Psalms 87:2
in Psalms 87The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Jehovah loveth the gates of Zion More than all the dwellings of Jacob.
KJV
The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
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This verse in Psalms 87
Commentary
4 notes on this verseAnd because each one builds upon the foundation—one gold, another silver, another precious stones—The Lord loves the gates of Zion above all the tabernacles of Jacob. Does he love those gates which we see have collapsed? Does he love those gates, and does he love that Zion, which has been plowed like a field? And see what he says, The Lord loves the gates of Zion above all the tabernacles of Jacob. See what he says: above all the cities of Jacob, that is of Judea, he loves this city alone.
This site's exposition
in the holy mountains
on Psalms 87:1-3
The Hebrew title, which the reader floor does not show, ascribes this psalm to the sons of Korah, the temple singers descended from the Korah whose company was swallowed in the wilderness rebellion though his own line did not perish with him. His foundation is in the holy mountains states in one line what the rest of the psalm will spend itself proving: the city's own ground belongs to God before any resident does. The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob sets one address above every family tent in the land, and glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God gathers up what the following verses will specify by name.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Zion - That is, Zion itself, or Jerusalem, which was built upon and near Mount Zion. He saith Zion rather than Jerusalem, to intimate that he loved Jerusalem for Zion's sake, or for the temple, which he chose for his peculiar dwelling place.
(2.) Yet he loves the gates of Zion better, not only better than any, but better than all, of the dwellings of Jacob. God was worshipped in the dwellings of Jacob, and family-worship is family-duty, which must by no means be neglected; yet, when they come in competition, public worship ( cæteris paribus--other things being equal ) is to be preferred before private.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
whose foundation is on the mountains of the Sanctuary The foundation of this psalm; the Psalmist founded it on the mountains of Zion and Jerusalem.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
Glorious things are said about you You, Jerusalemwords of glory were spoken about you from the mouth of the Holy One, blessed be He. Now what are the words of glory? That you are the city of God forever.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אֹהֵ֣ב | ʾohev | [is] loving | H157 → | 211 times |
| יְ֭הוָה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| שַׁעֲרֵ֣י | shaarei | [the] gates of | H8179 → | 374 times |
| צִיּ֑וֹן | tziyon | Zion | H6726 → | 154 times |
| מִ֝כֹּ֗ל | mikol | more than all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| מִשְׁכְּנ֥וֹת | mishkenot | [the] dwelling places of | H4908 → | 139 times |
| יַעֲקֹֽב׃ | yaako | Jacob | H3290 → | 350 times |
אֹהֵ֣ב[is] loving
ʾohevH157 →211 times
יְ֭הוָהYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
שַׁעֲרֵ֣י[the] gates of
shaareiH8179 →374 times
צִיּ֑וֹןZion
tziyonH6726 →154 times
מִ֝כֹּ֗לmore than all
mikolH3605 →5413 times
מִשְׁכְּנ֥וֹת[the] dwelling places of
mishkenotH4908 →139 times
יַעֲקֹֽב׃Jacob
yaakoH3290 →350 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Joel 2:32And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has promised, among the remnant called by…
it leads to
- Romans 10:11–14
It is just as the Scripture says: “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”
- Acts 2:20–21
The sun will be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the great and glorious Day of the Lord.
- Romans 10:11–14
Through
Deuteronomy 12:5Instead, you must seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to establish as a dwelling for His Name, and there you must go.
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 12:11
then the LORD your God will choose a dwelling for His Name. And there you are to bring everything I command you: your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, and all…
- 2 Chronicles 7:12
the LORD appeared to him at night and said to him: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.
- Deuteronomy 26:2
you are to take some of the firstfruits of all your produce from the soil of the land that the LORD your God is giving you and put them in a basket. Then go…
- Deuteronomy 16:2
You are to offer to the LORD your God the Passover sacrifice from the herd or flock in the place the LORD will choose as a dwelling for His Name.
- Deuteronomy 12:11
Through
2 Chronicles 6:6But now I have chosen Jerusalem for My Name to be there, and I have chosen David to be over My people Israel.’
it leads to
- Psalms 132:13
For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His home:
- 1 Chronicles 28:4
Yet the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me out of all my father’s house to be king over Israel forever. For He chose Judah as leader, and from the house of Judah He…
- Psalms 132:13
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Psalms
Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David; Jerome, Homily 18, on Psalm 86; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.