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

2Adonai loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. 3Glorious things are spoken of you, city of God. Selah “I will mention Rahab and Babylon among those who acknowledge Me— behold Philistia and Tyre, with Cush: ‘This one was born there.’” 5But of Zion it will be said: “This one and that one were born in her.” And Elyon Himself will establish her. 6Adonai will count in the register of the peoples: “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 rule over the swelling of the sea. When its waves mount up, You still them.
• Isaiah 51:9Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of Adonai, 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 rivers of Babylon, we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion.
• 2 Kings 20:17‘Behold, days are coming when everything in your house, which your fathers have stored up to this day, will be carried to Babylon—nothing will be left,’ says Adonai.
• Isaiah 13:1The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw:
• Isaiah 14:4you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon and say: “How the taskmaster has ceased! The raging oppressor, exacter of gold, has ceased!
• Jeremiah 25:9I will soon send for and bring all the families of the north”—it is a declaration of Adonai—“and I will send for King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, My servant, and will bring them against this land, and against its inhabitants, and against all these nations round about, and I will utterly destroy them, and make them a horror, and a hissing, an enduring desolation.
• Jeremiah 50:1The word that Adonai spoke about Babylon, about the land of the Chaldeans, through Jeremiah the prophet:
• Jeremiah 51:1Thus says Adonai: “Look! Stirring up against Babylon and those living in Leb-kamai, a spirit of destruction.
• Daniel 2:47In response the king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and the revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this secret!”
• Daniel 4:30Immediately the word about Ne­buchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from men, ate grass like an ox, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.
• Revelation 17:5and on her forehead was written a name, a mystery: “Babylon the Great, the mother of prostitutes and the detestable things of the earth.”
• Revelation 18:2He cried out with a mighty voice, saying: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a den for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit and for every unclean bird and for every unclean and detestable beast.
• Psalms 45:12Then the king will desire your beauty. Honor him, for he is your lord.
• Isaiah 23:1The burden of Tyre. Wail, ships of Tarshish! For Tyre is destroyed. There is no house and no harbor. From the land of Cyprus, it was revealed to them.
• Ezekiel 27:1The word of Adonai came to me saying:

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