Bible Strands
Psalms 87:6
The LORD will record in the register of the peoples: “This one was born in Zion.” Selah
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The psalmist announces a future divine declaration concerning Zion, positioned between God’s establishing work (v. 5) and a call for communal worship (v. 7). The speaker addresses the nations and Israel by recording God’s official enrollment of Zion’s inhabitants.
The words — יִסְפֹּר (Yis.por) means “he will count” or “record,” operating alongside כְּתוֹב (kh.Tov), which denotes a “register” or “book,” establishing the image of an official divine ledger.
The thread — This recording motif appears in Isaiah 4:3 for those called holy in Jerusalem, Luke 10:20 for names written in heaven, and Ezekiel 13:9 regarding exclusion from the divine council record.
Why it lands — It demands recognition that identity and belonging are assigned by divine decree rather than human origin, requiring the reader to submit to God’s authority in defining who belongs to His people.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
The Lord shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 4:3 Whoever remains in Zion and whoever is left in Jerusalem will be called holy—all in Jerusalem who are recorded among the living—
- Luke 10:20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
- Ezekiel 13:9 My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and speak lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of My people or be recorded in the register of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord GOD.
- Revelation 20:15 And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
- Psalms 69:28 May they be blotted out of the Book of Life and not listed with the righteous.
- Philippians 4:3 Yes, and I ask you, my true yokefellow, to help these women who have contended at my side for the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
- Psalms 22:30 Posterity will serve Him; they will declare the Lord to a new generation.
- Jeremiah 3:19 Then I said, ‘How I long to make you My sons and give you a desirable land, the most beautiful inheritance of all the nations!’ I thought you would call Me ‘Father’ and never turn away from following Me.
- Revelation 13:8 And all who dwell on the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written from the foundation of the world in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb who was slain.
- Ezekiel 9:4 “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem,” said the LORD, “and put a mark on the foreheads of the men sighing and groaning over all the abominations committed there.”