The Bible — World English Bible

Psalm 133

In brief

Psalm 133 is a song of ascents of David, one of the songs pilgrims sang on the way up to Jerusalem. In three verses, it celebrates the beauty of unity among brothers. It compares it to the precious oil poured on Aaron's head, then to the dew of Hermon falling on Zion. It concludes that this is where the Lord commands the blessing, life forevermore.

The chapter in 3 parts

  1. v. 1How good it is to dwell together
  2. v. 2Unity like the precious oil on Aaron
  3. v. 3Unity like the dew of Hermon: the blessing

1See how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity!

2It 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,

3like the dew of Hermon, that comes down on the hills of Zion; for there Yahweh gives the blessing, even life forever more.

Key verses

Verse 1
See how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity!

The Hebrew verb for living together in unity says more than being in the same place: it suggests joining and agreeing. You can be present together without being united.

Verse 2
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,

The oil poured on Aaron recalls the consecration of the priest. It flows abundantly, from the head to the edge of the robe: unity is an anointing that spreads over the whole body.

Verse 3
like the dew of Hermon, that comes down on the hills of Zion; for there Yahweh gives the blessing, even life forever more.

The dew of Hermon, in the north, comes down on Zion, in the south. The image speaks of a freshness given from above. It is there, in unity, that God commands the blessing.

Bible verses to meditate on

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What the sermons say

Psalm 133: Unity, Where God Sends the BlessingSammy Zoccola places this song among the pilgrim songs. He stresses that unity is not just being together: you can be together without being spiritually united.Read the summary →The Strength of CommunionThe preacher cites verse 1 as a principle for keeping a healthy spiritual life: no one grows well alone, and a service followed online does not replace fellowship.Read the summary →20 Bible Verses on the Unity of the ChurchVerse 1 appears among 20 verses on the unity of the Church, with John 17:21 where Jesus prays that believers may be one so that the world may believe.Read the summary →

Frequently asked questions about Psalm 133

What does Psalm 133 mean?

Psalm 133 says that unity among brothers is both beautiful and a source of blessing. Oil and dew are two images of grace that comes down from above and spreads over everyone. It invites every community, and every family, to seek agreement rather than division.

Who wrote Psalm 133?

The title attributes it to David. It is one of the fifteen songs of ascents (Psalms 120 to 134), sung by pilgrims going up to Jerusalem for the great feasts. The unity of a people coming from all the tribes gave these words a very concrete meaning.

How can I pray with Psalm 133 for my church?

Read the psalm aloud with people from your community if possible. Thank God for specific brothers and sisters and ask him to show you what divides inside you, for example a grudge. Then pray that your church will live true unity, without erasing differences.

Articles quoting Psalm 133

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World English Bible translation — public domain.