EasyEnglish Bible 2018
Psalms 87:4
4I will speak about the nations that serve God. Rahab and Babylon are now among them, also Philistia, Tyre and Ethiopia. They say about themselves, ‘This man was born in Zion.’
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 city, more than any other place where Jacob's family lives. 3People say great things about you! You are God's own city! Selah. I will speak about the nations that serve God. Rahab and Babylon are now among them, also Philistia, Tyre and Ethiopia. They say about themselves, ‘This man was born in Zion.’ 5They say this about Zion: ‘Each one of these people was born there.’ It is the Most High God who makes that city strong. 6The Lord will write a list of all their names. For the people from different nations, he will say, ‘This person was born in Zion.’ Selah.
Read all of Psalms 87Psalms 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 caught the monster Rahab and you killed it! With your power, you chased away your enemies.
- Isaiah 51:9Wake up, Lord! Get ready to show your strength! Do great things, as you did in past days, when our ancestors were alive. Remember how you cut the monster, Rahab, into pieces.
- Psalms 137:1When we sat down beside the rivers in Babylon, we were very upset. We thought about Zion city that we had left behind, and we wept.
- 2 Kings 20:17“Understand this! One day, soldiers from Babylon will carry away all your valuable things. Everything that you and your ancestors have stored here until now will go to Babylon. They will leave nothing here.
- Isaiah 13:1This is God's message about Babylon that he showed to Isaiah, the son of Amoz:
- Isaiah 14:4Then you will laugh at the king of Babylon. You will say to him, ‘Now you cannot be cruel to us any more! Your power to cause trouble has finished!
- Jeremiah 25:9So I, the Lord, tell you that I will call the nations in the north to come. I will call my servant, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, to come. I will bring them to attack this land and the people who live here. They will also attack all the nations that are around you. I will completely destroy this land, its people and all the nations around it. Their houses will become heaps of stones for ever. The land will become a terrible place. People will always see how foolish my people are.
- Jeremiah 50:1The Lord gave this message to the prophet Jeremiah about Babylon city and the people of Babylonia:
- Jeremiah 51:1The Lord says this: ‘I will send an enemy to destroy Babylon and the people of Babylonia. It will come like a strong wind that blows them away.
- Daniel 2:47The king said to Daniel, ‘It is true that your God rules all other gods. He rules over kings and he explains secret things. I know this because you were able to explain this dream to me.’
- Daniel 4:30The king said, ‘Look how great Babylon is! It is the city that I have built to be my home as king. It shows that I am a great and powerful king!’
- Revelation 17:5A name was written on the front of her head. Only God knows what it means. It was: Powerful Babylon. Mother of all prostitutes. Mother of all the disgusting things on the earth.
- Revelation 18:2He shouted with a very loud voice: ‘God has destroyed the great city of Babylon! She has become a place where demons live. She is a home for every disgusting spirit. She is a home for every unclean bird. She is a home for every unclean and disgusting animal.
- Psalms 45:12Rich people will come from Tyre to give gifts to you. They will want you to help them.
- Isaiah 23:1This is a message about Tyre. Weep aloud, you people in the great ships of Tarshish. An enemy has destroyed the port and the houses of Tyre. They heard this news in Cyprus.
- Ezekiel 27:1The Lord gave this message 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
In the dictionaries
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
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