Psalms 87 · Verse 1

Psalms 87:1

A Psalm or Song for the sons of Korah. His foundation is in the holy mountains.
Psalms 87:1, King James Version

Psalms 87:1 in other translations

BSBA Psalm of the sons of Korah. A song. He has founded His city on the holy mountains.
WEBA Psalm by the sons of Korah; a Song. His foundation is in the holy mountains.
ASVA Psalm of the sons of Korah; a Song. His foundation is in the holy mountains.
YLTBy sons of Korah. --A Psalm, a song. His foundation is in holy mountains.
DARBYOf the sons of Korah. A Psalm. A Song. His foundation is in the mountains of holiness.
BBEThis house is resting on the holy mountain.
WebsterA Psalm or Song for the sons of Korah. His foundation is in the holy mountains.

What does Psalms 87:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Psa 87:1-7. This triumphal song was probably occasioned by the same event as the forty-sixth [see on Psa 46:1, title]. The writer celebrates the glory of the Church, as the means of spiritual blessing to the nation.

1. His--that is, God's foundation--or, what He has founded, that is, Zion (Is 14:32). is in the holy mountains--the location of Zion, in the wide sense, for the capital, or Jerusalem, being on several hills.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

The nature and glorious privileges of Zion and Jerusalem, Psa 87:1-3. No other city to be compared to this, Psa 87:4. The privilege of being born in it, Psa 87:5, Psa 87:6. Its praises celebrated, Psa 87:7. The title, A Psalm or Song for the sons of Korah, gives us no light into the author or meaning of this Psalm. It begins and ends so abruptly that many have thought it to be only a fragment of a larger Psalm. This opinion is very likely. Those who suppose it to have been made when Jerusalem was rebuilt and fortified, imagine it to have been an exclamation of the author on beholding its beauty, and contemplating its privileges. If this opinion be allowed, it will account for the apparent abruptness in the beginning and end. As to its general design it seems to have been written in praise of Jerusalem; and those who are for mystic meanings think that it refers to the Christian Church; and, on this supposition it is interpreted by several writers, both ancient and modern. To pretend to have found out the true meaning would be very absurd. I have done the best I could to give its literal sense. Verse 1 His foundation is in the holy mountains - Jerusalem was founded on the mountains or hills of Zion and Moriah. The after increase of the population obliged the inhabitants to inclose all the contiguous hills; but Zion and Moriah were the principal. We know that ancient Rome was built on seven hills.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 87:1-3
Christ himself is the Foundation of the church, which God has laid. Holiness is the strength and firmness of the church. Let us not be ashamed of the church of Christ in its meanest condition, nor of those that belong to it, since such glorious things are spoken of it. Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, even Jesus Christ. The glorious things spoken of Zion by the Spirit, were all typical of Christ, and his work and offices; of the gospel church, its privileges and members; of heaven, its glory and perfect happiness.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Psalms 87:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

יְ֝סוּדָת֗וֹye.su.da.Tofoundation hisH3248
בְּהַרְרֵי\־be.ha.rei-[is] among [the] mountains ofH2042
קֹֽדֶשׁ\׃Ko.deshholinessH6944

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 87:1

  • Isaiah 28:16

    Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

  • Isaiah 56:7

    Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.

  • Isaiah 2:2-3

    And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

  • Ephesians 2:20-22

    And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

  • Matthew 16:18

    And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

  • Psalms 48:1-2

    A Song and Psalm for the sons of Korah. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

  • Zechariah 8:3

    Thus saith the Lord; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the Lord of hosts the holy mountain.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:10-11

    According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

  • Psalms 68:16

    Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the Lord will dwell in it for ever.

  • 2 Peter 1:18

    And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

  • 2 Chronicles 3:1

    Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.

  • Psalms 121:1

    A Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 The nature and glory of the church.
4 The increase, honour, and comfort of the members thereof.

A.M. 3468. B.C. 536. (Title.) A Psalm.It is highly probable that this Psalm was written by one of the descendants of Korah on the return from the Bablonian captivity. It seems to have been written in praise of Jerusalem; and, typically, of the Christian church.
for. or, of.
His.
2Ch 3:1; Isa 28:16; Mt 16:18; 1Co 3:10,11; Eph 2:20-22; 1Pe 2:4-8
the holy.
48:1,2; 68:16; 121:1; Isa 2:2,3; 56:7; Zec 8:3; 2Pe 1:18

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 87:1

    A Psalm or Song for the sons of Korah. His foundation is in the holy mountains.

  • Psalms 87:2

    The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.

Read all of Psalms 87

Psalms 87:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		A los hijos de Coré: Salmo: Canción. SU cimiento es en montes de santidad.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Des fils de Coré. Psaume. Cantique. La fondation qu’il a posée est dans les montagnes de sainteté.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Seine Gründung ist auf den Bergen der Heiligkeit;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Canticum Psalmi, filiis Core, in finem, pro Maheleth ad respondendum. Intellectus Eman Ezrahitæ.