Psalms 87:4

Psalms 87:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.
• New International Version (NIV)“I will record Rahab and Babylon among those who acknowledge me— Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush— and will say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’ ”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon; behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush— "This one was born there," they say.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to those who know Me; Behold, O Philistia and Tyre, with Ethiopia: ‘This one was born there.’ ”

Context of Psalms 87:4

2The Lord loves the gates of Zion More than all the dwellings of Jacob (Israel). 3Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God [Jerusalem]. Selah. “I will mention Rahab (Egypt) and Babylon among those who know Me— Behold, Philistia and Tyre with Ethiopia (Cush)— ‘This one was born there.’ ” 5But of Zion it will be said, “This one and that one were born in her,” And the Most High Himself will establish her. 6The Lord will count, when He registers the peoples, “This one was born there.” Selah.

Psalms 87:4 word by word

אַזְכִּ֤יר׀ רַ֥הַב וּבָבֶ֗ל לְֽיֹ֫דְעָ֥י הִנֵּ֤ה פְלֶ֣שֶׁת וְצ֣וֹר עִם־כּ֑וּשׁ זֶ֝֗ה יֻלַּד־שָֽׁם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• I will make mentionזָכַרzâkar · to rememberH2142
• of Rahabרַ֫הַבrahab · Rahab monsterH7294
• and Babylonבָּבֶ֫ל, בָּבֶלbâbel · BabylonH894
• to them that knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• me: behold Philistiaפְּלֶ֫שֶׁתpelesheth · PhilistiaH6429
• and Tyreצֹרtsôr tsôr · TyreH6865
• with Ethiopiaכּוּשׁkûsh · CushH3568
• was bornיָלַדyâlad · to begetH3205

Cross-references for Psalms 87:4

• Psalms 89:10You have crushed Rahab (Egypt) like one who is slain; You have scattered Your enemies with Your mighty arm.
• Isaiah 51:9Awake, awake, put on strength and might, O arm of the Lord; Awake as in the ancient days, as in the generations of long ago. Was it not You who cut Rahab (Egypt) in pieces, Who pierced the dragon [of Egypt]?
• Psalms 137:1By the rivers of Babylon, There we [captives] sat down and wept, When we remembered Zion [the city God imprinted on our hearts].
• 2 Kings 20:17‘Behold, the time is coming when everything that is in your house, and that your fathers have stored up until this day, will be carried to Babylon; nothing will be left,’ says the Lord.
• Isaiah 13:1The [mournful, inspired] oracle (a burden to be carried) concerning Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw [in a prophetic vision]:
• Isaiah 14:4that you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon, and say, “How the oppressor has ceased [his insolence], And how the fury has ceased!
• Jeremiah 25:9behold (hear this), I will send for all the families of the north,’ says the Lord, ‘and I will send for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, My servant [to enact My plan], and I will bring them against this land and against its inhabitants and against all these surrounding nations; and I will utterly destroy them and make them a horror and a hissing [that is, an object of warning and ridicule] and an everlasting desolation.
• Jeremiah 50:1The word that the Lord spoke concerning Babylon and concerning the land of the Chaldeans through Jeremiah the prophet:
• Jeremiah 51:1Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I am going to stir up and put into action [a fury] against Babylon And against the [rebellious] people of Leb-kamai (Chaldea) A destroying wind and hostile spirit;
• Daniel 2:47The king answered Daniel and said, “Most certainly your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, since you have been able to reveal this mystery!”
• Daniel 4:30The king said thoughtfully, ‘Is not this the great Babylon which I myself have built as the royal residence and seat of government by the might of my power and for the honor and glory of my majesty?’
• Revelation 17:5And on her forehead a name was written, a mystery: “BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES (false religions, heresies) AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”
• Revelation 18:2And he shouted with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen [certainly to be destroyed] is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a dungeon haunted by every unclean spirit, and a prison for every unclean and loathsome bird.
• Psalms 45:12The daughter of Tyre will come with a gift; The rich among the people will seek your favor.
• Isaiah 23:1The [mournful, inspired] oracle (a burden to be carried) concerning Tyre: Wail, O ships of Tarshish, For Tyre is destroyed, without house, without harbor; It is reported to them from the land of Cyprus (Kittim).
• Ezekiel 27:1The word of the Lord came to me again, saying,

Commentaries on Psalms 87:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4I will make mention of Rahab - The meaning seems to be, Rahab, i.e., Egypt, Babylon, Tyre, Philistia, and Ethiopia are not so honorable as Jerusalem. To be born in any of them is no privilege when compared with being a native of Jerusalem: their cities are but heads of villages; Jerusalem alone is a City. I have met with a very similar sentiment in a Persian work, of which I know not the author: Tche Mesr, o tche Sham, o tche Birr o Buhr . Heme rustaee…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon … - The word Rahab here refers to Egypt. See Isaiah 51:9. It is also applied to Egypt in Psalm 89:10. The reason why the name was given to Egypt is not certainly known. The Hebrew word properly means fierceness, insolence, pride; and it may have been given to Egypt by the Hebrews on account of its haughtiness, pride, and insolence. It has been supposed by some (Jablonski, Opusc. i. 228) that the name is of Egyptian…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-7Verses 4-7 The church of Christ is more glorious and excellent than the nations of the earth. In the records of heaven, the meanest of those who are born again stand registered. When God renders to every man according to his works, he shall observe who enjoyed the privileges of his sanctuary. To them much was given, and of them much will be required. Let those that dwell in Zion, mark this, and live up to their profession. Zion's songs shall be sung with…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4Zion is great, but it will be even greater as an international city where believers from all nations are citizens. God keeps a record of everyone who confesses him as their Lord (Daniel 7:10; Revelation 13:8).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. This is what is spoken by God. to them ... me--literally, "for My knowers," they are true worshippers (Psa 36:10; Is 19:21). These are mentioned as specimens. this--that is, nation was born there--Of each it is said, "This was born," or is a native of Zion, spiritually.Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 87:4

• Babylon
• Church
• Egypt
• Ethiopia
• Philistia
• Rahab
• Regeneration
• Tyre

In the dictionaries

• Babylon
• Ethiopia
• Philistia
• Rahab
• Tyre
• Rahab, or Rachab
• Babylon, Babylonia, Babylonian
• Ethiopia, Ethiopian
• Tyre, Tyrians
• Palestine

Commentaries on Psalms 87

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• The Treasury of David
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings