What Does Psalm 133:2 Mean in the King James?
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;
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The Hebrew word for the oil’s “good” echoes the goodness of dwelling together in verse 1, turning the oil into that goodness in motion.
THE MEANING
Unity appears as goodness in motion: the oil moves from Aaron’s head over his beard and reaches the edge of his clothing. What begins at the top travels through the whole figure as one continuous flow.
THE ROOT
הַטּוֹב
ha-tov the good
GROWS FROM
טוב
ṭ-w-b
Good, beneficial, pleasing; what is good or brings good.
The Hebrew behind “precious” is ha-tov, “the good,” echoing “good” in the preceding verse. The oil is named with the same root as the unity it pictures, making goodness something that flows through the whole image.
ALSO GROWS
tov: Good, pleasing, beneficial
טוֹב
The same word describes dwelling together in Psalm 133:1, linking that goodness to the oil in this verse.
tovah: Goodness, welfare, a good thing
טוֹבָה
This form shows the root can name goodness as a condition or benefit, not only as a judgment.
meitav: Best, choicest
מֵיטָב
This form lends texture to the KJV’s “precious”: the oil is described as choice or excellent.
יֹרֵד
yored descending
GROWS FROM
ירד
y-r-d
To descend, go down.
“ran down / went down” in this verse is yored descending. The Hebrew repeats the same form of the verb where the KJV says “ran down” and then “went down.” The repeated descent holds the image together as one flow, from head to beard to garment.
ALSO GROWS
yārad: To go down, descend
יָרַד
This is the root action repeated through the image as the oil moves downward.
horid: To bring down, cause to descend
הוֹרִיד
This causative form underscores that descent can carry something from its source toward what lies below.
רֹאשׁ
rosh head
GROWS FROM
ראש
r-ʾ-sh
Head, top, chief or beginning.
Rosh names the head and can also name what is first or foremost. The oil’s path begins at the head, then carries what is at the top through the rest of the figure.
ALSO GROWS
reshit: Beginning, first part
רֵאשִׁית
This related form connects the head with a point of origin, matching where the oil’s descent starts.
rosh: Head, top; chief
רֹאשׁ
The word holds the physical head together with the idea of what is foremost in the image.
THE PATTERN
What begins at the head flows through connected parts until it reaches the whole body.
Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him.And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron’s head, and anointed him, to sanctify him.From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.THE THREAD
A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!Verse 1 calls dwelling together “good” (טוֹב, tov, good), and verse 2 uses the same root in “the good oil” (הַטּוֹב, ha-tov, the good), rendered “precious ointment” here. The shared word makes the oil an image of that goodness flowing through the whole figure.
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