Psalms 87:5 · Bible study
Psalms 87:5 Commentary: Born in Zion, Established by the Most High
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Psalm 87:5 describes the honor of being born in Zion, where God welcomes people from all nations as citizens of His eternal city.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The honor of being a citizen of God's city is granted to all who are born anew by His Spirit.
- Key words: 'Born' (יֻלַּד, Niphal passive, divine origin); 'Man and man' (אִישׁ וְאִישׁ, each and every, no exceptions).
- Main debate: Whether the birth refers to physical nativity or spiritual regeneration; most see spiritual.
- Theological theme: The universal inclusion of the nations in the people of God through God's sovereign choice.
- Best use: A text of comfort and identity for believers, affirming that our belonging is God's doing, not our own.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
And it will be said of Zion: “This one and that one were born in her, and the Most High Himself will establish her.”
WEB World English Bible 2000
Yes, of Zion it will be said, “This one and that one was born in her;” the Most High himself will establish her.
KJV King James Version 1769
And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Yea, of Zion it shall be said, This one and that one was born in her; And the Most High himself will establish her.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And of Zion it is said: Each one was born in her, And He, the Most High, doth establish her.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And of Zion it shall be said, This one and that one was born in her; and the Most High himself shall establish her.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
I am counted among them that go down to the pit: I am become as a man without help,
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y de Sión se dirá: Este y aquél han nacido en ella; y fortificarála el mismo Altísimo.
E de Sião se dirá: Este e aquele outro nasceram ali. E o próprio Altíssimo a manterá firme.
Et de Sion il est dit: Tous y sont nés,
Man wird zu Zion sagen, daß allerlei Leute darin geboren werden und daß er, der Höchste, sie baue.
En van Sion zal gezegd worden: Die en die is daarin geboren; en de Allerhoogste Zelf zal hen bevestigen.
E si dirà di Sion: Questo qui e quello là son nati in lei; e l’Altissimo stesso la renderà stabile.
Także i o Syonie mówić będą: Ten i ów urodził się w nim; a sam Najwyższy ugruntuje go.
Я сравнялся с нисходящими в могилу; я стал, как человек без силы,
論到錫安，必說：這一個、那一個 都生 在其中，而且至高者 必親自 堅立這城。
And of Zion it will be said, This or that man had his birth there; and the Most High will make her strong.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Psalms 87:5
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that being 'born in Zion' is a metaphor for inclusion in God's people. Barnes notes that people will regard birth in Zion as a 'marked and honored distinction.' Gill sees it as a promise that 'men of all sorts, and of different nations, Jews and Gentiles' will be claimed as Zion's children. Keil and Delitzsch emphasize the progressive addition of individuals from foreign peoples, making Zion a church 'immeasurably great.' The Cambridge Bible interprets the phrase 'this and that man' as each nation receiving citizenship, with individuals participating as members. Matthew Henry connects it to the New Testament teaching that Gentile converts become 'fellow-citizens with the saints.' All affirm that the Most High Himself secures Zion's permanence, echoing Psalm 48:8:
"As we have heard, so we have seen, in the city of Yahweh of Armies, in the city of our God. God will establish it forever. Selah."
— Psalm 48:8 (WEB)
This establishment is God's work alone, not human effort.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Literal/Physical Birth: Some interpreters take 'born in her' as actual birth in the geographic city of Jerusalem, with foreign converts becoming citizens.
- Spiritual Regeneration: Most modern commentators understand it as spiritual new birth (John 1:12, 3:3), aligning with the broader biblical theme of adoption.
- Eschatological Fulfillment: The full establishment of Zion is seen as a future event in the new heavens and new earth (Revelation 21).
What is clear: The Most High Himself establishes Zion, and being called a child of Zion is an honor bestowed by God.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of 'born in Zion' | It refers to a privileged belonging to God's people. | Some see literal birth in Jerusalem (physical nativity); others see spiritual rebirth (conversion/regeneration). The context favors spiritual, as it includes foreign nations. |
| Timing of fulfillment | God's establishment of Zion is certain. | Whether this was partially fulfilled in the post-exilic restoration, the coming of Christ and the church (already now), or awaits final consummation. Many see it as inaugurated in the church age and perfected in the new Jerusalem. |
| Identity of 'this and that man' | Indicates a multitude of individuals. | Whether it refers to named individuals (like proselytes) or representative of whole nations. Most agree it means individuals from every nation. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Psalm 87 opens by celebrating Zion as God's foundation on holy mountains (v.1). In the ancient Near East, cities boasted of their native sons; a birth in a prominent city conferred status. But here the boast is reversed: the honor comes not from famous nations like Egypt (called 'Rahab' as a symbol of pride) or Babylon, but from being enrolled in Zion's registry. Verse 4 lists traditional enemies: Egypt, Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and Ethiopia. These nations, once hostile, now have members 'born there', a revolutionary claim in the Hebrew context.
The phrase 'this one and that one' (literally אִישׁ וְאִישׁ, ish v'ish) underscores universality: no distinction of origin. The verb 'born' (יֻלַּד, yullad) is Niphal passive, suggesting a divine act of new birth. The psalmist declares that the Most High (עֶלְיֽוֹן, El Elyon, the supreme God) will 'establish' (יְכוֹנְנֶהָ, from kun, meaning to make firm or permanent) Zion. This verb implies stability and permanence, similar to God's founding of the earth.
The promise is eschatological: Zion will not only endure but expand as nations are incorporated. This fits the prophetic hope of Isaiah 2:2-4, where all nations stream to Zion. The word 'Zion' originally denoted the fortress of David, but by the psalmist's time it represented the entire spiritual people of God. The psalm likely dates from the post-exilic period or the time of Hezekiah, when the inclusion of foreign peoples became a living hope.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant text-critical variants for this verse. The Cambridge Bible mentions that the LXX reads 'Mother Sion' due to a possible Greek misreading of the Hebrew, but this does not affect the standard Masoretic text. The verse is stable across manuscripts.
Reception History
Early Christian exegetes saw this verse as a prophecy of Gentile inclusion in the church. Augustine, in his commentary on the Psalms, connected the birth in Zion to baptismal regeneration. The verse was sung in medieval liturgy on the feast of the dedication of a church. The Reformers, like Calvin, applied it to the true spiritual church composed of all believers. In hymns, it inspired lines about 'Zion, the wonderful city of God.' Modern commentators continue to see it as a powerful image of God's grace crossing ethnic boundaries.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The City of God Has a Register: God writes down the names of citizens from every nation (v.6). Spiritual birth supersedes earthly pedigree.
- The Honor of Being Born in Zion: Being born from above grants a privilege higher than any human ancestry.
- The Security of God's City: God Himself establishes it; human effort cannot make it permanent.
Five-point outline
- God's Foundation: Zion is built on holy mountains (v.1).
- God's Love: He loves Zion's gates above all dwellings (v.2).
- God's Announcement: He speaks of former enemies as His own (v.4).
- God's Family: Multitudes are born as children of Zion (v.5a).
- God's Guarantee: The Most High ensures her eternal stability (v.5b).
Illustration hooks
- A naturalization ceremony: the new citizen receives a passport and swears allegiance. For a Christian, baptism is that ceremony, a public enrollment in God's city.
- A child born into a royal family receives privileges they did not earn. In grace, we are born into God's family through no merit of our own.
- A nation that welcomes immigrants and grants full citizenship. Zion does that for all who are born of the Spirit, regardless of origin.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does being 'born in Zion' mean I have to be physically born in Jerusalem?
- How do I know I am part of God's city?
- What does it mean for God to 'establish' the church in a world that seems to be falling apart?
Leading a Discussion
Psalm 87 paints a picture of God's city that defies expectations. It is not an exclusive club for the native-born, but a family that adopts people from every nation. This study explores the metaphor of being born in Zion and what it means for our identity today.
Discussion questions
- Read Psalm 87:4-5. What are the nations listed, and why does the psalmist choose them? (Observation)
- How does the phrase 'this one and that one' (or 'man and man') affect your understanding of who belongs? (Interpretation)
- The verb 'born' is passive. What does that suggest about how one becomes a citizen of Zion? (Interpretation)
- How does verse 5 connect with verse 4? What is the significance of the Most High establishing Zion? (Observation)
- Why do you think the psalmist contrasts the glory of other nations with Zion's glory? (Interpretation)
- In what ways does the New Testament pick up this theme (John 1:12, Matthew 16:18)? (Connection)
- How does this psalm challenge our tendency to limit God's family to people like us? (Application)
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Psalms 48:8 | As we have heard, so we have seen, in the city of Yahweh of Armies, in the city of our God. God will establish it forever. Selah. |
| Isaiah 44:4 | and they will spring up among the grass, as willows by the watercourses. |
| Isaiah 44:5 | One will say, ‘I am Yahweh’s.’ Another will be called by the name of Jacob; and another will write with his hand ‘to Yahweh,’ and honor the name of Israel.” |
| Isaiah 60:1 | “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and Yahweh’s glory has risen on you! |
| Isaiah 60:9 | Surely the islands will wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your sons from far away, their silver and their gold with them, for the name of Yahweh your God, and for the Holy One of Israel, because he has glorified you. |
| Ezekiel 48:35 | “It shall be eighteen thousand reeds in circumference; and the name of the city from that day shall be, ‘Yahweh is there.’ |
| Matthew 16:18 | I also tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. |
| John 1:12 | But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name: |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
11 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke contrasts the honor of being born in earthly Zion with the far greater honor of being born from above as a child of God through faith in Christ. He then notes that God establishes the Christian Church, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ as the cornerstone.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes emphasizes that being born in Zion will be spoken of as a marked honor, just as birth in great worldly cities was esteemed. God's own establishing of Zion guarantees its permanence, making this privilege lasting. For Barnes, Christian parentage and early dedication to God are a real distinction that the world will eventually recognize.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin observes that worldly people mistake God's temporary prosperity for true happiness, despising the church while indulging themselves. But God gives them good things only to later punish their ingratitude, while keeping his church lowly and afflicted until the proper time for vindication.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator argues that "each and every one" in this passage refers to entire nations, not individuals. Each nation is enrolled as a whole, honoring Zion as their mother-city. Under the Most High's protection, Zion grows stronger as nations join the universal kingdom.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note highlights that Zion's citizens
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill interprets the phrase about people born in Zion to mean that men of all nations, both Jews and Gentiles, are its citizens. He then emphasizes that the church, though often unsettled by persecution, errors, or divisions, will ultimately be established by God alone and this establishment will be permanent.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
The writer resumes— This and that man —literally, "man and man," or many ( Gen 14:10 ; Exo 8:10 ; Exo 8:14 ), or all ( Isa 44:5 ; Gal 3:28 ). the highest . . . her —God is her protector.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch emphasizes that the phrase "each and every one" in this psalm describes an endless, individual-by-individual progression, not the idea that one person equals a whole nation. As people from every nation are born into Zion, God Himself upholds and expands her, so that at history's end Zion becomes the universal source of salvation, the fountain from which all peoples draw life.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange emphasizes that this psalm describes the conversion of hostile nations not as subdued enemies paying homage, but as children and citizens born into Zion. God registers them individually by name, anticipating the New Testament concept of the second birth without being identical to it.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry sees a prophecy here of Gentiles being welcomed into Gods people through the gospel. He notes that those once counted as foreigners become fellow citizens with the saints, standing on equal footing with native-born Israelites as if born again in Zion.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley stresses that Zion represents not just Jerusalem but the whole church of God, and God's word here guarantees this community will be recognized worldwide. His point is that people from every nation without distinction are included, and this work is permanent because God Himself establishes and protects it.