those who know God.
The Psalm moves from God’s love for Zion to His recognition of people from many nations, ending with joyful praise. Their belonging rests upon His acknowledgment, and their joy flows from Him.
The heading identifies this as “A Psalm or Song for the sons of Korah,” a group associated with worship in Israel.
Verse 1 — A foundation established in holiness
Psalm 87:1 (KJV)
“His foundation is in the holy mountains.”
The opening directs attention to the foundation of God’s city. Jerusalem stood within a mountainous landscape, and Zion became closely associated with the LORD’s dwelling among His people.
The mountains are called holy because of their relationship to God’s chosen dwelling. Their significance comes from His presence and purpose.
The verse begins with what God has established. Before describing the city’s inhabitants or their praise, the psalm places its foundation before us.
The lesson: God’s people depend upon what He establishes. Their security cannot rest solely upon human strength, impressive buildings, or religious reputation.
Verse 2 — The LORD’s particular love for Zion
Psalm 87:2 (KJV)
“The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.”
“The dwellings of Jacob” refers to the habitations of Israel. Among them, Zion holds a special place as the center of the sanctuary and the gathering of worshippers.
The gates represent the city’s entrances and public life. Through them, people entered the place associated with the LORD’s worship.
This special love for Zion does not mean God lacked concern for Israelites living elsewhere. The verse celebrates the distinctive place Jerusalem occupied in His dealings with His people.
Nor did God’s choice excuse wrongdoing within the city. The prophets repeatedly called Jerusalem to repentance. Being associated with a holy place never removes the responsibility to live faithfully before God.
Verse 3 — The glorious calling of God’s city
Psalm 87:3 (KJV)
“Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.”
Zion’s glory comes from its relationship to God. It is “the city of God,” the place associated with His dwelling, worship, and promises.
Its greatest distinction is therefore theological: the LORD has made Himself known there.
“Selah” is an ancient musical or liturgical notation whose precise meaning is uncertain. Here, it marks a moment within the song after the declaration of Zion’s glory.
For reflection, we can pause over the question: What makes the people of God glorious? Their deepest honor comes from belonging to Him and displaying His character.
Verse 4 — Former outsiders among those who know God
Psalm 87:4 (KJV)
“I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.”
The scope of the psalm now widens dramatically.
The nations named represent different peoples and places:
| Name in the verse | Identification and significance |
|---|---|
| Rahab | A poetic name for Egypt here, distinct from Rahab the woman in Joshua. |
| Babylon | A major foreign power, elsewhere associated with hostility toward God’s people. |
| Philistia | The territory of the Philistines, frequently Israel’s opponents. |
| Tyre | A prominent coastal city known for commerce. |
| Ethiopia | The KJV rendering of Cush, associated with the region south of Egypt, especially ancient Nubia. It should not be mapped exclusively onto the borders of modern Ethiopia. |
The inclusion of Egypt and Babylon is particularly striking. These are not merely neighboring communities with friendly relationships to Israel. The psalm envisions a belonging that crosses deeply established boundaries.
The wording “to them that know me” connects the nations with the knowledge of God. Knowing Him means more than recognizing His name; in biblical usage, it can express acknowledgment, relationship, and allegiance.
“This man was born there” introduces the psalm’s central image of birth and belonging. Read alongside verses 5–6, it portrays people from the nations as recognized in relation to Zion.
The lesson: A person’s national origin does not place that person beyond God’s ability to receive them. The psalm’s hope reaches across ethnic and political boundaries.
Verse 5 — Belonging recognized in Zion
Psalm 87:5 (KJV)
“And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.”
“This and that man” gives the picture an individual character. God’s gathering concerns actual people, each acknowledged as belonging.
The birth language portrays a secure identity within the city. Those associated with distant nations are spoken of as Zion’s own.
The psalm does not explain the mechanism of this belonging in detail. Its emphasis is the recognition itself: God can acknowledge people from the nations as members of His city.
“The highest himself shall establish her” identifies the source of Zion’s stability. The Most High establishes the city and its place in His purpose.
This is especially meaningful because the psalm’s vision is larger than what human political arrangements could guarantee. Its fulfillment depends upon God.
Verse 6 — The LORD records His people
Psalm 87:6 (KJV)
“The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.”
The imagery resembles a register of inhabitants. The LORD Himself counts and records the people.
This gives the declaration of belonging its authority. Acceptance is not finally determined by human prestige, ancestry, or the judgment of hostile neighbors. God acknowledges the person.
The repeated words “this man was born there” reinforce the point: those received are recognized as belonging, with the standing conveyed by birth in the city.
The verse is not explicitly an explanation of the New Testament book of life. Nevertheless, both images emphasize the importance of divine recognition.
The lesson: The most important testimony concerning our identity is God’s acknowledgment. Our response should be faithfulness to Him, rather than dependence upon human approval.
Verse 7 — Worship and the springs of life
Psalm 87:7 (KJV)
“As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee.”
The psalm concludes with music and celebration. Those who belong to God’s city respond with praise.
“All my springs are in thee” uses the image of springs as sources of refreshment and life. In the poem, the words are addressed to Zion. Zion is celebrated as the place where God’s presence and blessing are encountered.
The city does not possess life independently of Him. Its significance comes from the God who dwells among His people.
The closing confession gathers the psalm’s themes into one expression: here are the sources of my joy, belonging, and refreshment.
Praise is therefore a fitting conclusion. God establishes His city, recognizes its people, and gives them reason to rejoice.
The connection with the New Testament
Psalm 87’s vision of people from the nations belonging to God’s city finds a meaningful connection with the New Testament’s teaching about Gentile believers.
Ephesians 2:19 (KJV)
“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God.”
Paul teaches that through Christ, those once far off are brought near. They receive a shared place within God’s household.
Hebrews also uses Zion language:
Hebrews 12:22 (KJV)
“But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels.”
These passages deepen the biblical theme of belonging to God’s city. Psalm 87 should first be heard in its own setting, celebrating Zion and the nations. The New Testament then shows how shared citizenship and access to God are realized through Christ.
The psalm’s birth language should not automatically be equated with every detail of Jesus’ teaching about being born again. The connection is thematic: God grants belonging, and His people include those drawn from many nations.
Personal application
- Receive your identity from God. Let His truth shape your understanding of belonging and worth.
- Reject ethnic superiority. The nations named in this psalm remind us that God’s purposes extend beyond one people’s assumptions.
- Welcome those whom God receives. Former outsiders must not be treated as permanently inferior members of His household.
- Seek refreshment in God’s presence. Religious activity cannot replace fellowship with the One who gives life.
- Respond with worship. Recognition of God’s grace should produce gratitude and praise.
Reflection questions
- What does God’s love for Zion teach me about the value of His presence?
- Why is the inclusion of Egypt and Babylon so remarkable?
- Do I allow someone’s background to influence whether I consider them capable of belonging among God’s people?
- How does the LORD’s personal recognition of His people strengthen my faith?
- What sources am I relying upon for spiritual refreshment?
Closing prayer
Father, thank You for establishing Your people and receiving those who come to You. Remove pride, prejudice, and fear from our hearts. Teach us to welcome one another faithfully and to find our identity in Your truth. Let Your presence be our refreshment and Your grace the reason for our praise. Thank You for bringing us near through Jesus Christ. In His name, Amen.