It is like fine oil on the head, running down on the beard, running down Aaron’s beard over the collar of his robes.
Parallel translations
- WEB It is like the precious oil on the head, that ran down on the beard, even Aaron’s beard; that came down on the edge of his robes;
- 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;
- NKJV It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments.
- NASB It is like the precious oil on the head, Running down upon the beard, As on Aaron’s beard, The oil which ran down upon the edge of his robes.
- NLT For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron’s head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe.
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
Such unity is like the precious oil running down Aaron's beard and robes. It pictures unity as a consecrating, overflowing blessing.
Overview
David compares unity to the anointing oil poured on Aaron's head, flowing down his beard onto his garments, an image of consecration and abundance. Unity, like that oil, sanctifies and richly blesses the whole body. It anticipates the Spirit poured out through Christ, the anointed One, uniting His people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Lev 8:12He also poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate him.
- Exod 30:25–30Prepare from these a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer; it will be a sacred anointing oil.
- Exod 29:7Then take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it on his head.
- Prov 27:9Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the sweetness of a friend is counsel to the soul.
- Exod 39:24They made pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and finely spun linen on the lower hem of the robe.
- John 12:3Then Mary took about a pint of expensive perfume, made of pure nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
- Song 1:3The fragrance of your perfume is pleasing; your name is like perfume poured out. No wonder the maidens adore you.
- Ps 141:5Let the righteous man strike me; let his rebuke be an act of loving devotion. It is oil for my head; let me not refuse it. For my prayer is ever against the deeds of the wicked.
- Exod 28:33Make pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn all the way around the lower hem, with gold bells between them,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 133:2 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
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