psalm-87:1-88:6

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 87:1

Psalms 87:1. His foundation Namely, the foundation of the city, or temple of God, of which he speaks in the following verses. The psalmist’s thoughts, we may suppose, were strongly fixed upon the temple and city of God; he had them full in his view, and was contemplating the glories of them, and at length breaks out into this abrupt expression, which has a reference, though not to what he had written before, yet to what he had deeply thought of; nor was his meaning obscure to any one who... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 87:1-7

Psalms 87:0 Citizens of God’s cityThis psalm looks forward to the gathering of people of all nations into Zion, the city of God. It is a picture of God’s gracious act in welcoming all who want to be his people, regardless of their nationality (cf. Matthew 8:11; Matthew 28:19; Galatians 3:28; Galatians 4:26; Ephesians 2:13-19; Revelation 21:22-24).God loves his city, the place where he dwells among his people (1-3). He brings men and women from former enemy nations and places them in his city... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Psalms 87:1

Title. A Psalm. Hebrew. mizmor. App-65 . Song. Hebrew. shir . App-65 . for the sons of Korah: i.e. of or by them. This title is repeated in the sub-scription after Psalms 87:7 , to emphasise the occasion of its use in bringing up the Ark to Zion by David (951BC, a Sabbatic year). See note there, and on Title of Psalms 24:0 . His: i.e. Jehovah's (which He has laid in Zion). holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Psalms 87:1

PSALM 87GLORIOUS THINGS OF THEE ARE SPOKENThe title we have chosen here is the title of a famous hymn which is founded upon this psalm.[1] It is set to the music of the Austrian National Hymn, composed by Franz Joseph Haydn, and the words are those of John Newman.Glorious things of thee are spoken. Zion, City of our God! He whose word cannot be broken Formed thee for his own abode. On the Rock of Ages founded, What can shake thy sure repose? With salvation's walls surrounded, Thou mayest smile... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Psalms 87:1

Psalms 87:0. The nature and glory of the church. The increase, honour, and comfort of the members thereof. A Psalm or Song for the sons of Korah. Title. שׁיר מזמור קרח לבני libnei korach mizmor shiir.— The inscription of this psalm does not attribute it to David, nor is the occasion on which it was penned particularly mentioned. It is certain that it was written in praise of Jerusalem, and of the particular privileges of which it could boast above all other the most celebrated cities in the... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Psalms 87:1

1. His—that is, God's foundation—or, what He has founded, that is, Zion ( :-). is in the holy mountains—the location of Zion, in the wide sense, for the capital, or Jerusalem, being on several hills. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 87:1-3

1. The importance of Zion 87:1-3God chose Zion as the place where He would meet with His people in a special sense. He met with them by residing in the temple and having fellowship with them through His priests. Among all the mountains near Mt. Zion, this one was His choice for habitation, and as such was the foundation of His dealings with the Israelites. There were some beautiful hilly sites in Israel, but this one was the best because God chose to make it His abode. Other ancient Near... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 87:1-7

Psalms 87This psalm speaks about the glories of Zion, where the temple stood. The presence of God reigning among His people at this site constituted a blessing to them and to all other nations. John Newton’s great hymn "Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken" is a commentary on this psalm."The language of the poet is anything but flowing. He moulds his brief sentences in such a daring and abrupt manner that only a few characteristic features are thrown into bold relief while their inner connection... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 87:1-7

This Ps. expands the thought of Psalms 86:9. Zion is the chosen dwelling of God (Psalms 87:1-3), the spiritual birthplace of the other nations (Psalms 87:4-6), and the source of joy to them all (Psalms 87:7). In Psalms 86:4 God is the speaker. The mention of Babylon as no longer an enemy of Israel, but as receiving spiritual blessing from Zion, shows that the Ps. was written after the bitter experience of the captivity was over.1. His foundation] i.e. God’s. The holy mountains] the hills on... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 87:1

(1) His foundation.—This abrupt commencement with a clause without a verb has led to the conjecture that a line has dropped away. But this is unnecessary if we neglect the accents, and take gates of Zion in apposition with His foundation:His foundation on the holy hillLoveth Jehovah, (even) Zion’s gates,More than all Jacob’s dwellings.Here His foundation is equivalent to that which He hath founded, and the gates are put by metonymy for the city itself. (Comp. Jeremiah 14:2.)With regard to the... read more