Psalm 133, Oil Running Down the Beard

A song of ascents. Of David.

This is the fourteenth of fifteen psalms identified as "songs of ascents." It is likely that these songs were sung as people traveled to Jerusalem and then went up to the second temple. 

Psalm 133:1, Blessing of unity!

 How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!

The excited theme is set by the first verse. The community of worshipers sing together in unity of worship.

Psalm 133:2, Running down the beard 

 It is like precious oil poured on the head,

 running down on the beard, 

running down on Aaron's beard, 

down upon the collar of his robes.

The joy of unity is expressed in physical terms. In the culture of the ANE, the joy would be similar to fragrant oil poured on a man's head, flowing down his beard, onto the collar of his robes. (See Matthew 26:6-7 for a New Testament example.) The beard is described as "Aaron's beard", presumably the full uncut beard of a healthy man.

Psalm 133:3, Fragrant dew in the desert

 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. 

For there the LORD bestows his blessing, 

even life forevermore.

Like the fragrant oil running down one's beard or robe, the blessing of unity is like the dew falling on Mount Zion. (One should imagine the smell of approaching rain in the desert.)

Robert Alter, noting the distance between Mount Hermon and Zion, suggests that "Zion" (Tsiyyon, צִיּוֹן) may be an error and that a slight change gives tsiyah ( צִיָּה), meaning "parched land." I note that also very close is the noun tsayon (צִיוֹן) which also means "dry country" or "desert." 

Both Alter and Kidner emphasize that the blessings, whether fragrant oil or nourishing dew, come down from above, onto the united community.

First published November 17, 2025; updated November 17, 2025