Read & explore together
The LORD Loves the Gates of Zion
Psalm 87 is a song about Zion, the city of God. It honours the place Yahweh loves, then speaks of people from several nations being counted in connection with Zion, and ends with joyful words addressed to her.
Understanding the passage
Read these words in context
This poem calls Zion the city of God. It begins with God’s foundation in the holy mountains and Yahweh’s love for Zion. Then it names several peoples, repeats the words “This one was born there,” and closes with singers and dancers speaking about Zion.
Psalms 87:1–7Main takeaway
This psalm praises Zion as the city Yahweh loves and establishes, and it speaks of many peoples being counted in relation to her.
Explore the poem and its images
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Yahweh’s loved cityThe psalm opens by saying God’s foundation is in the holy mountains. It then says Yahweh loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
Explanation
The psalm opens by saying God’s foundation is in the holy mountains. It then says Yahweh loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. In the song, Zion is set apart in a special way, not because of a story here, but because of what Yahweh says about her.
02Glorious things spokenZion is directly called the city of God. The psalm says glorious things are spoken about her, so the city is honoured in the words of the song itself.
Explanation
Zion is directly called the city of God. The psalm says glorious things are spoken about her, so the city is honoured in the words of the song itself. “Selah” appears at the end of the line, though this passage does not explain the term.
03Peoples named with ZionThe poem names Rahab, Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and Ethiopia among those who acknowledge God.
Explanation
The poem names Rahab, Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and Ethiopia among those who acknowledge God. With these peoples comes the repeated sentence, “This one was born there.” The repetition makes that line stand out as an important part of the psalm’s message about Zion and the peoples.
04Established, counted, and sungThe psalm says the Most High himself will establish Zion. Yahweh will count the peoples and write, “This one was born there.”
Explanation
The psalm says the Most High himself will establish Zion. Yahweh will count the peoples and write, “This one was born there.” The song ends with singers and dancers saying, “All my springs are in you,” giving the poem a joyful close that stays focused on Zion.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What does Yahweh love more than all the dwellings of Jacob?
Look for the comparison in the line about Zion and Jacob.
02Which peoples are named before the repeated words, “This one was born there”?
Read the list carefully, then notice how the same sentence returns in the next verses.
03What two things does the psalm say God does for Zion and the peoples?
One verse speaks about establishing Zion, and another speaks about counting and writing up the peoples.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Psalms 87:1–7
1His foundation is in the holy mountains.
2Yahweh loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
3Glorious things are spoken about you, city of God. Selah.
4I will record Rahab and Babylon among those who acknowledge me. Behold, Philistia, Tyre, and also Ethiopia: “This one was born there.”
5Yes, of Zion it will be said, “This one and that one was born in her;” the Most High himself will establish her.
6Yahweh will count, when he writes up the peoples, “This one was born there.” Selah.
7Those who sing as well as those who dance say, “All my springs are in you.”