Psalms 45:8-9

Psalms 45:8-9

[8] All thy garments  smell of myrrh,  and aloes,  and cassia,  out of the ivory  palaces,  whereby  they have made thee glad.  [9] Kings'  daughters  were among thy honourable women:  upon thy right hand  did stand  the queen  in gold  of Ophir. 

What does Psalms 45:8-9 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The king"s wedding garments were fragrant with aromatic spices. Perfumers made myrrh out of a gum that a certain kind of Arabian tree secreted (cf. Proverbs 7:17; Song of Solomon 1:13). Aloes apparently came from a good-smelling wood (cf. Numbers 24:6; Proverbs 7:17; Song of Solomon 4:14). Ancient oriental monarchs decorated their palaces with ivory, and the amount of it they displayed represented their wealth and glory (cf. 1 Kings 10:18; 1 Kings 22:39; Amos 3:15; Amos 6:4). Kings" daughters were among the most prestigious attendants in weddings. The ancients considered gold from Ophir, probably situated in Arabia, to be the best (cf. 1 Kings 9:28; 1 Kings 10:11; 1 Kings 22:48; Job 28:16; Isaiah 13:12). The total picture of this wedding ceremony is one of extreme elegance and beauty, fitting for such a good king.