Psalm 87:2 kjv
The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
Psalm 87:2 nkjv
The LORD loves the gates of Zion More than all the dwellings of Jacob.
Psalm 87:2 niv
The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the other dwellings of Jacob.
Psalm 87:2 esv
the LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
Psalm 87:2 nlt
He loves the city of Jerusalem
more than any other city in Israel.
Psalm 87 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 78:67-68 | He rejected the tent of Joseph, And did not choose the tribe of Ephraim, But chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which He loved. | God's specific choice of Zion out of other tribes. |
| Ps 132:13-14 | For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place. "This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell..." | Zion is God's desired and eternal dwelling. |
| Ps 9:11 | Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion; Declare among the peoples His deeds. | God dwells in Zion. |
| Isa 2:3 | Many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob..." | Zion as the pilgrimage site for nations. |
| Joel 3:17 | Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, Dwelling in Zion, My holy mountain... | God's dwelling confirmed in Zion. |
| 1 Kgs 8:29 | that Your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, toward the place of which You have said, 'My name shall be there' | God's perpetual watch over His chosen place. |
| Ps 48:1-2 | Great is the LORD...in the city of our God, His holy mountain. Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, Is Mount Zion... | Zion is the city of God, celebrated. |
| Ps 26:8 | O LORD, I love the habitation of Your house And the place where Your glory dwells. | Affection for God's dwelling place. |
| Isa 60:11 | Your gates will be open continually; They will not be closed day or night... | Future prosperity and accessibility of Zion's gates. |
| Ps 100:4 | Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. | Gates as entry points to worship God. |
| Neh 11:1 | the officials of the people resided in Jerusalem... and the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to reside in Jerusalem... | Re-establishment of Jerusalem's centrality after exile. |
| Deut 12:5 | But you shall seek the LORD at the place which the LORD your God will choose from all your tribes... | Command for centralized worship. |
| 1 Sam 1:3 | to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. | Earlier central sanctuary before Zion's rise. |
| Deut 14:23 | You shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God...in the place where He chooses to establish His name. | God establishes His name in a chosen place. |
| Exod 25:8 | Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them. | Tabernacle as initial dwelling before Temple/Zion. |
| Amos 1:2 | The LORD roars from Zion And utters His voice from Jerusalem... | God's powerful word issues from Zion. |
| Heb 12:22-24 | But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem... | New Covenant believers arrive at spiritual Zion. |
| Rev 21:2 | And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God... | Heavenly Jerusalem is the ultimate Zion. |
| Gal 4:26 | But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother. | Heavenly Jerusalem as spiritual mother. |
| Eph 2:19-22 | ...you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household...in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. | The Church as God's spiritual dwelling place. |
| Rev 3:12 | I will write on him the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem... | Believers bear the name of New Jerusalem. |
| Ps 76:2 | His tabernacle is in Salem; His dwelling place also is in Zion. | God's dwelling connected to Zion/Salem. |
Psalm 87 verses
Psalm 87 2 Meaning
Psalm 87:2 declares the Lord's profound and unique affection for Zion, specifically its gates, prioritizing it above all other settlements and dwelling places of the people of Israel. This signifies God's special selection and unparalleled devotion to Jerusalem as the consecrated center of His presence, His redemptive purposes, and the hub for His covenant people. It highlights Zion's distinct status as the place God chose for His name and His dwelling, reflecting a love that transcends His care for all other habitations within His chosen nation.
Psalm 87 2 Context
Psalm 87 is a Psalm of Zion, celebrating God's foundation and choice of this city above all others. The opening verse, "His foundation is in the holy mountains," immediately establishes Zion (Jerusalem) as divinely appointed and sacred. Verse 2 amplifies this by articulating God's exceptional affection. Historically, this Psalm likely emerged after David established Jerusalem as the capital and especially after Solomon built the Temple there, making Zion the undeniable spiritual and political heart of Israel. Before Zion, central places of worship shifted, like Shiloh. God's explicit choice of Jerusalem consolidated His worship. The "dwellings of Jacob" refer to all the numerous other cities, towns, and encampments throughout the land where the people of Israel resided. The verse sets up Zion's preeminent status as the precursor for its broader redemptive significance later in the Psalm, where it is portrayed as the birthplace of nations, welcoming all who come to acknowledge God.
Psalm 87 2 Word analysis
- The Lord (יְהוָה, YHVH, Yahweh): This is God's covenant name, signifying His eternal, self-existent nature, and His personal relationship with His people. The use of YHVH underscores the specific and intentional will of the one true God behind this love for Zion.
- loves (אָהֵב, 'ahev): This is an active and profound verb of affection, indicating a deep, abiding, and volitional attachment. God's love for Zion is not casual but an intrinsic part of His divine plan and commitment to His chosen place and people. It highlights His choice over any inherent merit in the place itself.
- the gates (שַׁעֲרֵי, sha'arei): Literally the entry points of a city, but highly symbolic. In ancient Near Eastern cities, gates were vital centers: for justice, where legal decisions were made; for commerce, as trading points; for public assembly, where citizens gathered; and for defense, as critical points of vulnerability or strength. God's love for the "gates" implies His affection for the entire civic, judicial, communal, and strategic essence of Zion, and for the life that flows into and out of the city.
- of Zion (צִיּוֹן, Tsiyon): This is an ancient and poetic name for Jerusalem, often specifically referring to the Temple Mount area, but broadly encompassing the entire city. Zion is revered as God's chosen dwelling place, the "holy mountain," and the spiritual heart of Israel where His presence was uniquely manifested through the Tabernacle and later the Temple.
- More than (מִכֹּל, mikol): Literally "from all" or "out of all," used here comparatively to express supremacy. It signifies an unmatched degree of love. This phrase establishes a distinct preference, setting Zion apart as incomparably beloved above other locations.
- all the dwellings (מִשְׁכְּנוֹת, mishkenot): The plural form of "mishkan" (dwelling place, abode, tent, tabernacle). Here, it collectively refers to all the residential areas—villages, towns, and homesteads—dispersed throughout the entire land of Israel, beyond the specific city of Jerusalem.
- of Jacob (יַעֲקֹב, Ya'akov): This name represents the entire nation and collective people of Israel, descended from the patriarch Jacob. By contrasting "Zion" with "dwellings of Jacob," the verse emphasizes God's unparalleled love for His sacred capital within the context of His own covenant people.
- "The Lord loves the gates of Zion": This phrase highlights God's unique and profound affection for Jerusalem, encompassing its spiritual essence, its governance, and its significance as a place of access to His presence and justice. It portrays a deliberate divine choice.
- "More than all the dwellings of Jacob": This comparison sets Zion apart. It does not negate God's care for the rest of Israel, but establishes Zion's unparalleled preeminence as the specific location God chose to place His Name and establish His dwelling, underscoring its pivotal role in His redemptive plan. It emphasizes a centralization of worship and spiritual significance over any other location within the land of Israel.
Psalm 87 2 Bonus section
- This verse carries an implied polemic against decentralized worship (the "high places" and other altars scattered throughout Israel) by asserting God's exclusive love and choice for one specific, central location—Zion. This reinforced the Deuteronomic principle of one chosen place for God's Name.
- The emphasis on "gates" as much as the city itself foreshadows the New Jerusalem in Revelation, where the gates are perpetually open, symbolizing constant access to God's presence and the nations bringing their glory into it (Rev 21:25-26).
- This specific divine love for a place serves as a foundation for understanding God's covenant with David, establishing Zion as the place from which the Messiah, David's greater Son, would rule.
Psalm 87 2 Commentary
Psalm 87:2 is a concise declaration of divine favoritism for Jerusalem, also known as Zion. It's not merely a physical preference but a theological statement about God's plan being centered in a specific locale. By loving "the gates," God demonstrates His affection for the living functions of Zion—its justice, its public life, its security, and its access. This preference for Zion over "all the dwellings of Jacob" (the rest of Israel) emphasizes Jerusalem's unique status as the city chosen by God for His habitation and for the administration of His kingdom, solidifying its role as the sole legitimate center of worship. This singular love points to a grander spiritual truth: Zion became the symbol of God's active presence and the place from which His salvation would extend, eventually to all nations.