Psalms 87:2
Psalms 87:2 in Multiple Translations
The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
Jehovah loveth the gates of Zion More than all the dwellings of Jacob.
The Lord has more love for the doors of Zion than for all the tents of Jacob.
Jerusalem is the city that the Lord loves more than any other city in Israel.
The Lord loueth the gates of Zion aboue all the habitations of Iaakob.
Jehovah is loving the gates of Zion Above all the tabernacles of Jacob.
The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
O Lord, the God of my salvation: I have cried in the day, and in the night before thee.
He loves that city, Jerusalem, more than he loves any other city in Israel.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 87:2
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Psalms 87:2 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
אֹהֵ֣ב
יְ֭הוָה
שַׁעֲרֵ֣י
צִיּ֑וֹן
מִ֝/כֹּ֗ל
מִשְׁכְּנ֥וֹת
יַעֲקֹֽב
אֹהֵ֣ב
ʼâhab
H157
to love
V-Qal
יְ֭הוָה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
The Lord
N-proper
שַׁעֲרֵ֣י
shaʻar
H8179
gate
N-mp
צִיּ֑וֹן
Tsîyôwn
H6726
Zion
N-proper
מִ֝/כֹּ֗ל
kôl
H3605
all
Prep | N-ms
מִשְׁכְּנ֥וֹת
mishkân
H4908
tabernacle
N-mp
יַעֲקֹֽב
Yaʻăqôb
H3290
Jacob
N-proper
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 87:2
אֹהֵ֣ב
ʼâhab
H157
"to love"
V-Qal
To love means to have affection for someone or something, including family, romance, or God. It can also describe being a friend or having appetite for things like food or wisdom.
Definition: : lover 1) to love 1a) (Qal) 1a1) human love for another, includes family, and sexual 1a2) human appetite for objects such as food, drink, sleep, wisdom 1a3) human love for or to God 1a4) act of being a friend 1a4a) lover (participle) 1a4b) friend (participle) 1a5) God's love toward man 1a5a) to individual men 1a5b) to people Israel 1a5c) to righteousness 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) lovely (participle) 1b2) loveable (participle) 1c) (Piel) 1c1) friends 1c2) lovers (fig. of adulterers) 2) to like Also means: a.hav (אָהֵב ": friend" H0157H)
Usage: Occurs in 195 OT verses. KJV: (be-) love(-d, -ly, -r), like, friend. See also: Genesis 22:2; Psalms 116:1; Psalms 4:3.
יְ֭הוָה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
"The Lord"
N-proper
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.
שַׁעֲרֵ֣י
shaʻar
H8179
"gate"
N-mp
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means a gate or door, often referring to city entrances or temple doors, like in Genesis and Exodus. It can also symbolize a meeting place or marketplace. The word is used to describe important locations in the Bible.
Definition: : gate 1) gate 1a) gate (of entrance) 1b) gate (of space inside gate, i.e. marketplace, public meeting place) 1b1) city, town 1c) gate (of palace, royal castle, temple, court of tabernacle) 1d) heaven
Usage: Occurs in 302 OT verses. KJV: city, door, gate, port ([idiom] -er). See also: Genesis 19:1; 1 Chronicles 9:18; Psalms 9:14.
צִיּ֑וֹן
Tsîyôwn
H6726
"Zion"
N-proper
Zion refers to a mountain in Jerusalem, often used as another name for the city, especially in prophetic books like Isaiah and Jeremiah.
Definition: Zion = "parched place" another name for Jerusalem especially in the prophetic books Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 153 OT verses. KJV: Zion. See also: 2 Samuel 5:7; Isaiah 49:14; Psalms 2:6.
מִ֝/כֹּ֗ל
kôl
H3605
"all"
Prep | N-ms
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Usage: Occurs in 4242 OT verses. KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 41:40.
מִשְׁכְּנ֥וֹת
mishkân
H4908
"tabernacle"
N-mp
The tabernacle was a special tent where God met with the Israelites, as described in Exodus and Leviticus. It was a portable place of worship, like a dwelling place for God. The Israelites carried it with them.
Definition: 1) dwelling place, tabernacle 1a) dwelling-place 1b) dwellings Aramaic equivalent: mish.kan (מִשְׁכַּן "habitation" H4907)
Usage: Occurs in 129 OT verses. KJV: dwelleth, dwelling (place), habitation, tabernacle, tent. See also: Exodus 25:9; Numbers 3:23; Psalms 26:8.
יַעֲקֹֽב
Yaʻăqôb
H3290
"Jacob"
N-proper
This word is the name of a person, Jacob, a key figure in the Bible. He was the son of Isaac and Rebekah, and the father of many tribes of Israel. The KJV simply translates it as Jacob.
Definition: A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.26; son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259); brother of: Esau (H6215); married to Rachel (H7354), Leah (H3812), Zilpah (H2153) and Bilhah (H1090A); father of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); also called Jacob frequently Another name of yis.ra.el (יִשְׂרָאֵל "Israel" H3478) § Jacob = "heel holder" or "supplanter" son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 12 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel
Usage: Occurs in 319 OT verses. KJV: Jacob. See also: Genesis 25:26; Genesis 34:1; Psalms 14:7.
Study Notes — Psalms 87:2
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 87:2 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 87:2
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 87:2
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 87:2
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 87:2
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 87:2
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 87:2
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 87:2
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 87:2
- Sermons on Psalms 87:2
Context — The LORD Loves the Gates of Zion
1He has founded His city on the holy mountains.
2The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
3Glorious things are ascribed to you, O city of God. Selah 4“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.’”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 132:13–14 | For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His home: “This is My resting place forever and ever; here I will dwell, for I have desired this home. |
| 2 | Psalms 78:67–69 | He rejected the tent of Joseph and refused the tribe of Ephraim. But He chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which He loved. He built His sanctuary like the heights, like the earth He has established forever. |
| 3 | Deuteronomy 12:5 | Instead, you must seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to establish as a dwelling for His Name, and there you must go. |
| 4 | Isaiah 14:32 | What answer will be given to the envoys of that nation? “The LORD has founded Zion, where His afflicted people will find refuge.” |
| 5 | Joel 2:32 | And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has promised, among the remnant called by the LORD. |
| 6 | 2 Chronicles 6:6 | But now I have chosen Jerusalem for My Name to be there, and I have chosen David to be over My people Israel.’ |
Psalms 87:2 Summary
[This verse means that God loves the city of Zion, which is a symbol of His people, more than any other place. He has a special affection for those who are part of His covenant community, as seen in Deuteronomy 7:6-8. This reminds us that God values the way people come to Him, and we should be intentional about sharing the gospel with others, just as Jesus commanded in Matthew 28:18-20. By being part of God's city, we can reflect His love to others and show them the way to come to Him.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean that the LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob?
This means that God has a special affection for the city of Zion, which represents His chosen people, more than any other place in Israel, as seen in Psalms 87:1 where He has founded His city on the holy mountains.
Why is Zion so significant in the Bible?
Zion is significant because it is the city of God, where He dwells among His people, as mentioned in Psalms 9:11 and Psalms 48:1-2, which highlights its importance as a symbol of God's presence and kingdom.
How does this verse relate to God's love for His people?
This verse shows that God's love for His people is not just general, but specific, and He has a special love for those who are part of His covenant community, as seen in Deuteronomy 7:6-8 and Jeremiah 31:3.
What can we learn from the fact that God loves the gates of Zion?
We can learn that God values the entrance points of His city, which represent the way people come to Him, and this emphasizes the importance of evangelism and discipleship, as seen in Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 2:41-47.
Reflection Questions
- What does it mean for me to be a part of God's city, and how can I reflect His love to others?
- How can I show my love for God's city and His people, just as He loves them?
- What are some ways I can be a 'gate' for others to come to know God, and how can I be more intentional about sharing the gospel?
- How does the fact that God loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob challenge my own priorities and values?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 87:2
The Lord loveth the gates of Zion,.... Which the Targum interprets of the schools, as preferable to the synagogues: the Lord loves Zion herself; that is, the church, and therefore has chosen it for
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 87:2
The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob - (Psalms 78:68).
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 87:2
The gates, i.e. the city gates, being oft put for cities, as 16:5 . Of Zion; largely so called, as was now said, to wit, of Jerusalem, which was built upon and near Mount Zion. He saith Zion rather than Jerusalem, to intimate that he loved Jerusalem for Zion’ s sake, or for the temple, which is oft said to be in Zion; which place he loved and chose for his peculiar dwelling-place. More than all the dwellings of Jacob; more than all other places of the land of Canaan in which the Israelites dwelt. For although the tabernacle was for a season in some other parts of the land, yet the temple, the place of God’ s fixed residence, was no where but in this city.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 87:2
Psalms 87:2 The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.Ver. 2. The Lord loveth the gates of Zion] Nothing but his mere love moved him to make choice of it, above all other places, there to declare his power, presence, and goodness. He first chose it for his love, and then loved it for his choice; and so he doth his Church.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 87:2
Verse 2. The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.] That is, he preferred Zion for his habitation, to be the place of his temple and sanctuary, before any other place in the promised land. Mystically, the Lord prefers the Christian Church to the Jewish: the latter was only a type of the former; and had no glory by reason of the glory that excelleth. To this position no exception can be made.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 87:2
2. the gates of Zion] A poetical expression for the city, specially appropriate with reference to the thought of the crowd of pilgrims (Psalms 122:2) entering it from all nations (Isaiah 60:11; Revelation 22:14). more than all the dwellings of Jacob] Better than any of the other cities of Israel, though they too are goodly (Numbers 24:5, where the same word is rendered ‘tabernacles’).
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 87:2
The Lord loveth the gates of Zion - Compare Psalms 78:68. The gates of a city were the places of concourse; where business was transacted; where courts were held.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 87:2
2. Gates of Zion—A metonomy for Zion itself. The gates anciently were places of public assemblage: “I will declare all thy praises in the gates of Zion.” Psalms 9:14.
Sermons on Psalms 87:2
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Ye Are Come Unto Mount Zion by T. Austin-Sparks | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the reality and power of the spiritual realm that believers have come to. He contrasts the abstract and imaginary nature of the natural world |
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Ye Are Come to Zion - Part 3 by T. Austin-Sparks | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of the message being shared during their gatherings. They express concern that the teachings should not just be ideas or conce |
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Meeting as a Congregation. by Andrew Bonar | Andrew Bonar emphasizes the significance of congregational gatherings in worship, rooted in the biblical promise that where two or three are gathered in Christ's name, He is presen |
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Let the House Be Builded - Part 1of3 by T. Austin-Sparks | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding God's all-inclusive purpose. He highlights that while Christianity has many aspects, such as evangelism, teac |
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Ye Are Come to Zion - Part 7 by T. Austin-Sparks | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing and embracing the specific purpose and calling that God has for each individual. He encourages listeners to see |
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The Credentials of True Ministry by George Warnock | George Warnock preaches about the significance of carrying the ark of God on the shoulders of anointed men, emphasizing the importance of walking in God's anointing and not delegat |
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Zion, the City of Solemnities by William Gadsby | William Gadsby expounds on the spiritual significance of Zion as the true church of Christ, emphasizing its divine selection and the solemnities that characterize it. He describes |