Psalm 87 6

Psalm 87:6 kjv

The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.

Psalm 87:6 nkjv

The LORD will record, When He registers the peoples: "This one was born there." Selah

Psalm 87:6 niv

The LORD will write in the register of the peoples: "This one was born in Zion."

Psalm 87:6 esv

The LORD records as he registers the peoples, "This one was born there." Selah

Psalm 87:6 nlt

When the LORD registers the nations, he will say,
"They have all become citizens of Jerusalem." Interlude

Psalm 87 verses

Psalm 87 6 Meaning

Psalm 87:6 speaks of God’s sovereign act of registering individuals from various nations as legitimate citizens of Zion, the city of God. The LORD Himself takes the roll call, inscribing into His divine record each one, regardless of their earthly origin, declaring, "This one was born there" (referring to Zion). This "birth" signifies a spiritual regeneration and the conferral of a new, divine citizenship within God’s holy city, establishing a universal community of believers centered in Him.

Psalm 87 6 Context

Psalm 87 is a prophetic hymn exalting Zion (Jerusalem) as the dwelling place chosen by God and a future spiritual mother of all nations. Verses 1-3 describe Zion's glorious foundation and God's love for it. Verses 4-5 mention various pagan nations (Egypt, Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, Cush) being "named" in Zion, implying their future inclusion, and then highlight Zion itself as the place where specific individuals from these nations will be said to have been "born." Verse 6, the focus of this analysis, expands on this divine registry. The Psalm challenges the prevailing ancient Near Eastern idea of identity based on physical lineage or birth in a particular city, instead pointing to a new, spiritual identity granted by God Himself. It foretells a future where diverse peoples, previously outside the covenant, will gain true citizenship in God's eternal city.

Psalm 87 6 Word analysis

• The LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the divine, covenant name of God, indicating His personal, active, and unwavering commitment to His plans. It signifies the authoritative and unchanging nature of the one performing the registration.
• will record (יִסְפֹּר, yispōr): From the Hebrew root sāfar, meaning "to count," "to number," but also "to tell," "to recount." Here, it implies not merely a tally, but a solemn and significant inscription, a careful account being kept by God Himself. It's a divine act of noting and preserving.
• when he registers (בִּרְשׁוֹם, biršōm): Derived from the Hebrew root rāšam, which means "to write," "to mark," "to inscribe," or "to officially enroll." This verb emphasizes the formality and permanence of the act. It's an official registration in a divine registry or "book."
• peoples (עַמִּים, ‘ammîm): The plural form of ‘am, referring specifically to various "peoples" or "nations," distinct from Israel. This highlights the universal scope of God's plan, bringing diverse ethnicities into His fold.
• This one (זֶה, zeh): A demonstrative pronoun, singular. It points to specific individuals, emphasizing God's personal attention and recognition of each person among the masses of "peoples."
• was born (יֻלַּד, yullad): The Pual passive form of the Hebrew root yalad ("to give birth"). "Was born" indicates a past, completed event. Crucially, in this context, it is a spiritual or metaphorical birth into the community of Zion, not a physical birth. It suggests divine agency; God enables or decrees this "birth" or transformation of status.
• there (שָׁם, šām): An adverb pointing back to "Zion" (implied throughout the psalm). This indicates that the "birth" occurs within the spiritual bounds of God's chosen city. It's the place of divine origin for those newly recognized citizens.

Words-group analysis:

• "The LORD will record, when he registers the peoples": This phrase emphasizes the divine initiative and sovereignty. God is actively engaging in this enrollment process. It highlights His purposeful act of welcoming Gentiles into His chosen spiritual dwelling, transforming their identity and affiliation.
• "'This one was born there'": This phrase represents God's authoritative declaration. It signifies a profound shift from one's physical earthly origin to a new spiritual origin or identity found in God's holy city, Zion. This is God's decree of citizenship, validating the transformed status of individuals from all nations. The quotation marks denote God's specific spoken declaration.

Psalm 87 6 Bonus section

• The idea of a divine register or "Book of Life" is a recurring biblical theme, extending from Exodus (32:32) through Daniel (12:1) and finding its clearest expressions in Revelation (3:5, 20:12, 21:27), where only those enrolled gain entry to the New Jerusalem. Psalm 87:6 directly anticipates this concept of divine enrollment.
• The Psalm stands as a remarkable universalistic text in the Old Testament, strongly prefiguring the Gentile inclusion found explicitly in the New Testament church. It combats narrow nationalism by asserting that God’s gracious plan extends beyond a single ethnic group, granting new spiritual lineage to any individual, regardless of their original national identity, through a "birth" in Zion.
• Some scholars view this verse as prophetic of a time when the recognition and privilege associated with being "born in Zion" (i.e., a covenanted child of God) would extend to those previously considered outsiders. The glory of Zion isn't in its physical location but in the God who resides there and defines its citizenry.

Psalm 87 6 Commentary

Psalm 87:6 presents a profound vision of divine inclusion and grace. The scene is of the LORD Himself acting as the cosmic registrar, meticulously listing each person from diverse nations. For each individual whose heart turns towards Zion, the divine declaration is made: "This one was born there." This "birth" is not of flesh but of spirit; it signifies a spiritual rebirth and adoption into the citizenship of God's holy city. It means that God does not limit His community to physical descendants of Israel but expands it to include all who, by His grace, come to Him. This prophetic anticipation finds its ultimate fulfillment in the New Covenant through Christ, where nationality and earthly origin are superseded by a shared spiritual lineage in God’s heavenly Jerusalem (Gal 3:28, Heb 12:22-24). The verse teaches that one's true identity and destiny are ultimately determined by God's recognition and enrollment in His eternal city.

• Example for practical usage: A believer from any country can draw comfort and identity from this verse, understanding that their true citizenship is not bound by earthly borders but is declared and secured by God in His heavenly dwelling.