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Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
Psalms 133:1 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB A Song of Ascents. By David. See how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity!
  • BSB A song of ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!
  • NKJV Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!
  • NASB Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to live together in unity!
  • NLT How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

It celebrates how good and pleasant it is for brothers to dwell in unity. It commends genuine unity among God's people as a precious blessing.

Overview

This Song of Ascents by David delights in the goodness and beauty of God's people living together in harmony. Unity is not optional but a treasured gift among the covenant community. Such unity is the fruit of the gospel, as Christ unites believers into one body.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 19

  • 1 Cor 1:10Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
  • 1 Pet 3:8Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
  • John 13:35By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
  • Heb 13:1Let brotherly love continue.
  • Phil 2:2–5Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
  • Eph 4:3–6Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
  • John 17:21That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
  • Jer 32:39And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:
  • 1 Jn 3:14–19We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
  • Gen 13:8And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
  • Ps 122:6–8Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
  • Gen 45:24So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way.
  • Isa 11:6The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
  • 2 Sam 2:26–27Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?
  • Ps 122:1I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
  • Ps 131:1Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.
  • Isa 11:13The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.
  • Ps 124:1If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;
  • Isa 11:9They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (7)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Psalms videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Psalms 133:1YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on PsalmsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.

How Psalms 133:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.