English Standard Version
Psalms 87:4
4Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon; behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush— "This one was born there," they say.
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.’ ”
- 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.’ ”
- New Living Translation (NLT)I will count Egypt and Babylon among those who know me— also Philistia and Tyre, and even distant Ethiopia. They have all become citizens of Jerusalem!
Context of Psalms 87:4
2the Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob. 3Glorious things of you are spoken, O city of God. Selah Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon; behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush— "This one was born there," they say. 5And of Zion it shall be said, "This one and that one were born in her"; for the Most High himself will establish her. 6The Lord records as he registers the peoples, "This one was born there." 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 crushed Rahab like a carcass; you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.
- Isaiah 51:9Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake, as in days of old, the generations of long ago. Was it not you who cut Rahab in pieces, who pierced the dragon?
- Psalms 137:1By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion.
- 2 Kings 20:17Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up till this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left, says the Lord.
- Isaiah 13:1The oracle concerning Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw.
- Isaiah 14:4you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon: "How the oppressor has ceased, the insolent fury ceased!
- Jeremiah 25:9behold, I will send for all the tribes of the north, declares the Lord, and for Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants, and against all these surrounding nations. I will devote them to destruction, and make them a horror, a hissing, and an everlasting desolation.
- Jeremiah 50:1The word that the Lord spoke concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Chaldeans, by Jeremiah the prophet:
- Jeremiah 51:1Thus says the Lord: "Behold, I will stir up the spirit of a destroyer against Babylon, against the inhabitants of Leb-kamai,
- Daniel 2:47The king answered and said to Daniel, "Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery."
- Daniel 4:30and the king answered and said, "Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?"
- Revelation 17:5And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: "Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations."
- Revelation 18:2And he called out with a mighty voice, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.
- Psalms 45:12The people of Tyre will seek your favor with gifts, the richest of the people.
- Isaiah 23:1The oracle concerning Tyre. Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for Tyre is laid waste, without house or harbor! From the land of Cyprus it is revealed to them.
- 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
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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