Psalms 87:3

87:3 People say wonderful things about you, ¹ 

O city of God. (Selah)

Psalms 107:36

107:36 He allowed the hungry to settle there,

and they established a city in which to live.

Psalms 59:6

59:6 They return in the evening;

they growl ²  like a dog

and prowl around outside ³  the city.

Psalms 59:14

59:14 They return in the evening;

they growl ⁴  like a dog

and prowl around outside ⁵  the city.

Psalms 107:4

107:4 They wandered through the wilderness on a desert road;

they found no city in which to live.

Psalms 107:7

107:7 He led them on a level road, ⁶ 

that they might find a city in which to live.

Psalms 46:4

46:4 The river’s channels bring joy to the city of God, ⁷ 

the special, holy dwelling place of ⁸  the sovereign One. ⁹ 

Psalms 60:9

60:9 Who will lead me into the fortified city?

Who will bring me to Edom? ¹⁰ 

Psalms 108:10

108:10 Who will lead me into the fortified city?

Who will bring me to Edom? ¹¹ 

Psalms 127:1

Psalm 127 ¹² 

A song of ascents, ¹³  by Solomon.

127:1 If the Lord does not build a house, ¹⁴ 

then those who build it work in vain.

If the Lord does not guard a city, ¹⁵ 

then the watchman stands guard in vain.

[87:3]  ¹ tn Heb “glorious things are spoken about you.” The translation assumes this is a general reference to compliments paid to Zion by those who live within her walls and by those who live in the surrounding areas and lands. Another option is that this refers to a prophetic oracle about the city’s glorious future. In this case one could translate, “wonderful things are announced concerning you.”

[59:6]  ² tn Or “howl”; or “bark.”

[59:6]  ³ tn Heb “go around.”

[59:14]  ³ tn Or “howl”; or “bark.”

[59:14]  ⁴ tn Heb “go around.”

[107:7]  ⁴ sn A level road. See Jer 31:9.

[46:4]  ⁵ tn Heb “A river, its channels cause the city of God to be glad.”

[46:4]  ⁶ tn Heb “the holy [place] of the dwelling places of.” The adjective “holy” is used here in a substantival manner and placed in construct with the following noun (see GKC 428 §132.c). Origen’s transliterated text assumes the reading קֹדֶשׁ (qodesh, “holiness; holy place”), while the LXX assumes a Piel verbal form קִדֵּשׁ (qidesh, “makes holy”) and takes the following form as “his dwelling place.” The plural form מִשְׁכְּנֵי (mishkÿney, “dwelling places of”) is probably a plural of degree, emphasizing the special character of this dwelling place. See GKC 397 §124.b. The form stands as an appositional genitive in relation to the preceding construct noun.

[46:4]  ⁷ tn Heb “Most High.” This divine title (עֶלְיוֹן, ’elyon) pictures God as the exalted ruler of the universe who vindicates the innocent and judges the wicked. See especially Pss 7:17; 9:2; 18:13; 21:7; 47:2.

[60:9]  ⁶ sn In v. 9 the psalmist speaks again and acknowledges his need for help in battle. He hopes God will volunteer, based on the affirmation of sovereignty over Edom in v. 8, but he is also aware that God has seemingly rejected the nation (v. 10, see also v. 1).

[108:10]  ⁷ sn The psalmist speaks again and acknowledges his need for help in battle. He hopes God will volunteer, based on the affirmation of sovereignty over Edom in v. 9, but he is also aware that God has seemingly rejected the nation of Israel (v. 11).

[127:1]  ⁸ sn Psalm 127. In this wisdom psalm the psalmist teaches that one does not find security by one’s own efforts, for God alone gives stability and security.

[127:1]  ⁹ sn The precise significance of this title, which appears in Pss 120-134, is unclear. Perhaps worshipers recited these psalms when they ascended the road to Jerusalem to celebrate annual religious festivals. For a discussion of their background see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 219-21.

[127:1]  ¹⁰ sn The expression build a house may have a double meaning here. It may refer on the surface level to a literal physical structure in which a family lives, but at a deeper, metaphorical level it refers to building, perpetuating, and maintaining a family line. See Deut 25:9; Ruth 4:11; 1 Sam 2:35; 2 Sam 7:27; 1 Kgs 11:38; 1 Chr 17:10, 25. Having a family line provided security in ancient Israel.

[127:1]  ¹¹ sn The city symbolizes community security, which is the necessary framework for family security.