God welcomes all who come to Him by faith into the fellowship of Zion, and His steadfast care ensures that His purposes will never fail.
When the psalmist proclaims But of Zion it shall be said, “This one and that one were born in her”; And the Most High Himself will establish her (v.5), he highlights the unique standing of Zion as God’s chosen place of blessing. The city called Zion is a mountain located on the eastern side of Jerusalem, the capital city of Judah, often used synonymously with Jerusalem itself. Historically, King David made Jerusalem his capital around 1000 BC, and Zion came to represent both the physical city and the spiritual dwelling place of God’s presence. In this verse, the expression “this one and that one were born in her” indicates that all manner of people from various backgrounds can be counted as citizens of God’s holy city when they choose to worship and belong to Him. The psalmist then underscores that “the Most High Himself will establish her,” pointing to God as the ultimate architect and defender of Zion, regardless of challenges or earthly circumstances.
Zion is also called “the city of God,” present at the heart of His covenant people. Its significance is woven throughout Scripture, where it appears as both a literal location and a symbol of hope and identity for the faithful. Though Jerusalem fell on multiple occasions—famously in 586 BC to the Babylonians—God’s promise to “establish” Zion endures. This enduring foundation points ahead to the spiritual reality that individuals from every tribe and nation will find their true citizenship in God’s kingdom through faith. For New Testament believers, the ultimate fulfillment of Zion’s promise is centered upon Christ, who gathers all who trust in Him into one family and secures an eternal inheritance (Hebrews 12:22; Revelation 21:2).
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Psalms 87:5 meaning
When the psalmist proclaims But of Zion it shall be said, “This one and that one were born in her”; And the Most High Himself will establish her (v.5), he highlights the unique standing of Zion as God’s chosen place of blessing. The city called Zion is a mountain located on the eastern side of Jerusalem, the capital city of Judah, often used synonymously with Jerusalem itself. Historically, King David made Jerusalem his capital around 1000 BC, and Zion came to represent both the physical city and the spiritual dwelling place of God’s presence. In this verse, the expression “this one and that one were born in her” indicates that all manner of people from various backgrounds can be counted as citizens of God’s holy city when they choose to worship and belong to Him. The psalmist then underscores that “the Most High Himself will establish her,” pointing to God as the ultimate architect and defender of Zion, regardless of challenges or earthly circumstances.
Zion is also called “the city of God,” present at the heart of His covenant people. Its significance is woven throughout Scripture, where it appears as both a literal location and a symbol of hope and identity for the faithful. Though Jerusalem fell on multiple occasions—famously in 586 BC to the Babylonians—God’s promise to “establish” Zion endures. This enduring foundation points ahead to the spiritual reality that individuals from every tribe and nation will find their true citizenship in God’s kingdom through faith. For New Testament believers, the ultimate fulfillment of Zion’s promise is centered upon Christ, who gathers all who trust in Him into one family and secures an eternal inheritance (Hebrews 12:22; Revelation 21:2).