The Meaning of Psalms 87:5 Explained

Psalms 87:5

KJV: And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.

YLT: And of Zion it is said: Each one was born in her, And He, the Most High, doth establish her.

Darby: And of Zion it shall be said, This one and that one was born in her; and the Most High himself shall establish her.

ASV: Yea, of Zion it shall be said, This one and that one was born in her; And the Most High himself will establish her.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And of Zion  it shall be said,  This and that man  was born  in her: and the highest  himself shall establish  her. 

What does Psalms 87:5 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 87:1-7 - Citizens Of Zion
This psalm blends in one great congregation the ancient foes of Israel and the Chosen People. It is a vision of the Holy Universal Church. The Selahs divide it into three parts:
Psalms 87:1-3
This is an outburst of rapturous praise. Zion's foundations are in the mountains, and her gates are dear to God. Far and wide men recount her glories and triumphs. But how much greater is the glory of the Church, which is founded on Christ's finished work and ruled by Him from heaven. The Church is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and a light shines from her into all the world.
Psalms 87:4-6
The ancient enemies of Zion contribute their children to the Church. Egypt or Rahab no longer dreaded and despised; Babylon no longer detested for its tyranny; Philistia and Ethiopia, once far off, now made nigh. They come from the East and West, and sit down at the feast of fat things of which Isaiah sang, Isaiah 25:6.
Psalms 87:7
A triumphal procession passes before us, confessing that the springs of the true life are to be found in the Church, because they are fed from the great depths of Eternal Love and Life. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 87

1  The nature and glory of the church
4  The increase, honor, and comfort of the members thereof

What do the individual words in Psalms 87:5 mean?

And of Zion it will be said this [one] that [one] were born in her and He shall establish her the Most High
וּֽלֲצִיּ֨וֹן ׀ יֵאָמַ֗ר אִ֣ישׁ וְ֭אִישׁ יֻלַּד־ בָּ֑הּ וְה֖וּא יְכוֹנְנֶ֣הָ עֶלְיֽוֹן

וּֽלֲצִיּ֨וֹן ׀  And  of  Zion 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: צִיּׄון  
Sense: another name for Jerusalem especially in the prophetic books.
יֵאָמַ֗ר  it  will  be  said 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אִ֣ישׁ  this  [one] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
וְ֭אִישׁ  that  [one] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
יֻלַּד־  were  born 
Parse: Verb, QalPass, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָלַד 
Sense: to bear, bring forth, beget, gender, travail.
בָּ֑הּ  in  her 
Parse: Preposition, third person feminine singular
וְה֖וּא  and  He 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
יְכוֹנְנֶ֣הָ  shall  establish  her 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: כּוּן 
Sense: to be firm, be stable, be established.
עֶלְיֽוֹן  the  Most  High 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: עֶלְיׄון 
Sense: high, upper.