Psalm 87 3

Psalm 87:3 kjv

Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.

Psalm 87:3 nkjv

Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God! Selah

Psalm 87:3 niv

Glorious things are said of you, city of God:

Psalm 87:3 esv

Glorious things of you are spoken, O city of God. Selah

Psalm 87:3 nlt

O city of God,
what glorious things are said of you! Interlude

Psalm 87 verses

Psalm 87 3 Meaning

Psalm 87:3 proclaims that majestic and honorable pronouncements have been declared concerning Zion, distinguishing it as God's own city. It underscores that the glory of Jerusalem, referred to here as "the city of God," is not self-derived but comes from divine decree and the presence of God Himself. These "glorious things" encompass God's choice of Zion as His dwelling, the promises of protection, blessing, and the future establishment of His universal kingdom emanating from this sacred place.

Psalm 87 3 Context

Psalm 87 is a prophetic song celebrating Zion (Jerusalem) as the divinely chosen and established city, emphasizing its spiritual foundation and its future role in God's universal plan of salvation. Verses 1-2 declare God's unique love for Zion, built on the holy mountains. Verse 3 serves as a strong affirmation of the city's distinguished status before elaborating on the wondrous idea that Gentiles from various nations will one day be counted as native-born citizens of Zion (vv. 4-6). The entire psalm envisions a glorious future for Zion, not merely as a physical city but as the spiritual center of God's global kingdom, transcending national boundaries. Historically, Zion represented the focal point of God's covenant with Israel, the place of the Temple and God's dwelling, a hope sustained even through exilic and post-exilic periods.

Psalm 87 3 Word analysis

• נִכְבָּדוֹת (nīḵbāḏōṯ): This is the feminine plural of the Hebrew adjective כָּבֵד (kāḇeḏ), meaning "heavy," and by extension, "glorious," "honorable," "weighty," "significant." The plural intensifies the idea, implying "many glorious things" or "weighty glories." It refers to attributes or prophecies concerning Zion that possess inherent honor and divine backing, contrasting with any transient earthly glory.
• מְדֻבָּר (məḏubbār): This is the Pual participle of the verb דָּבַר (dāḇar), "to speak." The Pual stem conveys an intense passive action: "are thoroughly spoken," "are widely declared," or "are much spoken of." This form implies that the declaration of these glorious things is not casual or limited, but a significant, affirmed, and possibly divinely initiated proclamation, pervasive and certain. It signifies that Zion's glory is not self-proclaimed but affirmed by a higher authority or widely acknowledged through God's work.
• בָּךְ (bāḵ): Composed of the preposition בְּ (bə), "in," "on," or "concerning," and the second person feminine singular suffix ךְ (-ḵ), "you." In this context, it means "concerning you," or "about you." This direct address highlights Zion as the subject of these divine declarations.
• עִיר (ʿîr): The common Hebrew word for "city." Here it refers specifically to Zion/Jerusalem, emphasizing its urban, foundational nature.
• הָאֱלֹהִים (hāʾělōhîm): Literally "the God." Together with עִיר, it forms a construct phrase, "City of God." This title is supremely significant, designating Jerusalem as uniquely belonging to and indwelt by the sovereign Creator, setting it apart from all other human cities. It grounds its glory solely in its divine relationship, not in human achievement or size.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Glorious things are spoken": This phrase underlines the substance and source of Zion's renown. The "glorious things" are not empty boasts but divinely ordained truths and promises that carry immense weight. The passive "are spoken" suggests a declaration coming from a reliable, perhaps divine, source or widely affirmed through prophecy and divine acts. This sets Zion apart as an object of divine communication.
• "of you, O city of God": This direct address personifies Jerusalem, drawing attention to its distinct identity. The epithet "city of God" is central. It means the city owned, built, established, and indwelt by God Himself. This divine ownership is the root of its glory and the reason for the "glorious things" spoken about it. It’s a city chosen, cherished, and purposed by the Almighty for His redemptive plan, ultimately finding fulfillment in the spiritual community of believers and the New Jerusalem.

Psalm 87 3 Bonus section

The Pual voice of "spoken" in this verse, a less common stem in Hebrew, emphasizes the completeness and intensity of the action—these glorious things are not just spoken but are fully and deeply declared, carrying significant weight and certainty. It conveys a sense of destiny, that Zion’s future renown is a divinely settled matter. This declaration implicitly forms a polemic against the pride and false security placed by surrounding nations in their own human-built cities and gods; Zion's glory derives solely from the true God, distinguishing it uniquely. It moves beyond a mere boast about a physical city to an eternal truth about God's plan for His spiritual dwelling place, encompassing His people from every tribe and nation.

Psalm 87 3 Commentary

Psalm 87:3 functions as a profound declaration of Zion's divinely bestowed renown. The "glorious things" are not fleeting worldly accolades but divine pronouncements concerning Jerusalem's sacred status and its role in God's eternal purposes. These encompass God's choice to establish His dwelling there (Ps 132:13-14), His promises of protection and blessing, and especially the future in-gathering of all nations (Isa 2:2-3; Matt 8:11) to worship Him, acknowledging Zion as their spiritual birthplace (Ps 87:4-6).

The unique designation "City of God" is paramount. It shifts the focus from Zion's physical or political significance to its profound theological reality. Its true honor stems from God's active presence and His purposes being worked out through it. This foreshadows a deeper reality: the heavenly Jerusalem (Heb 12:22), the church (Eph 2:19-22), and the New Jerusalem in the eternal state (Rev 21:2), which inherits and fully manifests these spoken glories as God makes His dwelling truly and universally among His people. Thus, the verse holds a prophetic truth, culminating in God's universal redemptive work, making believers "citizens with the saints and members of the household of God."