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Psalm 87:5
Yes, of Zion it will be said, “This one and that one was born in her;” the Most High himself will establish her.
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.”
5Yes, of Zion it will be said, “This one and that one was born in her;” the Most High himself will establish her.
6The LORD will count, when he writes up the peoples, “This one was born there.” Selah.
7Those who sing as well as those who dance say, “All my springs are in you.”
Notice
“This one and that one” draws attention to people counted as Zion’s own, while the city’s security rests on the Most High himself.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What do you notice about the phrase “This one and that one” describing Zion’s people?
Write on thisWhat does the word “himself” suggest about Zion’s dependence on God?
Write on thisWhere do you look for the kind of rootedness pictured in being born in Zion?
Write on thisConnect
Where else Scripture says this
12 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
Romans 8:31What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?Both passages locate confidence in God’s action: establishing Zion in the psalm, and being for his people in Romans.
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 name Zion and credit her foundation to God; Isaiah also names her as a refuge for his afflicted people.
Deuteronomy 28:9The LORD will establish you for a holy people to himself, as he has sworn to you, if you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and walk in his ways.Both speak of God establishing a people or their city; Deuteronomy includes the condition of keeping God’s commandments.
Psalm 48:8As we have heard, so we have seen, in the city of the LORD of Armies, in the city of our God. God will establish it forever. Selah.Both describe God establishing his city; Psalm 48 adds that he will establish it forever.
1 Peter 1:23–24having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which lives and remains forever.Both use birth language; the psalm speaks of birth in Zion, while Peter describes new birth through God’s enduring word.
Galatians 3:26–28For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus.Both speak of belonging: people are counted as born in Zion, and Galatians names believers as God’s children through faith in Christ.
Ezekiel 48:35“It shall be eighteen thousand reeds in circumference; and the name of the city from that day shall be, ‘The LORD is there.’Both connect a city with God: Zion is established by the Most High, and Ezekiel’s city bears a name declaring God’s presence.
John 1:12–14But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name:Both describe people as belonging: the psalm speaks of birth in Zion, while John speaks of becoming God’s children through believing.
Isaiah 60:1–9“Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the LORD’s glory has risen on you!God’s action is the shared thread: he establishes Zion in the psalm, and his glory rises upon those addressed in Isaiah.
Hebrews 11:32–12:2What more shall I say? For the time would fail me if I told of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets—The link is limited: the psalm mentions unnamed people born in Zion, while Hebrews lists named figures without mentioning Zion.
Isaiah 44:4–5and they will spring up among the grass, as willows by the watercourses.The link is broad: the psalm speaks of people born in Zion, while Isaiah pictures growth like willows by water.
John 3:3–5Jesus answered him, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see God’s Kingdom.”Birth is the shared word; the psalm names Zion as a birthplace, while Jesus speaks of birth anew and God’s Kingdom.
Where this verse fits
Loneliness. praise and worship. sermon or Bible study notes.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
Zion’s future rests with the Most High himself. The people described as born in her belong to a city that God promises to establish.
Now put it in your words.
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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).