psalms 78:68
3. S Psalms 46:4; Isaiah 60:1
4. S Job 9:13
5. S 2 Samuel 8:1; Psalms 83:7
6. Psalms 45:12; Joel 3:4
7. Isaiah 19:25
8. Exodus 32:32; Psalms 69:28; Isaiah 4:3; Ezekiel 13:9; Malachi 3:16

Footnotes 4

[a]. The Hebrew has "Selah" (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 6.
[b]. A poetic name for Egypt
[c]. That is, the upper Nile region
[d]. Or "“I will record concerning those who acknowledge me:" / "‘This one was born in Zion.’" / "Hear this, Rahab and Babylon," / "and you too, Philistia, Tyre and Cush.”"