Psalm 87:2 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 87:2

The Divine interest in Zion. Taking Zion as a poetical name for Jerusalem, the temple city, and as the representative of every place where public and united worship is offered to God. Zion is still, for us, the pious name for God's house. The point prominent is this—that we should love God's house and worship is not in any sense surprising; but it is a surprise of condescension and grace that God should love our sanctuaries, and find his pleasure in our worship. Yet even this we are... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 87:2

The Lord loveth the gates of Zion - Compare Psalms 78:68. The gates of a city were the places of concourse; where business was transacted; where courts were held. The particular allusion here seems to be to the thronging multitudes pressing into the city for public worship - the numbers that gathered together at the great feasts and festivals of the nation; and the meaning is, that he looked with more pleasure on such multitudes as they thronged the gates, pressing in that they might worship... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 87:2

Psalms 87:2. The Lord loveth the gates of Zion That is, the city of Zion, or Jerusalem, gates being often put for cities. He saith Zion rather than Jerusalem, to intimate that he loved Jerusalem for Zion’s sake, or for the temple, which he chose for his peculiar dwelling-place. He loved the gates of the temple, of the houses of doctrines, as the Chaldee interprets it; more than all the dwellings of Jacob More than all other places of the land of Canaan in which the Israelites... 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 87:2

The LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 . Zion. See App-68 . Jacob. Israel viewed in connection with the natural seed, and with material blessings. See notes on Genesis 32:28 ; Genesis 43:6 ; Genesis 45:26 , Genesis 45:28 . read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Psalms 87:2

2. gates—for the enclosures, or city to which they opened (Psalms 9:14; Psalms 122:2; compare Psalms 132:13; Psalms 132:14). 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

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Psalms 87:1-7

The City of God Psalms 87:1 I. It is a remarkable circumstance that the splendid hopes of the Prophets and Psalmist of the Old Testament are always directed to a regenerated society in the future as the greatest blessing of the expected coming of the Messiah. The pious Israelite looked forward to the future of his people, that seed of Abraham which God has chosen for Himself; he did not contemplate his own future apart from theirs. And at times it almost seemed as if the sense of his personal... read more