Psalms 87–7
Psalm 87:1-7
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Psa.87.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- לבני: PREP
- קרח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מזמור: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שיר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יסודתו: NOUN,m,sg,abs,3,ms
- בהררי: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,cons
- קדש: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Psalm 48:1-2 (thematic): Both celebrate Zion/Mount Zion as God’s holy, glorious mountain — a central, elevated place associated with God’s presence, echoing Ps.87’s claim of a foundation on the holy mountains.
- Isaiah 2:2-3 (allusion): The prophet’s image of the mountain of the LORD being established above other mountains parallels the idea of a divinely founded, preeminent ‘holy mountain’ as in Ps.87:1.
- Psalm 132:13-14 (verbal): Explicitly states that the LORD has chosen Zion and desired it for his dwelling, paralleling Ps.87’s theme of a sacred foundation and God’s presence on the holy mountain.
- Psalm 125:1-2 (thematic): Uses the image of Mount Zion’s stability to describe the people’s security; thematically related to Ps.87’s focus on Zion/holy mountains as the sure, foundational locus of God’s covenant community.
Alternative generated candidates
- For the sons of Korah. A psalm, a song. Its foundation is on the holy mountains.
- For the sons of Korah. A psalm, a song—its foundation is on the holy mountains.
Psa.87.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אהב: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- שערי: NOUN,m,pl,cstr
- ציון: NOUN,prop,f,sg,abs
- מכל: PREP
- משכנות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- יעקב: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Ps.132:13-14 (thematic): Asserts that the LORD has chosen Zion as his dwelling and desires it as his resting place—parallels Ps 87:2’s claim of God’s special love for Zion.
- Ps.78:68 (verbal): Declares God’s choice of Mount Zion and uses language of love/choice (׳אהב׳/׳בחר׳), echoing the preference for Zion over Israel’s tents in Ps 87:2.
- 2 Chr.6:6 (structural): Solomon’s temple-prayer statement that God chose Jerusalem that his name might be there parallels the idea of God’s elective love for Zion as his favored dwelling place.
- Ezek.43:7 (thematic): God’s declaration that the temple is the place of his throne/feet emphasizes Zion as God’s chosen dwelling, resonating with Ps 87:2’s focus on God’s love for Zion’s gates.
- Isa.62:1 (thematic): God’s zealous action ‘for Zion’s sake’ reflects divine special concern and favor for Zion, thematically aligning with Ps 87:2’s statement of God’s love for Zion.
Alternative generated candidates
- The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
- The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
Psa.87.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- נכבדות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- מדבר: VERB,qal,ptc,3,m,sg
- בך: PREP+PRON,2,m,sg
- עיר: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- האלהים: NOUN,m,sg,def
- סלה: MISC
Parallels
- Psalm 48:2 (thematic): Both verses celebrate Zion/Mount Zion as glorious and the joy of the whole earth—praise of the city of God and its exalted status.
- Psalm 46:4 (verbal): Uses the phrase 'city of God' and depicts it as the sacred, life-giving dwelling of God, paralleling the focus on the city's honor in Ps 87:3.
- Isaiah 62:1-2 (thematic): Isaiah proclaims that Zion's fame and righteousness will be seen by the nations—echoing the idea that 'glorious things are spoken' of the city.
- Hebrews 12:22 (allusion): Refers to 'Mount Zion, the city of the living God,' reusing the biblical motif of the holy city as a locus of divine presence and honor.
- Revelation 21:10-11 (thematic): John's vision of the New Jerusalem highlights the city's radiant glory and God's dwelling with humanity, paralleling the theme that glorious things are said about the city of God.
Alternative generated candidates
- Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. Selah.
- Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. Selah.
Psa.87.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אזכיר: VERB,qal,impf,1,c,sg
- רהב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ובבל: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לידעי: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- הנה: PART
- פלשת: NOUN,prop,f,sg
- וצור: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עם: PREP
- כוש: NOUN,prop,sg,m
- זה: PRON,dem,m,sg
- ילד: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- שם: ADV
Parallels
- Isaiah 56:6-7 (thematic): Affirms that foreigners who join themselves to the LORD will be accepted and called God’s people and that Zion is ‘a house of prayer for all nations,’ echoing Psalm 87’s inclusion of foreign nations as belonging to Zion.
- Isaiah 60:3,10 (thematic): Speaks of nations and kings coming to Zion and ‘the sons of foreigners’ building its walls—parallels the image of distant peoples (Rahab, Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, Cush) being associated with or belonging to the city.
- Ezekiel 47:22-23 (thematic): Lays down that foreigners may be assigned an inheritance and live as citizens among Israel; conceptually parallels Psalm 87’s motif of non‑Israelite peoples being reckoned as natives of Zion.
- Revelation 21:24-26 (thematic): Describes the nations and their kings bringing glory into the New Jerusalem and walking by its light—New Testament fulfilment of the idea that Zion (the city) is open to and identified with peoples from many nations.
- Psalm 87:5-7 (structural): Immediate internal parallel: the following verses repeat and develop the same idea (‘of Zion it shall be said… this one was born there’)—the motif of peoples being ‘born’ in Zion and enrolled there appears across these lines.
Alternative generated candidates
- I will mention Rahab and Babylon to those who know me; behold Philistia and Tyre, and Cush—'This one was born there.'
- I will record Rahab and Babylon among those who know me; behold, Philistia and Tyre, and Cush—each of them was born there.
Psa.87.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ולציון: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,prop,f,sg,abs
- יאמר: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואיש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ילד: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- בה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- והוא: CONJ+PRON,3,m,sg
- יכוננה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- עליון: ADJ,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Psalm 87:4 (verbal): Immediate verbal parallel in the same psalm: verse 4 uses the same formula of nations being said to have been ‘born there’ (׳ילד בה׳), linking foreign peoples with birth/registration in Zion.
- Isaiah 56:3-5 (thematic): Both passages promise inclusion of outsiders into Israel’s community and give them a lasting identity (an ‘everlasting name’/a place in Zion) — the theme of foreign peoples being counted as belonging to Zion.
- Isaiah 62:4-7 (thematic): Isaiah depicts God vindicating and establishing Zion and nations calling her by a new, honored name — parallels the idea that the Most High will establish Zion and peoples will be said to belong to her.
- Revelation 21:2-3, 21:24 (thematic): The vision of the new Jerusalem as God’s established city into which the nations come and walk by its light echoes Psalm 87’s image of peoples being reckoned as born in Zion and God establishing the city.
Alternative generated candidates
- And of Zion it will be said, 'This one and that one were born in her'; and the Most High himself will establish her.
- And of Zion it will be said, "This one and that one were born in her," and the Most High himself will establish her.
Psa.87.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- יספר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- בכתוב: PREP
- עמים: NOUN,pl,m,abs
- זה: PRON,dem,m,sg
- ילד: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- שם: ADV
- סלה: MISC
Parallels
- Exodus 32:32-33 (verbal): Moses speaks of a book in which names are written and asks God to blot him out; God replies he will blot out of his book those who sin—parallel idea of God’s register of peoples/names.
- Malachi 3:16 (allusion): Speaks of a 'book of remembrance' written before God for those who fear the LORD—closely related motif of divine record-keeping for the faithful.
- Luke 10:20 (thematic): Jesus tells the disciples to rejoice that their names are written in heaven—New Testament parallel to the theme of God recording people among his own.
- Revelation 3:5 (verbal): Promises that the victorious will not have their names blotted out of the book of life—directly echoes the motif of names being written or blotted in a heavenly register.
- Psalm 69:28 (verbal): Prayer that the wicked be blotted out of the book of the living—uses the same language of names being written or erased from a divine record, contrasting with Ps 87’s celebration of being 'counted'.
Alternative generated candidates
- The LORD will write in the register of the peoples, 'This one was born there.' Selah.
- The LORD will write in the register of the peoples, "This one was born there." Selah.
Psa.87.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ושרים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- כחללים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- כל: DET
- מעיני: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs+PRON,1,sg
- בך: PREP+PRON,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Psalm 36:9 (verbal): Describes God as the 'fountain of life,' using the same spring/fountain imagery to portray God as the source of life.
- Jeremiah 2:13 (verbal): Calls God 'the fountain of living waters' which parallels the idea that one's springs (sources of life) are found in the LORD.
- Isaiah 12:3 (thematic): Speaks of drawing water with joy from the wells of salvation—uses water/well imagery to depict God as the source of salvation and life, similar to 'all my springs are in you.'
- John 7:38 (allusion): Jesus' promise that 'rivers of living water' will flow from believers echoes the Old Testament motif of God as the source of living water, linking the Psalm's 'springs' imagery to New Testament fulfilment.
Alternative generated candidates
- As for the singers and the players on instruments— all my springs are in you.
- And singers—as well as dancers—say, "All my springs are in you."
A psalm of the sons of Korah. A song. Its foundation is on the holy mountains.
The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling-places of Jacob.
Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. Selah.
I will mention Rahab and Babylon among those who know me—look, Philistia and Tyre, along with Cush: each one was born there. And of Zion it shall be said, “This one and that one were born in her”; and the Most High himself will establish her.
The LORD will record in the register of peoples, “This one was born there.” Selah.
As they make music they will sing, “All my springs are in you.”