Psalms 87 in the early church
64 passages quote, allude to, or echo Psalms 87, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.
Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7
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Psalms 87:1
A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A song. He has founded His city on the holy mountains.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ps 87:1 (86:1 LXX) | Fragments on the Song of Songs, chapter 8 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Ps 87:1 (86:1 LXX) | Homilies on Numbers 15.1 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Ps 87:1 (86:1 LXX) | Homilies on Jeremiah 12.12 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 240 |
| Ps 87:1 (86:1 LXX) | Commentary on the Song of Songs 3.205 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 240–245 (Rufinus's translation ca. 410) |
| Ps 87:1 (86:1 LXX) | Commentary on Matthew, Latin Series 43 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 244–249 (Latin translation, 4th–5th century) |
| Ps 87:1 (86:1 LXX) | Letter to Marcellinus 22 · Athanasius of Alexandria | allusion, high confidence | uncertain, after 335 |
| Ps 87:1–2 (86:1-Ps LXX) | Against Parmenian the Donatist 3.2 · Optatus of Milevis | quotation, high confidence | ca. 366–385 |
| Ps 87:1 (86:1 LXX) | Letter 46.4 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Ps 87:1 (86:1 LXX) | Letter 108.9 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Ps 87:1 (86:1 LXX) | Letter 121.4 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Ps 87:1–7 (86:1-Ps LXX) | Psalm 86 · Apollinaris of Laodicea | quotation, high confidence | uncertain (fourth to sixth century) |
| Ps 87:1 (86:1 LXX) | Exposition of Psalm 118 22.44.2 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| Ps 87:1 (86:1 LXX) | Explanation of Twelve Psalms 35.28.2 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 387-397 |
| Ps 87:1 (86:1 LXX) | Homily 7 · Gregory of Nyssa | allusion, high confidence | ca. 390–394 |
| Ps 87:1 (86:1 Vulg.) | Poem 27, lines 572–606 · Paulinus of Nola | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 393–431 |
| Ps 87:1 (86:1 Vulg.) | Letters 28.2 · Paulinus of Nola | quotation, high confidence | ca. 394–413 |
Psalms 87:2
The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ps 87:2 (86:2 LXX) | Oration I Against the Arians 52 · Athanasius of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | ca. 339–346 |
| Ps 87:2 (86:2 LXX) | Letter 46.4 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Ps 87:2 (86:2 LXX) | Letter 108.9 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Ps 87:2 (86:2 LXX) | Letter 129.2 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Ps 87:2 (86:2 LXX) | The Conferences 12.11 · John Cassian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 426–429 |
| Ps 87:2 (86:2 Vulg.) | Instructions 1.40 · Eucherius of Lyon | quotation, high confidence | ca. 428-434 |
Psalms 87:3
Glorious things are ascribed to you, O city of God. Selah
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ps 87:3 (86:3 LXX) | Commentary on Matthew 15.25 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 246–248 |
| Ps 87:3 (86:3 LXX) | Church History 10.4.7 · Eusebius of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | ca. 300–325 |
| Ps 87:3 (86:3 LXX) | Homilies on the Psalms 45.4 · Basil of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | ca. 360-378 |
| Ps 87:3 (86:3 LXX) | Letter 129.2 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Ps 87:3 (86:3 LXX) | On the Beatitudes 1211 · Gregory of Nyssa | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380–394 |
| Ps 87:3 (86:3 LXX) | Tractates on Matthew 5.2 · Chromatius of Aquileia | quotation, high confidence | ca. 388–407 |
| Ps 87:3–5 (86:3-Ps LXX) | Homily 2 · Gregory of Nyssa | quotation, high confidence | ca. 390–394 |
| Ps 87:3 (86:3 LXX) | The Harmony of the Gospels 2.58 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 399–400 |
| Ps 87:3 (86:3 LXX) | City of God 2.21 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | 413–426 |
| Ps 87:3 | City of God 5.19 · Augustine of Hippo | echo, low confidence | 413–426 |
| Ps 87:3 (86:3 LXX) | City of God 10.7 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | 413–426 |
| Ps 87:3 (86:3 LXX) | City of God 11.1 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | 413–426 |
| Ps 87:3 (86:3 LXX) | Commentary on Jeremiah 1.12 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 414-419 |
| Ps 87:3 (86:3 LXX) | Commentary on Jeremiah 1.58 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 414-419 |
| Ps 87:3 (86:3 Vulg.) | Commentary on Jeremiah 6.6 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 414-419 |
| Ps 87:3 (86:3 Vulg.) | Commentary on Jeremiah 6.29 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 414-419 |
Psalms 87:4
“I will mention Rahab and Babylon among those who know Me—along with Philistia, Tyre, and Cush—when I say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ps 87:4 (86:4 LXX) | Commentary on Daniel 2.19 · Hippolytus of Rome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 202-204 |
| Ps 87:4 (86:4 Vulg.) | Against Marcion 4.13 · Tertullian | quotation, high confidence | 207/208 (third edition, completed later) |
| Ps 87:4 (86:4 LXX) | Catechetical Lecture 2.5 · Cyril of Jerusalem | quotation, high confidence | ca. 350 |
| Ps 87:4 (86:4 Vulg.) | On the Christian Faith 5.10 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 378–380 |
| Ps 87:4 (86:4 LXX) | Explanation of Twelve Psalms 35.23.1 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 387-397 |
| Ps 87:4 (86:4 LXX) | Explanation of Twelve Psalms 35.28.2 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 387-397 |
Psalms 87:5
And it will be said of Zion: “This one and that one were born in her, and the Most High Himself will establish her.”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ps 87:5 (86:5 Vulg.) | Against Marcion 4.13 · Tertullian | quotation, high confidence | 207/208 (third edition, completed later) |
| Ps 87:5 (86:5 Vulg.) | Against Praxeas 27 · Tertullian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 213 or later |
| Ps 87:5 (86:5 LXX) | PG 12:1541 (Ps 81–86 LXX) · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Ps 87:5 (86:5 LXX) | PG 12:1543 (Ps 86–87 LXX) · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Ps 87:5 (86:5 LXX) | Letter to Marcellinus 6 · Athanasius of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | uncertain, after 335 |
| Ps 87:5 (86:5 LXX) | Letter 54.18 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Ps 87:5 (86:5 Vulg.) | On the Christian Faith 3.2 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 378–380 |
| Ps 87:5 (86:5 Vulg.) | Letters 28.2 · Paulinus of Nola | quotation, high confidence | ca. 394–413 |
| Ps 87:5 (86:5 Vulg.) | Tractates on the Gospel of John 16.7 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 406–420 |
| Ps 87:5 (86:5 Vulg.) | City of God 17.16 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | 413–426 |
| Ps 87:5 (86:5 Vulg.) | Instructions 1.41 · Eucherius of Lyon | quotation, high confidence | ca. 428-434 |
| Ps 87:5 (86:5 Vulg.) | Part 2, chapter 21 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage | quotation, high confidence | ca. 445-450 |
Psalms 87:6
The LORD will record in the register of the peoples: “This one was born in Zion.” Selah
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ps 87:6 | Demonstration 16.3 · Aphrahat | quotation, high confidence | 337-345 |
| Ps 87:6 | Demonstration 16.4 · Aphrahat | quotation, high confidence | 337-345 |
Psalms 87:7
Singers and pipers will proclaim, “All my springs of joy are in You.”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ps 87:7 (86:7 LXX) | PG 12:1543 (Ps 86–87 LXX) · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Ps 87:7 (86:7 LXX) | Letter 281 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, high confidence | ca. 360–390 |
| Ps 87:7 (86:7 LXX) | Oration 2.41 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 362–383 |
| Ps 87:7 (86:7 LXX) | Oration 11.5 · Gregory of Nazianzus | quotation, medium confidence | ca. 362–383 |
| Ps 87:7 (86:7 LXX) | Oration 24.4 · Gregory of Nazianzus | quotation, medium confidence | ca. 362–383 |
| Ps 87:7 (86:7 LXX) | Oration 39.8 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 362–383 |