Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word
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⚙ Annotations & References ▾
People 3 ▾
Jacob Patriarchal 2 Jacob Life of Christ 2 Rahab Conquest & Judges 4
Places 1 ▾
Mount Zion Judah 2
Typology 1 ▾
Jerusalem → Heavenly Jerusalem 3
Historic voices 6 ▾
City of God 4× 3, 5 Church History (Historia Ecclesiastica) 1× 3 Summa Theologica 2× 4 John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible 1× 1-7 Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament 1× 1, 5 Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary 1× 1, 4
Manuscript witnesses 5 ▾
Codex Sinaiticus Aleph c. AD 330-360 Codex Vaticanus B c. AD 300-325 Codex Alexandrinus A c. AD 400-440 Aleppo Codex (Crown of Aleppo) c. AD 930 Leningrad Codex (Codex Leningradensis) AD 1008
Cross-references 68 ▾
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What is Psalms 87 about?

The sons of Korah sing of Zion, whose foundation is in the holy mountains and whom the LORD loves above all the dwellings of Jacob, for glorious things are spoken of the city of God. Remarkably, He counts even Rahab and Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and Ethiopia among those born in her, writing up the peoples one by one as though each were a native son of Zion. Of the city it is said, 'This man was born there,' and the singers declare, 'all my springs are in thee.' The short psalm looks past Israel's borders to a Zion that gathers the nations as her own children, a vision fulfilled as people of every nation are born again into the city of the living God.

Historical backdrop

These are the songbook of a nation, sung across a thousand years of Israel's worship, from Moses in the wilderness to the exiles returned from Babylon. They were carried from the tabernacle to Solomon's temple to the second temple rebuilt under Persia, set to the lyre and the harp and the clash of cymbals in the courts of the LORD.

Matthew Henry on Psalms 87
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 87
The Church Fathers on Psalms 87

Psalms 87

Psalms Chapter 87
87
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.
← Chapter 86 Chapter 88 →
What is Psalms 87 about?

The sons of Korah sing of Zion, whose foundation is in the holy mountains and whom the LORD loves above all the dwellings of Jacob, for glorious things are spoken of the city of God. Remarkably, He counts even Rahab and Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and Ethiopia among those born in her, writing up the peoples one by one as though each were a native son of Zion. Of the city it is said, 'This man was born there,' and the singers declare, 'all my springs are in thee.' The short psalm looks past Israel's borders to a Zion that gathers the nations as her own children, a vision fulfilled as people of every nation are born again into the city of the living God.