Psalm 87:5 kjv
And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.
Psalm 87:5 nkjv
And of Zion it will be said, "This one and that one were born in her; And the Most High Himself shall establish her."
Psalm 87:5 niv
Indeed, of Zion it will be said, "This one and that one were born in her, and the Most High himself will establish her."
Psalm 87:5 esv
And of Zion it shall be said, "This one and that one were born in her"; for the Most High himself will establish her.
Psalm 87:5 nlt
Regarding Jerusalem it will be said,
"Everyone enjoys the rights of citizenship there."
And the Most High will personally bless this city.
Psalm 87 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 2:6 | "I have installed My King on Zion, My holy hill." | God's rule established in Zion. |
| Is 2:2-3 | "in the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established... and all nations will stream to it." | Nations coming to God's established house. |
| Is 14:32 | "The Lord has founded Zion, and in her His afflicted people will find refuge." | God as Zion's founder and refuge. |
| Is 49:6 | "I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that My salvation may reach to the ends of the earth." | Salvation extending to all nations. |
| Is 54:1 | "Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy... For you will have more children than she who has a husband." | Spiritual multitude from formerly barren Zion. |
| Is 60:3 | "Nations will come to your light, and kings to the radiance of your dawn." | Gentiles attracted to God's glory in Zion. |
| Ezek 16:3 | "Your ancestry and birth were in the land of the Canaanites; your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite." | Jerusalem's mixed Gentile origins. |
| Zec 2:11 | "Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become My people. I will live among you..." | Gentiles joining the Lord, God dwelling among them. |
| Zec 8:20-22 | "many peoples and strong nations will come to seek the Lord Almighty in Jerusalem." | Multitudes seeking God in Jerusalem. |
| Joel 3:17 | "Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, dwelling in Zion, My holy hill." | God dwelling in Zion. |
| Gal 4:26 | "But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother." | The heavenly Jerusalem as our spiritual mother. |
| Heb 12:22-23 | "But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem..." | Believers' destination is the heavenly Zion. |
| Php 3:20 | "But our citizenship is in heaven, from which we await a Savior..." | Heavenly citizenship for believers. |
| Eph 2:19 | "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people..." | Gentiles as fellow citizens in God's household. |
| John 1:12-13 | "But to all who did receive Him... He gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent..." | Spiritual birth, not physical descent. |
| John 3:3-7 | "unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." | Necessity of spiritual rebirth for kingdom entry. |
| 1 Pet 1:23 | "you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God." | Birth through God's Word, not human origin. |
| Tit 3:5 | "He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration..." | Regeneration as God's saving act. |
| Col 1:13 | "He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son..." | Transfer into God's spiritual kingdom. |
| Is 28:16 | "See, I am laying a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation." | God's foundation for Zion/Church. |
| Ps 48:8 | "As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God: God establishes it forever." | God establishing His city permanently. |
| 1 Cor 12:13 | "For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free..." | All believers united in Christ's body. |
| Rev 21:24 | "The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it." | Nations coming to the New Jerusalem. |
Psalm 87 verses
Psalm 87 5 Meaning
Psalm 87:5 proclaims Zion as a birthplace not merely for those physically born within its walls, but for all people whom God acknowledges and registers as His own, regardless of their earthly origin. It declares a divine enrollment of diverse individuals into a spiritual lineage. The verse further emphasizes that Zion’s enduring establishment and ultimate significance stem solely from the direct and personal work of God Himself, the Most High, rather than from human strength or prestige. It is a prophetic vision of God's global kingdom embracing people from every nation.
Psalm 87 5 Context
Psalm 87 is a song celebrating Zion as God's beloved city and the birthplace of nations. The psalm begins by establishing God's deep affection for Zion, contrasting it with other renowned cities of the world (like Rahab/Egypt, Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and Cush). While these nations boasted of their physical origins and earthly strength, Psalm 87:4 speaks of their listing within Zion. Verse 5 deepens this idea, prophesying that Zion will be uniquely honored as the spiritual birthplace of many, diverse individuals, a truth rooted not in their physical genealogy but in God's divine act. The historical context reflects ancient peoples' pride in their place of birth or origin. The psalm counters this earthly boasting by asserting that true belonging and spiritual birth are found exclusively in Zion, by divine decree, which ultimately points to God's chosen place for salvation and presence.
Psalm 87 5 Word analysis
- And of Zion (וּלְצִיּוֹן - u-le-Tziyon): The preeminent focus is Zion (צִיּוֹן - Tsiyon), meaning "fortress" or "citadel." This refers primarily to Jerusalem, the city of David, and Mount Zion, the dwelling place of God’s Temple. Biblically, Zion evolves from a physical location to a spiritual reality, representing God's holy dwelling, His people, and ultimately the heavenly city or the Church (Heb 12:22, Rev 21:2). The use of the preposition "of" implies a declaration concerning Zion, highlighting its elevated status.
- it shall be said (יֵאָמַר - ye'āmar): This is the future passive verb "to be said" or "it will be declared." It denotes a widely recognized, official proclamation about Zion. It implies a prophetic certainty—that this statement will undoubtedly come to pass.
- This one and that one / Man and Man (אִישׁ וָאִישׁ - ish wā-ish): Literally "man and man." This Hebrew phrase is emphatic, meaning "each and every person," or "everyone without exception." It signifies individuals of every background, status, or origin. In contrast to ancient societies where birth determined identity, this phrase transcends all human distinctions, highlighting God's inclusive enrollment.
- were born in her (יֻלַּד־בָּהּ - yullad-bah): The passive past tense, "was born in her," indicates a definitive event, not merely residence. "In her" refers to Zion. This "birth" is a profound theological concept here. It signifies not physical childbirth but spiritual regeneration or being registered as a true citizen of Zion by divine decree. It suggests adoption, conversion, or divine recognition of new life. This is fundamental to understanding new birth in Christ (John 3:3-7).
- and the Most High (וְהוּא עֶלְיוֹן - wə-hū' ‘Elyōn): "He Himself" (וְהוּא - wə-hū') is an emphatic pronoun, stressing that the action is performed personally and exclusively by God. "The Most High" (עֶלְיוֹן - ‘Elyōn) is an ancient and powerful title for God, emphasizing His supreme sovereignty, transcendence, and absolute authority above all creation (Gen 14:18-20, Num 24:16). It assures that Zion’s destiny is in the hands of the all-powerful, sovereign God.
- will establish her (יְכוֹנְנֶהָ - yəkhōw'nəne'hā): The verb "will establish" means to found, make firm, or cause to stand securely and permanently. This is a divine act of securing and fortifying Zion, ensuring its stability, endurance, and future preeminence. It emphasizes God's active role in maintaining His chosen city/people against all opposition, guaranteeing its eternal foundation (Ps 48:8, Is 2:2-3).
Psalm 87 5 Bonus section
The concept of "birth in Zion" carries deep theological significance, echoing the biblical theme of spiritual adoption and regeneration. It transcends ethnic or nationalistic boundaries, offering a universal spiritual identity for those reconciled to God through Christ. This prophecy finds its ultimate fulfillment in the New Testament reality where all believers, regardless of their background, are part of the "heavenly Jerusalem" (Heb 12:22-24) and citizens of God’s kingdom. The "birth" here can be understood as spiritual new birth and registration in the Lamb's Book of Life. This verse serves as a powerful polemic against the exclusivity prevalent in many ancient cultures, asserting that God's grace extends to all who are called and recognized by Him, redefining true belonging based on divine parentage rather than physical descent.
Psalm 87 5 Commentary
Psalm 87:5 reveals a radical spiritual truth that elevates God's chosen city, Zion, beyond its physical dimensions. The psalm is a visionary statement about God's future kingdom, where people from every nation will not merely visit Zion, but will be declared by divine authority to have been "born in her." This challenges the prevailing societal emphasis on physical ancestry and national origin, proclaiming a new spiritual lineage defined by God. "Man and Man" born in Zion signifies that individuals, irrespective of their former national identity or birthplace, can now have a spiritual birthright in the city of God.
Crucially, the verse attributes Zion's permanence and ultimate significance not to human efforts or earthly foundations but solely to "the Most High Himself." This divine assurance guarantees Zion's enduring reality. This applies not just to ancient Jerusalem but points to the greater, heavenly Jerusalem and the New Covenant community—the Church. Just as ancient people listed their ancestry with pride, God inscribes names in Zion's registry (Ps 87:6). This foreshadows the inclusion of Gentiles into God's covenant family, fulfilled in Christ, where new birth is through the Spirit (John 3:5-8), and citizenship is heavenly (Phil 3:20, Eph 2:19). The establishment of Zion is therefore the establishment of God’s global and eternal kingdom through the spiritual transformation of individuals into His children.