King James Version
Psalms 87
7 verses with commentary
Glorious Things of You Are Spoken
A Psalm or Song for the sons of Korah. His foundation is in the holy mountains. for the sons: or, of the sons
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>His foundation is in the holy mountains.</strong> This opening of Psalm 87 establishes God's sovereign choice of Zion (Jerusalem) as His dwelling place. The pronoun "His" refers to the LORD mentioned in the psalm's superscription, emphasizing divine ownership and initiative.<br><br>"Foundation" (יְסוּדָתוֹ/<em>yesudato</em>) means base, establishment, that upon which something is built. Th...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(1) **His foundation.**—This abrupt commencement with a clause without a verb has led to the conjecture that a line has dropped away. But this is unnecessary if we neglect the accents, and take *gates of Zion *in apposition with *His foundation:*
His foundation on the holy hill
Loveth Jehovah, (even) Zion’s gates,
More than all Jacob’s dwellings.
Here *His foundation *is equivalent to *that which ...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
16-18. God answers his constant and repeated prayers.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 87
Chapter Outline
The glory of the church.(1-3)
It is filled with the Divine blessing.(4-7)
**Verses 1-3**
Christ himself is the Foundation of the church, which God has laid. Holiness is the strength and firmness of the church. Let us not be ashamed of the church of Christ in its meanest condition, nor of those that belong to it, since such glorious things are spoken of ...
Read full commentary →The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.</strong> This verse reveals divine preference—God has chosen Zion above all other locations in Israel. This is remarkable because all Israel is covenant people, yet God expresses special love for one location.<br><br>"The LORD loveth" (אֹהֵב יְהוָה/<em>ohev Yahweh</em>) uses the covenant name Yahweh and the strong verb...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
16-18. God answers his constant and repeated prayers.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 87
Chapter Outline
The glory of the church.(1-3)
It is filled with the Divine blessing.(4-7)
**Verses 1-3**
Christ himself is the Foundation of the church, which God has laid. Holiness is the strength and firmness of the church. Let us not be ashamed of the church of Christ in its meanest condition, nor of those that belong to it, since such glorious things are spoken of ...
Read full commentary →Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.</strong> This verse celebrates Zion's unique identity and the wonderful declarations made about God's chosen city. The address shifts from third person to direct second person—the psalmist now speaks to Zion itself, personalizing the city.<br><br>"Glorious things" (נִכְבָּדוֹת/<em>nikkbadot</em>) comes from <em>kavod</em>, meaning w...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(3) The meaning of this verse is obvious in spite of its many grammatical difficulties. The praise of Zion had found many tongues, but the poet implies that he is going to swell the chorus.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
16-18. God answers his constant and repeated prayers.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 87
Chapter Outline
The glory of the church.(1-3)
It is filled with the Divine blessing.(4-7)
**Verses 1-3**
Christ himself is the Foundation of the church, which God has laid. Holiness is the strength and firmness of the church. Let us not be ashamed of the church of Christ in its meanest condition, nor of those that belong to it, since such glorious things are spoken of ...
Read full commentary →I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.
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KJV Study Commentary
God speaks of Gentile nations: "I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there" (Hebrew <em>azkir Rachav u-Vavel l-yod-ay hineh Peleshet v-Tzor im-Kush zeh yullad-sham</em>). "Rahab" symbolizes Egypt, "Babylon" Israel's oppressor—yet God claims them as birthplaces of His people. This astounding prophecy envisions Ge...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(4) **This verse may be paraphrased**—
I will mention to my intimates Rahab and Babylon; (I will say) look at Philistia and Tyre—yes, and even Ethiopia. So-and-so was born there.
The last clause is literally *this was born there, *and on its reference the whole meaning of the verse and the whole intention of the psalm turn. Now immediately after the mention of a place, *there *must surely refer to...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
19. God hears the wicked in wrath.
**abideth--**or, "sitteth."
**of old--**enthroned as a sovereign.
**Because ... no changes--**Prosperity hardens them (Psa 73:5).
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 4-7**
The church of Christ is more glorious and excellent than the nations of the earth. In the records of heaven, the meanest of those who are born again stand registered. When God renders to every man according to his works, he shall observe who enjoyed the privileges of his sanctuary. To them much was given, and of them much will be required. Let those that dwell in Zion, mark this...
Read full commentary →And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.</strong> This verse presents the stunning declaration that people from various nations will be considered native-born citizens of Zion, with God Himself guaranteeing this status. This represents one of Scripture's clearest Old Testament prophecies of universal gospel inclusion.<br>...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(5) **And of Zion . . .**—This verse must be taken as antithetical to the preceding. The poet claims a prouder boast for natives of Jerusalem, because it was established by the Most High. Render, *But of Zion it is said, “This man and that *(literally, *man and man*) *was born in her, and her the Most High established.”*
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
20-21. The treachery is aggravated by hypocrisy. The changes of number, Psa 55:15, 23, and here, enliven the picture, and imply that the chief traitor and his accomplices are in view together.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 4-7**
The church of Christ is more glorious and excellent than the nations of the earth. In the records of heaven, the meanest of those who are born again stand registered. When God renders to every man according to his works, he shall observe who enjoyed the privileges of his sanctuary. To them much was given, and of them much will be required. Let those that dwell in Zion, mark this...
Read full commentary →The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.
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KJV Study Commentary
The psalm continues: "The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there" (Hebrew <em>YHWH yis-por bikh-tov amim zeh yullad-sham</em>). God "counts" and "writes"—maintaining a register of citizens. "This man was born there" is recorded for each individual. The image is the book of life (Exodus 32:32-33, Psalm 69:28, Philippians 4:3, Revelation 20:12-15). Citizenship ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(6) The proud boast of the preceding verse is repeated here with allusion to the census or birth-register of citizens. (See Ezekiel 13:9; Isaiah 4:3; Psalm 69:28, Note.) No doubt these lists were often produced or appealed to in triumph to mark the superiority of a native of Jerusalem over those born at a distance.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
20-21. The treachery is aggravated by hypocrisy. The changes of number, Psa 55:15, 23, and here, enliven the picture, and imply that the chief traitor and his accomplices are in view together.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 4-7**
The church of Christ is more glorious and excellent than the nations of the earth. In the records of heaven, the meanest of those who are born again stand registered. When God renders to every man according to his works, he shall observe who enjoyed the privileges of his sanctuary. To them much was given, and of them much will be required. Let those that dwell in Zion, mark this...
Read full commentary →As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee.</strong> This verse envisions Zion's future celebration, where diverse peoples join in joyful worship and declare their complete dependence on God's city for life and blessing. The imagery shifts from citizenship registration (v.6) to celebratory worship (v.7).<br><br>"As well the singers as the p...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(7) The literal sense of this most obscure verse is—
“And singers as trumpeters
All my springs in Thee,
which we may paraphrase, keeping in the same line with the rest of the psalm, *For such an one *(celebrating his birthday, Genesis 40:20, Matthew 14:6) *the singers and musicians will sing *(to Zion), “*All my offspring is in Thee.” *Not only is it a boast to have been born in Zion, but in the g...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**22. thy burden--**literally, "gift," what is assigned you.
**he shall sustain--**literally, "supply food," and so all need (Psa 37:25; Mt 6:11).
**to be moved--**from the secure position of His favor (compare Psa 10:6).
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 4-7**
The church of Christ is more glorious and excellent than the nations of the earth. In the records of heaven, the meanest of those who are born again stand registered. When God renders to every man according to his works, he shall observe who enjoyed the privileges of his sanctuary. To them much was given, and of them much will be required. Let those that dwell in Zion, mark this...
Read full commentary →