Psalms 133–3
Psalm 133:1-3
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Psa.133.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- שיר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- המעלות: NOUN,f,pl,def
- לדוד: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- הנה: PART
- מה: PRON,int
- טוב: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- ומה: CONJ+PRON,int
- נעים: ADJ,m,sg
- שבת: VERB,qal,inf
- אחים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- גם: ADV
- יחד: ADV
Parallels
- John 17:21 (thematic): Jesus prays that believers "may all be one," linking unity among God’s people to testimony and divine purpose—echoing the Psalm’s celebration of brothers dwelling together in unity.
- Matthew 18:20 (thematic): "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them"—emphasizes divine presence in corporate togetherness, resonating with the Psalm’s positive valuation of communal unity.
- Ephesians 4:3 (verbal): "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace"—an explicit exhortation to preserve unity and peace that parallels the Psalm’s claim that unity is good and pleasant.
- Romans 12:16 (verbal): "Live in harmony with one another" / "Be of the same mind toward one another"—a moral injunction to concord and mutuality that echoes the Psalm’s theme of communal harmony.
- Proverbs 17:1 (thematic): "Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife"—values peace and harmonious living over abundance, paralleling the Psalm’s praise of unity as both good and pleasant.
Alternative generated candidates
- A song of ascents. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is when brothers dwell together as one.
- A song of ascents. For David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity.
Psa.133.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כשמן: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הטוב: ADJ,m,sg,def
- על: PREP
- הראש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ירד: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- על: PREP
- הזקן: NOUN,m,sg,def
- זקן: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- אהרן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שירד: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- על: PREP
- פי: NOUN,m,sg,construct
- מדותיו: NOUN,f,pl,abs,poss3,m,sg
Parallels
- Leviticus 8:12 (verbal): Describes the pouring of anointing oil on Aaron's head to consecrate him—direct ritual language that Psalm 133:2 echoes (even naming Aaron).
- Exodus 29:7 (verbal): Commands pouring anointing oil on the priest's head: the same imagery of oil upon the head used in Psalm 133:2 to signify sanctification and blessing.
- 1 Samuel 16:13 (thematic): Samuel anoints David with oil, after which the Spirit of the LORD comes upon him—parallels the use of oil as consecration, blessing, and divine presence associated with leaders (as in the Aaronic image).
- Psalm 23:5 (thematic): Speaks of God anointing the psalmist's head with oil and overflowing the cup—shares the motif of oil poured on the head as a gracious, overflowing blessing similar to the flowing oil in Psalm 133:2.
Alternative generated candidates
- It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down upon the beard—Aaron’s beard—running down to the collar of his garments.
- Like the good oil on the head, running down upon the beard—the beard of Aaron—running down to the edge of his garments.
Psa.133.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כטל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חרמון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שירד: VERB,qal,ptcp,m,sg
- על: PREP
- הררי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- ציון: NOUN,prop,f,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- שם: ADV
- צוה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- הברכה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- חיים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- עד: PREP
- העולם: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- Hosea 14:5 (verbal): “I will be like the dew to Israel” — uses dew imagery to describe God’s restorative blessing and life, closely paralleling Psalm 133:3’s simile of Hermon’s dew as God’s blessing.
- Deuteronomy 32:2 (verbal): “My teaching shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew” — employs dew/rain as metaphors for divine blessing and life-giving speech, echoing the Psalm’s dew image.
- Numbers 6:24-26 (allusion): The priestly benediction (“The LORD bless you and keep you…”) — Psalm 133:3’s phrase “there the LORD commanded the blessing” likely alludes to divine/priestly granting of blessing associated with Zion.
- Psalm 128:5-6 (thematic): “May the LORD bless you from Zion… that you may see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life” — shares the theme of blessings issuing from Zion and the wish for life/prosperity.
- Psalm 72:6 (thematic): “May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth” — parallels the motif of dew/rain as symbols of God’s beneficent blessing that brings life to the land and people.
Alternative generated candidates
- It is like the dew of Hermon descending on the mountains of Zion; for there the LORD commanded the blessing: life for evermore.
- Like the dew of Hermon falling on the mountains of Zion; for there the LORD commanded the blessing—life forever.
A song of ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity.
Like the precious oil upon the head, running down upon the beard—Aaron's beard—running down to the hem of his garments.
Like the dew of Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion; for there the LORD has commanded the blessing: life for evermore.