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 Zion’s city gates more than all the dwellings of Jacob. 3Glorious things are said about you, city of God.Selah “I will make a record of those who know me: Rahab, Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and Cush — each one was born there.” 5And it will be said of Zion, “This one and that one were born in her.” The Most High himself will establish her. 6When he registers the peoples, the Lord will record, “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 crushed Rahab like one who is slain; you scattered your enemies with your powerful arm.
• Isaiah 51:9Wake up, wake up! Arm of the Lord, clothe yourself with strength. Wake up as in days past, as in generations long ago. Wasn’t it you who hacked Rahab to pieces, who pierced the sea monster?
• Psalms 137:1By the rivers of Babylon — there we sat down and wept when we remembered Zion.
• 2 Kings 20:17‘Look, the days are coming when everything in your palace and all that your predecessors have stored up until today will be carried off to Babylon; nothing will be left,’ says the Lord.
• Isaiah 13:1A pronouncement concerning Babylon that Isaiah son of Amoz saw:
• Isaiah 14:4you will sing this song of contempt about the king of Babylon and say: How the oppressor has quieted down, and how the raging has become quiet!
• Jeremiah 25:9I am going to send for all the families of the north’ — this is the Lord’s declaration — ‘and send for my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and I will bring them against this land, against its residents, and against all these surrounding nations, and I will completely destroy them and make them an example of horror and scorn, and ruins forever.
• Jeremiah 50:1This is the word the Lord spoke about Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans, through the prophet Jeremiah:
• Jeremiah 51:1This is what the Lord says: I am about to rouse the spirit of a destroyer against Babylon and against the population of Leb-qamai.
• Daniel 2:47The king said to Daniel, “Your God is indeed God of gods, Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, since you were able to reveal this mystery.”
• Daniel 4:30the king exclaimed, “Is this not Babylon the Great that I have built to be a royal residence by my vast power and for my majestic glory?”
• Revelation 17:5On her forehead was written a name, a mystery: Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes and of the Detestable Things of the Earth.
• Revelation 18:2He called out in a mighty voice: It has fallen, Babylon the Great has fallen! She has become a home for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, and a haunt for every unclean and despicable beast.
• Psalms 45:12The daughter of Tyre, the wealthy people, will seek your favor with gifts.
• Isaiah 23:1A pronouncement concerning Tyre: Wail, ships of Tarshish, for your haven has been destroyed. Word has reached them from the land of Cyprus.
• Ezekiel 27:1The word of the Lord came to me:

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