Psalm 87 1

Psalm 87:1 kjv

His foundation is in the holy mountains.

Psalm 87:1 nkjv

A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song. His foundation is in the holy mountains.

Psalm 87:1 niv

Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. A song. He has founded his city on the holy mountain.

Psalm 87:1 esv

On the holy mount stands the city he founded;

Psalm 87:1 nlt

On the holy mountain
stands the city founded by the LORD.

Psalm 87 verses

Psalm 87 1 Meaning

Psalm 87:1 declares the divine establishment and unwavering foundation of Jerusalem (Zion) upon its sacred mountains. It asserts that God Himself has chosen and securely laid the groundwork for this city, imbuing it with a unique holiness and prominence among all earthly locations. This verse immediately sets the tone for the psalm, portraying Zion not merely as a geographic place but as God's cherished dwelling, divinely founded and perpetually significant.

Psalm 87 1 Context

Psalm 87 is known as a "Song of Zion" or a "Song of the City of God." It celebrates Jerusalem as God's unique and cherished dwelling place. The psalm shifts focus from the literal mountains of Jerusalem to a prophetic vision of Zion as the spiritual birthplace for all nations, indicating a universal redemptive purpose. Its brevity suggests it may have been a liturgy or hymn used in temple worship, emphasizing Jerusalem's divine origin and future glory. Historically, the psalm likely reflects a time of renewed hope, possibly after the return from exile, or a consistent affirmation of Zion's theological importance throughout Israel's history. It asserts God's ultimate ownership and active presence in Jerusalem, contrasting with surrounding pagan beliefs in local deities attached to specific mountains or natural features, by declaring His (Yahweh's) foundation and holiness.

Psalm 87 1 Word analysis

• His Foundation (יְסוּדָתוֹ - Yesudato):

  • Yesud means "foundation," "base," "beginning," or "groundwork." The suffix "-ato" denotes possession, "His."
  • Significance: It implies divine origination and establishment. This is not a humanly constructed city in its essence, but one whose very basis and permanence are divinely laid. It speaks of stability, security, and a deep-seated divine purpose for Zion. In contrast to cities built on human strength or conquest, Jerusalem's foundation is in God.

• is on / in (בְּ - be):

  • A prepositive prefix meaning "in," "on," "at," or "by."
  • Significance: It indicates location but also intimate connection. The foundation is upon or within these mountains, not just adjacent to them. It integrates God's establishment directly with the chosen location.

• the Holy Mountains (הַרְרֵי קֹדֶשׁ - harrei kodesh):

  • Harrei is the plural construct form of har (הר), meaning "mountain" or "hill." "Mountains of."
  • Kodesh (קֹדֶשׁ) means "holiness," "sanctuary," "sacredness," or "set apart."
  • Significance: These are not just any mountains but are specifically designated as "holy," meaning consecrated and set apart for God's exclusive purposes. Jerusalem is built upon several hills, including Mount Zion and Mount Moriah, where the Temple stood. This highlights God's choice and presence.
  • Polemics: This declaration stands as a direct counter-statement to surrounding Canaanite and other pagan beliefs where gods were associated with specific "high places" (Bamah) or sacred mountains (e.g., Baal on Mount Zaphon). Unlike these mountains that derived holiness from superstitious practices or immanent deity, the mountains of Jerusalem are holy because God, Yahweh, Himself chose and established His presence there. Their holiness is an attribute given by God, not inherent or cultic in a pagan sense.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "His foundation is on the holy mountains": This entire phrase establishes Jerusalem as unique. It’s not merely built on mountains, but its foundation—its very essence and permanence—is secured by God on mountains He has designated as holy. It speaks to divine purpose, stability, and distinction for the city above all others. It lays the groundwork for the psalm's central theme: the unparalleled significance of Zion in God's plan for humanity.

Psalm 87 1 Bonus section

The Hebrew word for "foundation," yesudah, can also imply the idea of a beginning or an origin point. Thus, the verse can subtly convey that Zion is the origin point of God's redemptive work or a new spiritual creation, which the later verses of the psalm develop with the idea of different nations being "born" there. This physical foundation in Jerusalem points towards a deeper, spiritual reality where the church, the body of Christ, is founded upon apostolic teaching with Christ as the chief cornerstone, as mentioned in Ephesians 2:20. The "holy mountains" signify a physical place, but the spirit of the psalm quickly transcends geography to portray Zion as a theological and eschatological concept, encompassing both an earthly capital and a heavenly, ultimate city of God.

Psalm 87 1 Commentary

Psalm 87:1 succinctly proclaims God's intimate and active involvement in the establishment of Jerusalem, or Zion. By stating "His foundation is on the holy mountains," the psalmist declares that Jerusalem's very existence, stability, and enduring significance derive not from human effort or natural geography alone, but from God's deliberate choice and secure hand. The "holy mountains" refer to the cluster of hills (like Zion and Moriah) upon which the city and the Temple were built. Their "holiness" is an attributed holiness; they are set apart by God for His purposes, in direct contrast to pagan practices that ascribed inherent holiness to various natural formations for their false gods.

This verse emphasizes Jerusalem's unique status as God's chosen earthly dwelling place (compare Ps 132:13-14). It grounds the subsequent joyous declaration of Zion as the spiritual birthplace of nations in divine action. The "foundation" imagery signifies permanence, security, and the enduring nature of God's covenant with His people centered in this place. Theologically, this verse foreshadows the spiritual reality of God's New Covenant dwelling: first, in Christ as the cornerstone (1 Cor 3:11, Eph 2:20), and then in His Church (Eph 2:19-22) and finally consummated in the New Jerusalem (Heb 12:22-24, Rev 21:10). It instills confidence in God's purposes, asserting that what God establishes endures securely.