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Wisdom & Poetry · WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE

Psalm 87

Psalm 87 is read especially through the theme of pilgrimage, within Book III (Psalms 73–89). Its language invites attentive prayer before quick application.

PilgrimagePraiseCreation
Psalms overview
Old Testament

Psalm 87

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.”

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.”

READ IN CONTEXT

Understanding Psalm 87

Psalm 87 is read especially through the theme of pilgrimage, within Book III (Psalms 73–89). Its language invites attentive prayer before quick application. Read it within the complete five-book Psalms collection, then compare its prayer language with the types of prayer found across Scripture. Classification is a reading aid rather than a replacement for the Psalm's own movement and tension.

Collection

Book III (Psalms 73–89). The five-book shape of the Psalter helps readers hear individual prayers within a deliberately arranged collection.

Themes detected

Pilgrimage, Praise, Creation. Read for these themes while remaining open to tension and secondary movements.

TEXT-DERIVED READING NOTES

What to notice in Psalm 87

Psalm 87 contains 7 verses and about 114 words in this translation. These observations come from the chapter itself; they are prompts for close reading, not claims about its only possible meaning.

The opening movement

Verse 1 begins: “A Psalm by the sons of Korah; a Song. His foundation is in the holy mountains.” Ask what situation, voice, image, or argument this opening establishes for everything that follows.

The closing movement

Verse 7 closes: “Those who sing as well as those who dance say, “All my springs are in you.”” Compare the ending with the opening and note what changed, resolved, intensified, or remained open.

Vocabulary worth tracing

Recurring or prominent content words include will, born, zion, selah, psalm, sons. Follow where each word appears and whether its meaning shifts with the speaker or setting.

COMMON QUESTIONS

About Psalm 87

Which Bible translation is shown here?+

This page reproduces the World English Bible Protestant edition (WEBP), a modern-English translation dedicated to the public domain.

How should I cite a specific verse?+

Use the book, chapter, and verse—for example, Psalms 87:1—and name the World English Bible if the wording matters. Each verse number above is a direct anchor link.

Does the chapter number define the complete literary unit?+

Not always. Chapter and verse numbers were added for navigation. Check the paragraphs, scenes, poetic stanzas, or argument before and after this chapter.

What kind of Psalm is this?+

Our reading profile emphasizes pilgrimage, with related themes of Pilgrimage, Praise, Creation. Many Psalms blend genres or move between moods, so this label is a guide rather than a rigid classification.

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