What does Psalm 87:3 mean?
ESV: Glorious things of you are spoken, O city of God. Selah
NIV: Glorious things are said of you, city of God:
NASB: Glorious things are spoken of you, City of God. Selah
CSB: Glorious things are said about you, city of God. Selah
NLT: O city of God, what glorious things are said of you! Interlude
KJV: Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.
NKJV: Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God! Selah
Verse Commentary:
Verse Context:
Psalm 87:1–3 describes Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, which God established through the victories of David (2 Samuel 5:7). This "city of God" is the object of the Lord's special love. This is where the temple was built (Isaiah 2:3), where the ark of the covenant was kept (2 Samuel 6:12), and where Jesus performed much of His earthly ministry (John 5:1).
Chapter Summary:
Jerusalem is the city established by David (2 Samuel 5:7), which became the capital city of Israel. Other nations will come to respect the city. These nations include Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and Cush. "Rahab," in this context, is the nation of Egypt (Isaiah 30:7). The world will come to Jerusalem to be adopted into the family of God as if they were natural-born children of the city.
Chapter Context:
King David took the Jebusite city of Zion and made it his capital (2 Samuel 5:5–10). Scripture repeatedly uses "Zion" as a poetic synonym for Jerusalem (Psalm 2:6; 48:11; 78:68; Isaiah 30:19; Lamentations 4:2). That "nations" will worship suggests the end times: when Christ will rule the world in person (Revelation 15:4; 20:4). The psalm may also celebrate the defeat of an Assyrian army which attempted to conquer Jerusalem (2 Kings 19:35–36).
Book Summary:
The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.
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