What Does Psalm 87:7 Mean in the King James?
As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The Hebrew word for “spring” belongs to the same word-family as “eye,” so Zion is pictured as the source of both life and sight.
THE MEANING
As you speak these words, the place addressed as “you” becomes the home of your deepest sources. Song and water rise together from that belonging; what sustains you is gathered in the presence you address.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The verse undoes the belief that your sources of life are scattered and unrelated; it gathers them in one presence.
THE ROOT
מַעְיָנַי
maʿyanay
GROWS FROM
עין
Eye; also spring or fountain, a source that wells up.
English gives “springs” and “eyes” separate words, while this Hebrew word-family holds both senses. The singer’s claim that every spring is in “you” can therefore evoke a place from which both life and vision arise.
ALSO GROWS
ʿayin: Eye; also a spring or source.
עַיִן
The shared Hebrew word connects seeing with the image of water welling up.
maʿyan: Spring, fountain.
מַעְיָן
This is the singular form behind “my springs,” placing the singer’s sources in the one addressed.
THE PATTERN
Life is pictured as a spring held in one presence and flowing outward from there.
He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.THE THREAD
He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.Both verses use מַעְיָן (maʿyan, spring), from עין (ʿayin), the Hebrew word-family for eye and spring. Psalm 104 shows springs sent through valleys; Psalm 87 gathers all the singer’s springs in “thee,” making the addressed place a source, not merely a destination.
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