Psalm 87 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: 87:5, 87:7
Each card keeps the independently rendered source readings above their shared comparison and reception notes. The badge records the source’s governing classification; disparate readings are marked in red. Each reading retains its original reference.
Psalm 87
Those born in Zion
Verse 87:1 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[87:1] Of the sons of Korah. A psalm. A song.
Its foundation is in holy mountains.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[86:1] For the sons of Korah, a psalm of a song.
Its foundations are in the holy mountains.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew has a singular foundation, Greek plural foundations. The masculine possessor is left as “its,” since the opening does not explicitly name it. Rabbinic: Rashi on 87:1 relates the foundation to the psalm composed about Zion and Jerusalem (RASHI-PS87).
Verse 87:2 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[87:2] YHWH loves the gates of Zion
more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[86:2] The Lord loves the gates of Zion
more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The preference for Zion's gates over Jacob's other dwellings corresponds.
Verse 87:3 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[87:3] Glorious things are spoken of you, city of God.
Selah.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[86:3] Glorified things were spoken about you, city of God.
Diapsalma.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both address the city with glorious speech and retain a performance marker; Greek states the speaking as past.
Verse 87:4 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[87:4] I will mention Rahab and Babylon to those who know me.
Look: Philistia and Tyre, with Cush—
“This one was born there.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[86:4] I will remember Raab and Babylon to those who know me.
And look: foreigners and Tyre and the people of Ethiopians—
these were born there.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew has Philistia and Cush, Greek foreigners and an Ethiopian people; Hebrew's singular this one differs from Greek these. The speaker and the deictic “there” remain open. Rabbinic: Rashi on 87:4 relates Rahab to Egypt and discusses the return of Zion's dispersed children (RASHI-PS87). Saints: Augustine, Exposition on Psalm 87 §5, instead connects Raab with the woman of Jericho and the gathering of nations; this is his received interpretation, not a claim that the Hebrew name identifies that woman (AUG-PS87).
Verse 87:5 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[87:5] And of Zion it will be said,
“This man and that man were born in her,”
and the Most High Himself will establish her.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[86:5] “Mother Zion,” a man will say,
and a man was born in her;
and the Most High Himself founded her.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Greek expressly names Mother Zion and supplies a speaking man; Hebrew gives a statement about successive people born in Zion. Future establishment differs from past foundation. Saints: Augustine §6 reads the man born in the city and its Most High founder through Christ's humanity and divinity; this is an attributed christological interpretation (AUG-PS87).
Verse 87:6 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[87:6] YHWH will count when He records the peoples,
“This one was born there.”
Selah.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[86:6] The Lord will recount in a register of peoples
and of these rulers who were born in her.
Diapsalma.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Greek includes rulers born in her and does not reproduce the Hebrew singular birth declaration. Both keep registration imagery and their performance marker.
Verse 87:7 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[87:7] And singers, like dancers:
“All my springs are in you.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[86:7] The dwelling in you is like that of all who rejoice.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Hebrew gives singers, dancers and the first-person springs image; Greek instead describes a dwelling of rejoicing people. Both are compressed, and the Hebrew musical construction remains open. Rabbinic: Rashi on 87:7 interprets my springs through the speaker's inward parts and the city's salvation (RASHI-PS87). Saints: Augustine §8 develops the Greek dwelling as lasting joy in God's presence (AUG-PS87).