Psalms 87 · Verse 4

Psalms 87:4

I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.
Psalms 87:4, King James Version

Psalms 87:4 in other translations

BSB“I will mention Rahab and Babylon among those who know Me— along with Philistia, Tyre, and Cush— when I say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’”
WEBI will record Rahab and Babylon among those who acknowledge me. Behold, Philistia, Tyre, and also Ethiopia: “This one was born there.”
ASVI will make mention of Rahab and Babylon as among them that know me: Behold, Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia: This one was born there.
YLTI mention Rahab and Babel to those knowing Me, Lo, Philistia, and Tyre, with Cush! This one was born there.
DARBYI will make mention of Rahab and Babylon among them that know me; behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia: this man was born there.
BBERahab and Babylon will be named among those who have knowledge of me; see, Philistia and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man had his birth there.
WebsterI will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Cush; this man was born there.

What does Psalms 87:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. This is what is spoken by God. to them ... me--literally, "for My knowers," they are true worshippers (Psa 36:10; Is 19:21). These are mentioned as specimens. this--that is, nation was born there--Of each it is said, "This was born," or is a native of Zion, spiritually.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 I will make mention of Rahab - The meaning seems to be, Rahab, i.e., Egypt, Babylon, Tyre, Philistia, and Ethiopia are not so honorable as Jerusalem. To be born in any of them is no privilege when compared with being a native of Jerusalem: their cities are but heads of villages; Jerusalem alone is a City. I have met with a very similar sentiment in a Persian work, of which I know not the author: Tche Mesr, o tche Sham, o tche Birr o Buhr. Heme rustaee and, we Sheerazee Shuhr. What celebrity can Egypt or Syria, or any thingon earth or on the sea, pretend to? "When compared to Sheeraz, those are but villages, but this alone is a City." The meaning seems to be the same in both the Hebrew and Persian poet.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 87:4-7
The church of Christ is more glorious and excellent than the nations of the earth. In the records of heaven, the meanest of those who are born again stand registered. When God renders to every man according to his works, he shall observe who enjoyed the privileges of his sanctuary. To them much was given, and of them much will be required. Let those that dwell in Zion, mark this, and live up to their profession. Zion's songs shall be sung with joy and triumph. The springs of the joy of a carnal worldling are in wealth and pleasure; but of a gracious soul, in the word of God and prayer. All grace and consolation are derived from Christ, through his ordinances, to the souls of believers.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Psalms 87:4 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.

אַזְכִּ֤יר\׀'az.KirI will bring to remembranceH2142
רַ֥הַבRa.havRahabH7293
וּבָבֶ֗לu.va.Veland BabylonH894
לְֽיֹ֫דְעָ֥יle.Yo.de.'Aito [those who] know meH3045
הִנֵּ֤הhi.Nehthere!H2009
פְלֶ֣שֶׁתfe.Le.shetPhilistiaH6429
וְצ֣וֹרve.Tzorand TyreH6865
עִם\־'im-withH5973
כּ֑וּשׁKushCushH3568
זֶ֝֗הZehthis oneH2088
יֻלַּד\־yu.lad-it was bornH3205
שָֽׁם\׃ShamthereH8033

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

Cross references for Psalms 87:4

  • Psalms 45:12

    And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour.

  • Isaiah 19:23-25

    In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: Whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.

  • Psalms 68:31

    Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.

  • Psalms 89:10

    Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm.

  • Job 9:13

    If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.

  • 2 Kings 20:17-18

    Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the Lord. And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

  • Acts 8:27

    And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,

  • Revelation 18:2

    And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

  • Daniel 2:47-48

    The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret. Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.

  • Ezekiel 27:1-28

    The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying, Now, thou son of man, take up a lamentation for Tyrus; And say unto Tyrus, O thou that art situate at the entry of the sea, which art a merchant of the people for many isles, Thus saith the Lord God; O Tyrus, thou hast said, I am of perfect beauty. Thy borders are in the midst of the seas, thy builders have perfected thy beauty. …

  • Daniel 4:30

    The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?

  • Revelation 17:5

    And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Rahab.
89:10; Isa 51:9
Babylon.
137:1,8,9; 2Ki 20:17,18; Isa 13:1-22; 14:4-6; Jer 25:9; 50:1-51:64
Da 2:47,48; 4:30; Re 17:5; 18:2
Tyre.
45:12; Isa 23:1-18; Eze 27:1-28:26
Ethiopia.
1Ki 10:1-29; Ac 8:27
this man.
68:31; 1Sa 17:8; 2Sa 21:16-22; Isa 19:11,23-25; Eze 28:2

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

Context

  • Psalms 87:3

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

  • Psalms 87:4

    I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.

  • Psalms 87:5

    And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.

Read all of Psalms 87

Psalms 87:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Yo me acordaré de Rahab y de Babilonia entre los que me conocen: he aquí Palestina, y Tiro, con Etiopía: éste nació allá.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Je ferai mention de Rahab et de Babylone à ceux qui me connaissent; voici la Philistie, et Tyr, avec l’Éthiopie: celui-ci était né là.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Erwähnen will ich Rahabs und Babels bei denen, die mich kennen; siehe, Philistäa und Tyrus samt Äthiopien: dieser ist daselbst geboren.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quia repleta est malis anima mea, et vita mea inferno appropinquavit.