God’s Word Translation
Psalms 87:4
4⌞The Lord says,⌟ “I will add Egypt and Babylon as well as Philistia, Tyre, and Sudan to the list of those who acknowledge me. Each nation ⌞will claim that it⌟ was born there.”
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 city of Zion more than any other place in Jacob. 3Glorious things are said about you, O city of God! Selah ⌞The Lord says,⌟ “I will add Egypt and Babylon as well as Philistia, Tyre, and Sudan to the list of those who acknowledge me. Each nation ⌞will claim that it⌟ was born there.” 5But it will be said of Zion, “Every race is born in it. The Most High will make it secure.” 6The Lord will record this in the Book of Nations: “Every race ⌞claims that it⌟ 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; it was like a corpse. With your strong arm you scattered your enemies.
- Isaiah 51:9Wake up! Wake up! Clothe yourself with strength, O Lord! Wake up as you did in days long past, as in generations long ago. Didn’t you cut Rahab into pieces and stab the serpent?
- Psalms 137:1By the rivers of Babylon, we sat down and cried as we remembered Zion.
- 2 Kings 20:17The Lord says, ‘The days are going to come when everything in your palace, everything your ancestors have stored up to this day, will be taken away to Babylon. Nothing will be left.
- Isaiah 13:1This is the divine revelation which Isaiah, son of Amoz, saw about Babylon.
- Isaiah 14:4Then you will mock the king of Babylon with this saying, “How the tyrant has come to an end! How his attacks have come to an end!”
- Jeremiah 25:9so I’m going to send for all the families from the north. I will also send for my servant King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, declares the Lord. I will bring the families from the north to attack this land, its people, and all these surrounding nations. I’m going to destroy them and turn them into something terrible, something ridiculed, and something permanently ruined.
- Jeremiah 50:1This is the message that the Lord spoke about Babylon and the land of the Babylonians through the prophet Jeremiah.
- Jeremiah 51:1This is what the Lord says: I will stir up a destructive wind against Babylon and against the people who live in Leb Kamai.
- Daniel 2:47The king said to Daniel, “Your God is truly the greatest of gods, the Lord over kings. He can reveal secrets because you were able to reveal this secret.”
- Daniel 4:30The king thought, “Look how great Babylon is! I built the royal palace by my own impressive power and for my glorious honor.”
- Revelation 17:5A name was written on her forehead. The name was Mystery: Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes and Detestable Things of the Earth.
- Revelation 18:2He cried out in a powerful voice, “Fallen! Babylon the Great has fallen! She has become a home for demons. She is a prison for every evil spirit, every unclean bird, and every unclean and hated beast.
- Psalms 45:12The people of Tyre, the richest people, want to win your favor with a gift.
- Isaiah 23:1This is the divine revelation about Tyre. Cry loudly, you ships of Tarshish! Your port at Tyre is destroyed. Word has come to the ships from Cyprus.
- Ezekiel 27:1The Lord spoke his word to me. He said,
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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