I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.
I will speak of Egypt and Babylon to those who know me: look at Philistia, Tyre, and Ethiopia; each person was born there.
God is saying that people from all nations - even former enemies like Egypt and Babylon - will be counted as His people, as if they were born in His holy city.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative of the Old Testament, Psalm 87 is a song of praise attributed to the sons of Korah, celebrating Jerusalem (Zion) as the city where God dwells and where people from various nations are spiritually connected. It mentions places like Rahab (a poetic reference to Egypt), Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and Ethiopia to illustrate God's sovereignty over all peoples and His plan to include them in His kingdom. This reflects the ancient Israelite hope for a time when all nations would worship God together, as echoed in other prophetic writings.
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