The Meaning of Psalms 133:2 Explained

Psalms 133:2

KJV: It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;

YLT: As the good oil on the head, Coming down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, That cometh down on the skirt of his robes,

Darby: Like the precious oil upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, upon Aaron's beard, that ran down to the hem of his garments;

ASV: It is like the precious oil upon the head, That ran down upon the beard, Even Aaron's beard; That came down upon the skirt of his garments;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[It is] like the precious  ointment  upon the head,  that ran down  upon the beard,  [even] Aaron's  beard:  that went down  to the skirts  of his garments; 

What does Psalms 133:2 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The writer compared brotherly unity to the oil that Moses poured over Aaron"s head when he anointed him as Israel"s first high priest ( Leviticus 8:12). That oil flowed down over his head and beard, and down onto the robe and breastplate that bore the names of the12Israelite tribes. As the consecrating oil covered everything, so unity among believers makes them acceptable to God as a kingdom of priests.
"The specific reference to "Aaron" should not be limited to him, as the whole priesthood was anointed with oil. Here Aaron is the "head" of the priestly clan. His name is representative of all the priests." [1]

Context Summary

Psalm 133:1-3 - Unity Is Of God
The word Behold suggests that some special manifestation of unity was taking place under the psalmist's eyes, perhaps in connection with some great religious festival; or David may have composed it to celebrate the healing of the breach after the death of Ishbosheth. We must not only be one in God's purpose, but must be willing to dwell together, that is, to manifest our unity in outward action. For the precious oil see Exodus 30:20-38 and 1 John 2:27. Our Lord was anointed with the Holy Spirit, and we may share in His Pentecost, Luke 3:21-22; Acts 2:33.
Psalms 134:1-3. The last of the "Songs of Degrees." It may have been addressed to the priests who came on duty after the offering of the evening sacrifice. There was evidently a band of choristers and others who were on duty while Jerusalem slept. The psalm ends with the reciprocal blessing of the watchers on the retreating crowds; commending them, during the hours of darkness, to the care of the Lord of heaven and earth. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 133

1  The blessedness of unity among brothers

What do the individual words in Psalms 133:2 mean?

[it is] like oil the precious upon the head Running down on the beard the beard of Aaron Running down on the edge of his garments
כַּשֶּׁ֤מֶן הַטּ֨וֹב ׀ עַל־ הָרֹ֗אשׁ יֹרֵ֗ד עַֽל־ הַזָּקָ֥ן זְקַֽן־ אַהֲרֹ֑ן שֶׁ֝יֹּרֵ֗ד עַל־ פִּ֥י מִדּוֹתָֽיו

כַּשֶּׁ֤מֶן  [it  is]  like  oil 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֶׁמֶן  
Sense: fat, oil.
הַטּ֨וֹב ׀  the  precious 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: טָבַב 
Sense: good, pleasant, agreeable.
עַל־  upon 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
הָרֹ֗אשׁ  the  head 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: רֹאשׁ 
Sense: head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning.
יֹרֵ֗ד  Running  down 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יָרַד  
Sense: to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down.
הַזָּקָ֥ן  the  beard 
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular
Root: זָקָן  
Sense: beard, chin.
זְקַֽן־  the  beard 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct
Root: זָקָן  
Sense: beard, chin.
אַהֲרֹ֑ן  of  Aaron 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַהֲרֹון  
Sense: brother of Moses, a Levite and the first high priest.
שֶׁ֝יֹּרֵ֗ד  Running  down 
Parse: Pronoun, relative, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יָרַד  
Sense: to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down.
פִּ֥י  the  edge 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
מִדּוֹתָֽיו  of  his  garments 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מִדָּה 
Sense: measure, measurement, stature, size, garment.