Psalm Chapter 87

What is the meaning of Psalm 87?

Introduction to Psalm 87

Psalm 87 stands as one of the most remarkable songs of Zion in the Psalter, presenting a stunning prophetic vision of the universal worship of יהוה (Yahweh) centered in Jerusalem. This brief but profound psalm celebrates God’s special love for Zion while simultaneously declaring its destiny as the spiritual birthplace of peoples from all nations. Written by the sons of Korah, this psalm transcends typical nationalist boundaries, presenting an extraordinary picture of global unity under God’s reign.

The psalm’s message is particularly relevant today as we witness an unprecedented global spread of faith in the God of Israel through the Messiah Yeshua. It speaks to both Jewish and Gentile believers about their shared spiritual heritage and destiny in God’s kingdom plan.

Context of Psalm 87

Within the collection of Psalms, this song appears in Book III (Psalms 73-89), specifically within a group of psalms attributed to the sons of Korah. These Levitical worship leaders composed songs that often emphasized the significance of Zion and the universal reign of יהוה. The placement of Psalm 87 between Psalm 86 (David’s prayer for God’s mercy) and Psalm 88 (a lament) highlights its message of hope and divine purpose for all nations.

In the broader biblical narrative, this psalm anticipates the prophetic promises found in Isaiah, particularly Isaiah 2:2-3 where all nations stream to Zion to learn God’s ways. It also foreshadows the New Testament fulfillment in Acts 2, where people from many nations gather in Jerusalem and experience spiritual birth through faith in the Messiah.

The psalm’s themes resonate with God’s covenant promise to Abraham that through his seed all nations would be blessed (Genesis 12:3). This universal vision challenges the common ancient Near Eastern concept of deity and nation being inseparably linked, presenting instead a God whose love extends beyond ethnic and geographical boundaries.

Ancient Key Word Study

• יְסוּדָתוֹ (yesudato) – “His foundation”: This term carries deep theological significance, emphasizing God’s sovereign choice and establishment of Zion. The use of the possessive suffix highlights the intimate relationship between God and His chosen city, suggesting both physical and spiritual dimensions of divine architecture.
• שַׁעֲרֵי צִיּוֹן (sha’arei tzion) – “gates of Zion”: Gates in ancient cities represented centers of authority, justice, and community life. The phrase symbolizes more than physical entrances; it represents access points to God’s presence and authority. The plural form suggests multiple ways of approaching God while maintaining Zion as the central focus.
• נִכְבָּדוֹת (nichbadot) – “glorious things”: This intensive passive participle from the root כבד (kavad) connotes weight, honor, and glory. Its usage here suggests divinely ordained destinies and promises that carry eternal significance.
• רַהַב (Rahab) – Ancient poetic name for Egypt: The term literally means “pride” or “storm,” serving as a metaphor for Egypt’s historical opposition to God’s people. Its inclusion here symbolizes the transformation of former enemies into worshippers.
• יֻלַּד־שָׁם (yulad-sham) – “was born there”: This passive form of the verb “to bear” appears repeatedly, emphasizing spiritual rebirth and citizenship in Zion. The repetition creates a powerful rhythm emphasizing the universal scope of God’s redemptive plan.
• עֶלְיוֹן (Elyon) – “Most High”: This divine title emphasizes God’s supreme sovereignty over all nations and peoples, contextualizing the psalm’s universal vision within monotheistic worship.
• יִסְפֹּר (yispor) – “will record”: This verb suggests more than mere registration; it implies divine recognition and acceptance of citizens in God’s kingdom, reminiscent of having one’s name written in the Book of Life.

Compare & Contrast

• Verse 1’s choice of “His foundation” (יְסוּדָתוֹ) rather than “her foundation” emphasizes divine ownership and initiative. The masculine possessive suffix points to God rather than the feminine city, highlighting the theological truth that Zion’s significance stems from divine choice rather than human achievement.
• The phrase “glorious things” (נִכְבָּדוֹת) in verse 3 employs the passive participle form rather than an active adjective, suggesting these glories are divinely bestowed rather than humanly achieved. This grammatical choice reinforces the theme of God’s sovereign grace.
• In verse 4, the mention of specific nations (Rahab/Egypt, Babylon) uses their ancient poetic names rather than common designations, elevating the literary style and connecting these historical enemies to their symbolic significance in prophetic literature.
• The repeated use of “this one” (זֶה) in verses 4-5 creates a rhythmic pattern that could have been achieved through simpler listing. This choice emphasizes individual recognition while building to the collective conclusion.
• The verb “was born” (יֻלַּד) appears in passive form throughout, emphasizing divine action rather than human initiative in spiritual birth. An active form would have shifted focus to human genealogy rather than divine grace.
• The final verse’s springs (מַעְיָנַי) metaphor was chosen over more common water imagery, connecting to the concept of living water and spiritual refreshment found throughout Scripture.

Psalm 87 Unique Insights

The rabbinical tradition provides fascinating insights into this psalm’s deeper meanings. The Midrash Tehillim interprets the repeated phrase “this one was born there” as referring to proselytes who would become as native-born citizens of Zion, anticipating the New Testament concept of adoption into God’s family through faith.

The ancient Jewish understanding of Zion as both a physical and spiritual reality helps illuminate the psalm’s layered meaning. The Jerusalem Talmud (Ketubot 13:2) discusses the concept of “Jerusalem above” paralleling the earthly city, a theme later referenced by Paul in Galatians 4:26. This dual nature of Zion helps explain how the psalm can speak of physical nations while pointing to spiritual realities.

The numerical value (gematria) of the Hebrew words “born there” (יולד שם) equals 386, the same value as “Yeshua” (ישוע), suggesting to some early Messianic Jewish interpreters a hidden reference to the Messiah’s role in spiritual rebirth. While we must be cautious with such interpretations, it adds an interesting layer to the psalm’s messianic implications.

The unusual structure of the psalm, with its repeated declarations of citizenship, mirrors ancient Near Eastern citizenship registers while transforming their meaning. Instead of earthly citizenship based on physical birth, the psalm presents spiritual citizenship based on divine recognition and new birth.

Psalm 87 Connections to Yeshua

The psalm’s vision of all nations being registered as citizens of Zion finds its fulfillment in the Messiah’s work of breaking down the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 2:14). Yeshua’s declaration that many will come from east and west to sit at table with Abraham (Matthew 8:11) echoes this psalm’s universal vision.

The concept of being “born there” anticipates Yeshua’s teaching about the necessity of new birth (John 3:3). The psalm’s picture of former enemies becoming citizens of Zion foreshadows the reconciling power of the cross, where those once far off are brought near through the Messiah’s blood (Ephesians 2:13).

Psalm 87 Scriptural Echoes

This psalm resonates deeply with Isaiah’s prophecies about the nations coming to Zion (Isaiah 2:2-4, Isaiah 56:6-7). The concept of enemies becoming worshippers parallels Isaiah 19:25, where Egypt is called God’s people and Assyria the work of His hands.

The theme of universal worship connects to Zechariah 14:16, where all nations come to worship the King. The new birth metaphor anticipates Ezekiel 36:26 and its promise of spiritual transformation.

The psalm’s vision finds ultimate fulfillment in the New Jerusalem of Revelation 21, where people from every nation gather to worship God. The metaphor of springs in verse 7 connects to Ezekiel 47 and Revelation 22, where living water flows from God’s throne.

Psalm 87 Devotional

This psalm challenges us to embrace God’s heart for all nations while maintaining the centrality of His chosen city, Jerusalem. It invites us to celebrate the amazing reality that through faith in Yeshua, we become citizens of heavenly Jerusalem regardless of our natural birth.

Consider how this psalm might transform your view of fellow believers from different backgrounds. The God who could make Egypt and Babylon citizens of Zion continues to bring unlikely people into His family today. How might this affect your prayers for and relationships with those different from you?

Meditate on your spiritual birth in Zion. Just as the psalm celebrates individual recognition by God (“this one was born there”), remember that He knows you personally and has registered your name in His book. Let this fuel both humility and confidence in your walk with Him.

Did You Know

• The sons of Korah who wrote this psalm were descendants of the same Korah who rebelled against Moses in Numbers 16. Their survival and later service as worship leaders demonstrates God’s mercy and ability to transform family lines.
• The term “Rahab” for Egypt appears in only a few other places in Scripture, including Psalm 89:10 and Isaiah 51:9, always carrying mythological overtones of chaos subdued by God.
• The musical term “Selah” is absent from this psalm despite its clearly musical nature, suggesting it may have been performed in a unique way during Temple worship.
• Ancient Jewish tradition connects this psalm to the Messianic Age, seeing it as a prophecy of the time when Jerusalem will become the spiritual capital of all nations.
• The phrase “this one was born there” appears five times in the psalm, corresponding to the five books of Torah according to some Jewish interpreters.
• The nations mentioned in verse 4 were all historical enemies of Israel, making their inclusion as citizens of Zion particularly powerful for the original audience.
• Archaeological discoveries have found ancient city registers similar to what this psalm describes, suggesting the metaphor would have been readily understood by ancient readers.
• The final verse’s reference to springs and dancers uses terminology connected to Temple worship festivals, particularly the water-drawing ceremony of Sukkot.
• The psalm’s structure moves from God’s foundation (verse 1) to human joy (verse 7), mirroring the pattern of divine initiative and human response found throughout Scripture.