Psalms 87

The LORD has set the foundation of his city on the holy mountains.

1His foundation is in the holy mountains.

NoteZion is the hill in Jerusalem where the temple stood, and the name is used for the whole city. "The holy mountains" are the ridges Jerusalem was built on; the plural was a normal way of speaking of a hill city's high ground. The Hebrew of this line is unusually compressed, literally "his foundation on the holy mountains", and the words "the LORD" and "his city" are supplied to make an English sentence of it.

2The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the other places where Jacob's people live.

2The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.

NoteThe gates were the wide open space just inside a walled city's entrance, where markets were held, courts sat and public business was done, naming the gates is a way of naming the living city. "Jacob" is the ancestor from whom the Israelites traced their descent, so "the places where Jacob's people live" means all the other towns and settlements of Israel.

3Glorious things are said about you, city of God. Selah.

3Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.

NoteSelah appears throughout the Psalms and its meaning is lost. It is usually taken as a direction for the musicians (a pause, or a swell in the accompaniment), rather than a word to be read aloud.

4God says: "Among those who know me I will name Rahab and Babylon. Look at Philistia and Tyre, along with Ethiopia. Of each one I will say, 'This one was born in Zion.'"

4I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.

NoteRahab here is a poetic name for Egypt, not the woman of the same name in the book of Joshua. The word also names a sea monster of old stories, and Egypt is called by it much as a nation might be nicknamed after a beast. Babylon lay in what is now Iraq, Philistia on the coastal plain southwest of Judah, Tyre was a wealthy trading port on the coast of modern Lebanon, and Ethiopia translates "Cush," the region south of Egypt along the upper Nile. All five were foreign powers, several of them long-standing enemies. "Born there" is the language of a citizen register: to be recorded as born in a city was to be a native of it with full standing, as against being a resident foreigner.

5And of Zion it will be said, "This one and that one were born in her," and the Most High himself will make her stand firm.

5And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.

Note"The Most High" is a title for God, used especially in older poetry. "This one and that one" renders a Hebrew idiom for counting off individuals one after another, the way a list is read out.

6When the LORD writes down the peoples in his register, he will record, "This one was born in Zion." Selah.

6The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.

NoteThe register is a civic roll of citizens, the kind of list a city kept of who belonged to it by birth. Ancient cities and empires kept such rolls for taxation, military service and property claims.

7The singers and the people who play instruments will all be there, saying, "All my springs are in you."

7As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee.

Note"Springs" are sources of fresh water. In a dry country a spring meant the difference between a settlement surviving and not, so it stood naturally for the source of a person's life and gladness. The Hebrew of this verse is difficult and the second word for the musicians may mean either players of pipes or dancers; translators differ.