Why does God care who was born in Zion?
Understanding "The Children of Zion"
And of Zion it shall be said, "This one and that one were born in her"; for the Most High himself will establish her.
- Psalm 87:5
None of us living today had any choice in determining the city or the country where we were born. Why then does God state that it matters to Him who was born in Zion? After noting that some say “This one was born there,” in reference to Philistia, Tyre and Cush, the Psalmist foretold: And of Zion it shall be said, “This one and that one were born in her”; for the Most High himself will establish her. The LORD records as he registers the peoples, “This one was born there” – 87:5-6.
Many men who were closest to God out of all those who ever lived – Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus and Paul – were not born in Zion.
Does this fact provide a clue to us that “to be born in Zion” in God’s sight means something more than the physical birthplace of a newborn infant?
Does it imply a relationship to Zion that one has chosen from one’s heart and kept as a matter of hope and faith?
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In the Bible, “to be born” is used as a figure for being baptized into Christ.
Jesus had this exchange with a Pharisee named Nicodemus: Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said to him, how can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born? Jesus answered…. Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God - John 3:3-5.
What did he mean by this answer?
Last updated 2025-09-23 Next update scheduled 2025-10-21