The Meaning of Psalms 87:6 Explained

Psalms 87:6

KJV: The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.

YLT: Jehovah doth recount in the describing of the peoples, 'This one was born there.' Selah.

Darby: Jehovah will count, when he inscribeth the peoples, This man was born there. Selah.

ASV: Jehovah will count, when he writeth up the peoples, This one was born there. Selah

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The LORD  shall count,  when he writeth up  the people,  [that] this [man] was born  there. Selah. 

What does Psalms 87:6 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 87:6 mean?

Yahweh will record when He registers the peoples this [one] was born there Selah
יְֽהוָ֗ה יִ֭סְפֹּר בִּכְת֣וֹב עַמִּ֑ים זֶ֖ה יֻלַּד־ שָׁ֣ם סֶֽלָה

יְֽהוָ֗ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
יִ֭סְפֹּר  will  record 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: סָפַר 
Sense: to count, recount, relate.
בִּכְת֣וֹב  when  He  registers 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: כָּתַב  
Sense: to write, record, enrol.
עַמִּ֑ים  the  peoples 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
זֶ֖ה  this  [one] 
Parse: Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
יֻלַּד־  was  born 
Parse: Verb, QalPass, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָלַד 
Sense: to bear, bring forth, beget, gender, travail.
סֶֽלָה  Selah 
Parse: Interjection
Root: סֶלָה  
Sense: to lift up, exalt.