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Psalm 87:2
The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
1A Psalm by the sons of Korah; a Song. His foundation is in the holy mountains.
2The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
3Glorious things are spoken about you, city of God. Selah.
4I will record Rahab and Babylon among those who acknowledge me. Behold, Philistia, Tyre, and also Ethiopia: “This one was born there.”
Notice
The gates of Zion stand above all Jacob’s dwellings in YHWH’s love, a striking preference whose reason the verse leaves unstated.
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What catches your attention in the claim that YHWH loves Zion’s gates?
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Where else Scripture says this
11 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Psalm 78:68But chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which he loved.Both passages name Zion as a place the LORD loves; Psalm 78 also speaks of his choice of Judah.
Deuteronomy 12:5But to the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes, to put his name there, you shall seek his habitation, and you shall come there.Both distinguish one place among Israel’s many places: Zion receives the LORD’s love, while Deuteronomy describes his chosen habitation.
Psalm 132:13–14For the LORD has chosen Zion. He has desired it for his habitation.Zion is loved in Psalm 87 and chosen as the LORD’s desired habitation in Psalm 132.
Psalm 78:67–69Moreover he rejected the tent of Joseph, and didn’t choose the tribe of Ephraim,Both describe distinctions within Israel, though Psalm 78’s supplied line speaks of rejecting Joseph’s tent rather than loving Zion.
Joel 2:32It will happen that whoever will call on the LORD’s name shall be saved; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape, as the LORD has …Both name Zion: the psalm celebrates the LORD’s love for its gates, and Joel locates escape there for those the LORD calls.
2 Chronicles 6:6but now I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and I have chosen David to be over my people Israel.’Both single out God’s city: the psalm names his love for Zion, and Chronicles names his choice of Jerusalem.
Isaiah 14:32What will they answer the messengers of the nation? That the LORD has founded Zion, and in her the afflicted of his people will take refuge.Both speak of the LORD’s regard for Zion; Isaiah adds that he founded it and that his afflicted people find refuge there.
2 Samuel 5:7Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion. This is David’s city.Zion is named in both: David takes its stronghold, and the psalm celebrates the LORD’s love for its gates.
1 Chronicles 11:5The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You will not come in here!” Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion. The same is David’s city.Both concern Zion, whose stronghold David captured despite its inhabitants’ resistance and whose gates the LORD loves.
2 Chronicles 5:2Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the princes of the fathers’ households of the children of Israel, to Jerusalem, to …Both name Zion; Chronicles identifies it as David’s city, from which the ark of the LORD’s covenant was brought.
Song of Songs 7:5Your head on you is like Carmel. The hair of your head like purple. The king is held captive in its tresses.Both use concrete imagery for love or attraction, though the Song’s portrait makes no reference to Zion or the LORD’s love.
Where this verse fits
Praise and worship. sermon or Bible study notes.
One step
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Encouragement
The praise here rests on YHWH’s love for Zion. Its place of honor begins with him, and the song names that love without explaining it.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).