Psalms — Chapter 87
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1A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A song. He has founded His city on the holy mountains.
2The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
3Glorious things are ascribed to you, O city of God. Selah
4“I will mention Rahab and Babylon among those who know Me—along with Philistia, Tyre, and Cush—when I say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’”
5And it will be said of Zion: “This one and that one were born in her, and the Most High Himself will establish her.”
6The LORD will record in the register of the peoples: “This one was born in Zion.” Selah
7Singers and pipers will proclaim, “All my springs of joy are in You.”
1His foundation is in the holy mountains.
2The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
3Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.
4I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.
5And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.
6The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.
7As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee.
1His foundation is in the holy mountains.
2Jehovah loveth the gates of Zion More than all the dwellings of Jacob.
3Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah
4I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon as among them that know me: Behold, Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia: This one was born there.
5Yea, of Zion it shall be said, This one and that one was born in her; And the Most High himself will establish her.
6Jehovah will count, when he writeth up the peoples, This one was born there. Selah
7They that sing as well as they that dance [shall say], All my fountains are in thee. Psalm 88 A Song, a Psalm of the sons of Korah; for the Chief Musician; set to Mahalath Leannoth. Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite.
1Written by the Korahites; a psalm, a song. The Lord’s city is in the holy hills.
2The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
3People say wonderful things about you, O city of God. (Selah)
4I mention Rahab and Babylon to my followers. Here are Philistia and Tyre, along with Ethiopia. It is said of them, “This one was born there.”
5But it is said of Zion’s residents, “Each one of these was born in her, and the Most High makes her secure.”
6The Lord writes in the census book of the nations, “This one was born there.” (Selah)
7As for the singers, as well as the pipers— all of them sing within your walls.
1His foundation is in the holy mountains.
2Yahweh loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
3Glorious things are spoken about you, city of God. Selah.
4I will record Rahab and Babylon among those who acknowledge me. Behold, Philistia, Tyre, and also Ethiopia: “This one was born there.”
5Yes, of Zion it will be said, “This one and that one was born in her”; the Most High himself will establish her.
6Yahweh will count, when he writes up the peoples, “This one was born there.” Selah.
7Those who sing as well as those who dance say, “All my springs are in you.”
Summary
A short Song of Zion celebrating the city's unique place in God's affection, declaring that the LORD loves the gates of Zion more than any other dwelling in all of Israel (vv. 1-3). Remarkably, the psalm envisions God registering people from historically foreign and even hostile nations — Egypt, Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and Ethiopia — as though they too were born in Zion (vv. 4-6). It closes with singers and musicians celebrating together, declaring that all their springs of joy are found in this city (v. 7).
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
- Zion (v.2, v.5): The hill on which Jerusalem/the Temple stood; often used poetically for God's dwelling.
- Babylon (v.4): Capital of the Babylonian empire; place of Judah's exile (modern Iraq).
- Philistia (v.4): Coastal region occupied by the Philistines (modern Gaza area).
- Tyre (v.4): Phoenician port city on the Mediterranean coast.
Places on this map
- JerusalemJerusalemA hill town about 2,500 feet up in the central spine of Judah, roughly 35 miles inland from the Mediterranean and 15 miles west of the Jordan. It sits on no trade route and has no river, which is why it mattered as a fortress and a sanctuary rather than as a market. Wikipedia
- Babylonnear Hillah, IraqOn the Euphrates about 55 miles south of modern Baghdad. Judah's exiles were marched roughly 900 miles to get here, the long way round the Arabian desert, which is why the journey took months and the return was a genuine undertaking rather than a short trip home. Wikipedia
- Philistiasouthern coastal Israel and GazaThe coastal plain south of Joppa, held by a league of five cities: Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Gath and Ekron. Flat, fertile and on the trade road, it gave the Philistines chariots and iron while Israel held the hills above them. Wikipedia
- GazaGaza CityThe southernmost of the five Philistine cities and the last stop on the coastal road before the desert crossing to Egypt. Controlling it meant controlling the caravan trade, which is why it changes hands constantly through the Old Testament. Wikipedia
- TyreSour, LebanonOriginally an island fortress a half mile off the Phoenician coast, which is why it held out against Assyria and Babylon and only fell when Alexander built a causeway to it. That causeway silted up, and Tyre has been a peninsula ever since. Wikipedia
- Mediterranean SeaCalled simply the Great Sea, and treated as the western edge of the world. Israel's coast has almost no natural harbours, so for most of its history the sea was a boundary rather than a road, and seafaring was left to the Phoenicians. Wikipedia
- Phoeniciacoastal LebanonA narrow strip of coast backed hard against the Lebanon range, with too little farmland to feed itself and excellent harbours. That combination made its cities trade by sea, plant colonies as far as Spain, and supply Israel with timber, craftsmen and Jezebel. Wikipedia
Towns sit on their excavated or traditional site. Regions, rivers and seas are ringed rather than dotted, because for those a single point is only an anchor. Coastlines from Natural Earth.
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Verse-by-verse commentary on this chapter, written for the everyday reader and freely available online.
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
- Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.
Videos
Articles
- GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of Psalms -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.
Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.
Reflection
- God's Vision Includes the Nations (v.4) — Even Israel's historic enemies are pictured as future citizens registered in Zion. Is there any group of people you'd be surprised — or reluctant — to see fully welcomed into God's family?
- Spiritual Birth, Not Bloodline, Determines Belonging (v.5) — Being "born in Zion" describes a spiritual relationship with God rather than physical ancestry or geography. Is your sense of belonging to God's people rooted in what He's done in you, or in something external?
- All Your Springs Are in God (v.7) — The psalm closes with the joyful declaration that every source of life and refreshment flows from God. When you feel spiritually dry, where do you actually go looking for refreshment?