Chapter Overview
Summary
Psalm 87 (MT) / Psalm 86 (LXX) is a short (7-verse) Korahite Zion-psalm with extraordinary universalist-scope: the psalm imagines foreign-nations (Egypt / Rahab, Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, Cush) registered-as-native-citizens of Zion. Verse 3's 'glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God' supplied the title and opening-line of John Newton's 1779 hymn Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken. The psalm's register-of-birth theology (vv. 4–6) anticipates Paul's 'our citizenship is in heaven' (Phil 3:20) and the Book-of-Life theology.
Notable Variants
87:3 'glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God' as Newton's-hymn source; 87:4–6 foreign-nations-as-citizens-of-Zion as universalist-citizenship theology → Phil 3:20 / Rev 21:24; Rahab as Egypt-designation (cf. Isa 30:7, 51:9).
Structural Notes
MT Ps 87 = LXX Ps 86. 7 verses.
Of the sons of Korah. A psalm. A song. His foundation is on the holy mountains.
'On the holy mount stands the city he founded' tracks MT. Zion-founded-on-holy-mount. Matthew 16:18 ('on this rock I will build my church') Christologically reworks sanctuary-foundation theology.
more than all the dwelling places of Jacob. The LORD loves the gates of Zion
'The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob' tracks MT. ZION-ABOVE-ALL-DWELLINGS divine-preference.
Glorious things are spoken of you — O city of God. Selah.
'Glorious things of you are spoken, O city of God. Selah' tracks MT. JOHN NEWTON'S HYMN SOURCE. Newton's 1779 'Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken' (originally set to Haydn's Austria tune, also used for the German national anthem) opens with this verse's words and became one of English-language hymnody's most-sung Zion-hymns. Hebrews 12:22 ('you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God') Christianizes 'city of God.'
I will mention Rahab and Babylon among those who know Me. Look — Philistia, Tyre, and Cush: 'This one was born there.'
'Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon; behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush: This one was born there' tracks MT. FOREIGN-NATIONS-REGISTERED-IN-ZION. Rahab (a poetic-name for Egypt, from the chaos-monster, cf. Isa 30:7) and Babylon (Israel's two-great-oppressors) placed alongside Philistia, Tyre, and Cush (Ethiopia) — historical-enemies-become-fellow-citizens. The 'this one was born there' (yulad-sham) — the ZION-BIRTH formula, imagining gentile-birth-into-Zion.
And of Zion it will be said, 'This one and that one were born in her.' The Most High Himself will establish her.
'And of Zion it shall be said: This one and that one were born in her; and the Most High himself will establish her' tracks MT. The REGISTRATION theology — citizenship-in-Zion granted-by-divine-record. Paul's Galatians 4:26 ('the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother') and Revelation 21:24 ('the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it') extend.
The LORD will record in the register of the peoples: 'This one was born there.' Selah.
'The LORD records, as he registers the peoples: This one was born there. Selah' tracks MT. DIVINE-REGISTRY theology. Luke 10:20 ('rejoice that your names are written in heaven'), Philippians 4:3 ('whose names are in the book of life'), and Revelation 20:12 extend the divine-record theology.
Singers and dancers alike will say, 'All my springs are in you.'
'Singers and dancers alike say: All my springs are in you' tracks MT. ALL-MY-SPRINGS-ARE-IN-YOU. Spring-source-in-Zion theology. John 4:14 ('the water that I will give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life') and Revelation 22:1's river-of-life extend the springs-in-God theology.