Psalms 87:1-7·~1 min

The LORD Loves the Gates of Zion

The psalm begins with God's foundation laid in the holy mountains. The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the other dwellings of Jacob. Because of that unique affection and election, glorious things are spoken about the city of God.

A¹ Psalm of the sons of Korah. A song. ²The LORD loves the gates of Zion ³Glorious things are ascribed to you,

The Lord declares that peoples once viewed as outsiders or enemies, such as Rahab, Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and Cush, may be acknowledged among those who know him. Of Zion it will be said that this one and that one were born in her, because the Most High himself establishes her. When the LORD records the peoples, he will count them as born there.

⁴“I will mention Rahab and Babylon ⁵And it will be said of Zion: ⁶The LORD will record in the register of the peoples:

Singers and pipers alike proclaim that all their springs are in Zion.

⁷Singers and pipers will proclaim,

Section summaryThe psalm opens by declaring that God's city is founded on the holy mountains and especially loved by him above all the dwellings of Jacob. It then speaks glorious things over Zion before announcing that even peoples from Egypt, Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and Cush may be counted as born there. The LORD himself records these nations in the register of the peoples, and the psalm closes with singers and musicians celebrating Zion as the source of their springs.

Role in the chapterThis section presents Zion as the divinely chosen city where God's grace creates a new shared identity that reaches beyond Israel to the nations.