New Living Translation
Psalms 87:4
4I 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!
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
2He loves the city of Jerusalem more than any other city in Israel. 3O city of God, what glorious things are said of you! Interlude 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! 5Regarding Jerusalem it will be said, “Everyone enjoys the rights of citizenship there.” And the Most High will personally bless this city. 6When the Lord registers the nations, he will say, “They have all become citizens of Jerusalem.” Interlude
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 the great sea monster. You scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.
- Isaiah 51:9Wake up, wake up, O Lord! Clothe yourself with strength! Flex your mighty right arm! Rouse yourself as in the days of old when you slew Egypt, the dragon of the Nile.
- Psalms 137:1Beside the rivers of Babylon, we sat and wept as we thought of Jerusalem.
- 2 Kings 20:17The time is coming when everything in your palace—all the treasures stored up by your ancestors until now—will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord.
- Isaiah 13:1Isaiah son of Amoz received this message concerning the destruction of Babylon:
- Isaiah 14:4you will taunt the king of Babylon. You will say, “The mighty man has been destroyed. Yes, your insolence is ended.
- Jeremiah 25:9I will gather together all the armies of the north under King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, whom I have appointed as my deputy. I will bring them all against this land and its people and against the surrounding nations. I will completely destroy you and make you an object of horror and contempt and a ruin forever.
- Jeremiah 50:1The Lord gave Jeremiah the prophet this message concerning Babylon and the land of the Babylonians.
- Jeremiah 51:1This is what the Lord says: “I will stir up a destroyer against Babylon and the people of Babylonia.
- Daniel 2:47The king said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is the greatest of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this secret.”
- Daniel 4:30As he looked out across the city, he said, ‘Look at this great city of Babylon! By my own mighty power, I have built this beautiful city as my royal residence to display my majestic splendor.’
- Revelation 17:5A mysterious name was written on her forehead: “Babylon the Great, Mother of All Prostitutes and Obscenities in the World.”
- Revelation 18:2He gave a mighty shout: “Babylon is fallen—that great city is fallen! She has become a home for demons. She is a hideout for every foul spirit, a hideout for every foul vulture and every foul and dreadful animal.
- Psalms 45:12The princess of Tyre will shower you with gifts. The wealthy will beg your favor.
- Isaiah 23:1This message came to me concerning Tyre: Wail, you trading ships of Tarshish, for the harbor and houses of Tyre are gone! The rumors you heard in Cyprus are all true.
- Ezekiel 27:1Then this message came to me from the Lord:
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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