Psalms 87

Chapter context

What is happening in Psalms 87?

prayerpraiselamentkingship

Psalms 87 belongs to the middle movement of the book, especially the section often described as Book III. Psalms is the Bible’s great book of sung prayer, teaching the full range of faithful speech from anguish and repentance to jubilation and doxology. Read this chapter with the wider themes of prayer, praise, and lament in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.

¹ His foundation is in the holy mountains. ² The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. ³ Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah. ⁴ I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there. ⁵ And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her. ⁶ The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah. ⁷ As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee.

Study helps

Glossary

Zion Place v. 2, 5: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Jerusalem.
City People v. 3: The earliest mention of city-building is that of Enoch, which was built by Cain ( Gen. 4:17 ). After the confusion of tongues, the descendants of Nimrod founded several cities (10:10-12).
Babylon Place v. 4: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Babylon.
Cush Place v. 4: Country of burnt faces; the Greek word by which the Hebrew Cush is rendered. Modern identification: Meroe.
Egypt Place v. 4: The land of the Nile and the pyramids, the oldest kingdom of which we have any record, holds a place of great significance in Scripture. Modern identification: Ain Shams.
Jerusalem Place v. 4, 6-7: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Jerusalem.
Philistia Place v. 4: Biblical region. Modern identification: Tel Ashkelon.
Tyre Place v. 4: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Tyre.