What is the meaning of Psalm 87:3?

Glorious things

The psalmist bursts with admiration, announcing realities as weighty and brilliant as God Himself. Scripture unveils these “glorious things” in Isaiah 60:1-3 (Zion shining for the nations), Psalm 122:6-7 (peace within her walls), and Revelation 21:10-11 (the city “having the glory of God”). Each promise is literal—certain because the God of Exodus 34:6-7 anchors them in His own glory.

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Are ascribed

The verb is present, as though the future is already here. Just as Psalm 96:7-8 calls nations to “ascribe to the LORD glory,” praise is now being credited to Zion for what God will do there. Romans 4:17 reminds us God “calls into being things that were not,” so believers join the chorus today (Isaiah 42:12) even while we wait for complete fulfillment.

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To you

The focus tightens: “to you.” God addresses Zion directly, echoing Zephaniah 3:17: “The LORD your God is in your midst.” His promises are personal and irrevocable (Numbers 23:19). Gentile believers, grafted by faith (Galatians 3:29), rejoice in them without stripping away their literal application to Israel.

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O city of God

Zion—historical Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:6-9), present symbol of God’s dwelling (Psalm 46:4-5), and prophetic centerpiece of the kingdom (Isaiah 2:2-4). Hebrews 12:22 lifts our eyes to the “heavenly Jerusalem,” and Revelation 21:2 shows that perfected city descending. The earthly reality points forward but never dissolves into mere metaphor.

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Selah

A holy pause. “Selah” invites reflection, like the rests in Psalm 46 or Habakkuk 3:3. Stop, weigh the certainty, let hope rise (Philippians 1:6), and let worship deepen.

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Summary

Psalm 87:3 proclaims that magnificent, God-wrought marvels already belong to Zion, the city He chose. From the sweep of “glorious things” to the intimacy of “to you,” the verse grounds our hope in the Lord’s unchangeable faithfulness. The pause of “Selah” lets us savor the certainty: God will glorify Himself in Jerusalem, and through Christ all who believe will share in that glory forever.