Behold, how good and pleasant it is (Psalm 133)

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Psalm 133 is a short pilgrim psalm attributed to David, celebrating the beauty and blessings of unity among God’s people. It uses vivid imagery to describe how good and pleasant it is to dwell together in unity. The passage emphasizes the sacredness of communal harmony through two key similes: the anointing oil running down Aaron's beard and the dew of Hermon descending upon Mount Zion.

Vocabulary

Word Meaning
שִׁיר song
הַ definite article
מַעֲלָה ascent, step, stair
לְ to
דָּוִד David
הִנֵּה behold
מָה what
טוֹב good
וְ and
נָעִים pleasant, delightful

Biblical text

133:1שִׁ֥יר הַֽמַּעֲל֗וֹת לְדָ֫וִ֥ד הִנֵּ֣ה מַה־טּ֭וֹב וּמַה־נָּעִ֑ים שֶׁ֖בֶת אַחִ֣ים גַּם־יָֽחַד׃2כַּשֶּׁ֤מֶן הַטּ֨וֹב ׀ עַל־הָרֹ֗אשׁ יֹרֵ֗ד עַֽל־הַזָּקָ֥ן זְקַֽן־אַהֲרֹ֑ן שֶׁ֝יֹּרֵ֗ד עַל־פִּ֥י מִדּוֹתָֽיו׃3כְּטַל־חֶרְמ֗וֹן שֶׁיֹּרֵד֮ עַל־הַרְרֵ֪י צִ֫יּ֥וֹן כִּ֤י שָׁ֨ם ׀ צִוָּ֣ה יְ֭הוָה אֶת־הַבְּרָכָ֑ה חַ֝יִּ֗ים עַד־הָעוֹלָֽם׃