Hebrew Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Book of Psalms, Chapter 133תהלים 133

Each verse opens with the running Hebrew, an English translation, and a discourse note (its connective, relation, and role in the argument). Below follows the word-by-word breakdown in six tiers: gloss, case/state or parsing, syntax, semantic force, and a lexical note.

Case Nominative Genitive Dative Accusative Vocative Verb (no case) Indeclinable

Discourse notes head each verse: relation · connective · clause-flow. Indentation marks prominence — flush-left = main line of argument; indented = supporting / subordinate material.

Theme

Psalms 133 (3 verses in the MT) opens: [A Song of degrees of David.] Behold, how good and how pleasant for brethren to dwell together in unity! The middle of the chapter continues: like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; It closes: As the dew of Hermon, that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there YHWH commanded the blessing, life for evermore.

Translation & textual notes

The Hebrew base text here follows the Masoretic Text in the Leningrad tradition as represented by the Westminster Leningrad Codex / MorphHB diplomatic stream imported from OSHB; distinctively copyrighted apparatus from BHS or BHQ is not reproduced. Psalms 133 comprises 3 verses in MT order. Movement I (vv. 1-3) — [A Song of degrees of David. [A Song of degrees of David.] Behold, how good and how pleasant for brethren to dwell together in unity! like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there YHWH commanded the blessing, life for evermore. Where English printed Bibles divide verses differently, this annotation follows MT versification throughout.

1

שִׁ֥יר הַֽמַּעֲל֗וֹת לְדָ֫וִ֥ד הִנֵּ֣ה מַה טּ֭וֹב וּמַה נָּעִ֑ים שֶׁ֖בֶת אַחִ֣ים גַּם יָֽחַד

[A Song of degrees of David.] Behold, how good and how pleasant for brethren to dwell together in unity!

Infinitive construct — purpose, result, or complementasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Infinitive construct — purpose, result, or complement. Lead predicate is 'dwelling/staying'. Opens the chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
שִׁ֥ירa songN c · שִׁירָה (H7892)Construct chain (genitival)שִׁירָה (H7892) 'a song'.
הַֽמַּעֲל֗וֹתby stepsart + N com f pl abs · מַעֲלָה (H4609)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)מַעֲלָה (H4609) 'by steps'.
לְדָ֫וִ֥דtoprep + N proper · דָּוִד (H1732)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)דָּוִד (H1732) 'to'.
הִנֵּ֣הbeholdadv. · הִנֵּה (H2009)Particle or relational elementהִנֵּה (H2009) 'behold'.
מַהwhatinterrog. · מָה (H4100)Particle or relational elementמָה (H4100) 'what'.
טּ֭וֹבgoodAdj · טוֹב (H2896)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)טוֹב (H2896) 'good'.
וּמַהand whatconj וְ + interrog. · מָה (H4100)Particle or relational elementמָה (H4100) 'and what'.
נָּעִ֑יםandAdj · נָעִים (H5273)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)נָעִים (H5273) 'and'.
שֶׁ֖בֶתdwelling/stayingQal inf constr · יָשַׁב (H3427)Infinitive construct→ Infinitive construct: purpose, result, or complementיָשַׁב (H3427) 'dwelling/staying'.
אַחִ֣יםbrothersN c · אָח (H251)Construct chain (genitival)אָח (H251) 'brothers'.
גַּםalsoparticle · גַּם (H1571)Particle or relational elementגַּם (H1571) 'also'.
יָֽחַדtogetherN c · יַחְדָּו (H3162)Construct chain (genitival)יַחְדָּו (H3162) 'together'.
2

כַּשֶּׁ֤מֶן הַטּ֨וֹב עַל הָרֹ֗אשׁ יֹרֵ֗ד עַֽל הַזָּקָ֥ן זְקַֽן אַהֲרֹ֑ן שֶׁ֝יֹּרֵ֗ד עַל פִּ֥י מִדּוֹתָֽיו

like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;

Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actorasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actor. Lead predicate is 'it will come down'.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
כַּשֶּׁ֤מֶןwith oilprep + art + N com m sg abs · שֶׁמֶן (H8081)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)שֶׁמֶן (H8081) 'with oil'.
הַטּ֨וֹבthe goodart + Adj · טוֹב (H2896)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)טוֹב (H2896) 'the good'.
עַלonprep · עַל (H5921)Particle or relational elementעַל (H5921) 'on'.
הָרֹ֗אשׁthe headart + N com m sg abs · רֹאשׁ (H7218)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)רֹאשׁ (H7218) 'the head'.
יֹרֵ֗דit will come downQal ptc ms · יָרַד (H3381)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorיָרַד (H3381) 'it will come down'.
עַֽלonprep · עַל (H5921)Particle or relational elementעַל (H5921) 'on'.
הַזָּקָ֥ןthe beardart + N com c sg abs · זָקָן (H2206)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)זָקָן (H2206) 'the beard'.
זְקַֽןin the beardN c · זָקָן (H2206)Construct chain (genitival)זָקָן (H2206) 'in the beard'.
אַהֲרֹ֑ןAaronN · אַהֲרֹן (H175)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)אַהֲרֹן (H175) 'Aaron'.
שֶׁ֝יֹּרֵ֗דand went downrel. שֶׁ + Qal ptc ms · יָרַד (H3381)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorיָרַד (H3381) 'and went down'.
עַלonprep · עַל (H5921)Particle or relational elementעַל (H5921) 'on'.
פִּ֥יthe mouth ofN c · פֶּה (H6310)Construct chain (genitival)פֶּה (H6310) 'the mouth of'.
מִדּוֹתָֽיוmeasurementN c · מִדָּה (H4060)Construct chain (genitival)מִדָּה (H4060) 'measurement'.
3

כְּטַל חֶרְמ֗וֹן שֶׁיֹּרֵד֮ עַל הַרְרֵ֪י צִ֫יּ֥וֹן כִּ֤י שָׁ֨ם צִוָּ֣ה יְ֭הוָה אֶת הַבְּרָכָ֑ה חַ֝יִּ֗ים עַד הָעוֹלָֽם

As the dew of Hermon, that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there YHWH commanded the blessing, life for evermore.

Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actorasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actor. Lead predicate is 'and went down'. Closes the chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
כְּטַלlike the dewprep + N com m sg constr · טַל (H2919)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)טַל (H2919) 'like the dew'.
חֶרְמ֗וֹןHermonN · חֶרְמוֹן (H2768)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)חֶרְמוֹן (H2768) 'Hermon'.
שֶׁיֹּרֵד֮and went downrel. שֶׁ + Qal ptc ms · יָרַד (H3381)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorיָרַד (H3381) 'and went down'.
עַלonprep · עַל (H5921)Particle or relational elementעַל (H5921) 'on'.
הַרְרֵ֪יthe mountains ofN c · הָרָר (H2042)Construct chain (genitival)הָרָר (H2042) 'the mountains of'.
צִ֫יּ֥וֹןZionN · צִיּוֹן (H6726)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)צִיּוֹן (H6726) 'Zion'.
כִּ֤יforconj וְ · כִּי (H3588)Particle or relational elementכִּי (H3588) 'for'.
שָׁ֨םthereart · שָׁם (H8033)Particle or relational elementשָׁם (H8033) 'there'.
צִוָּ֣הcommandedPiel perf 3ms · צִוָּה (H6680)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actצִוָּה (H6680) 'commanded'.
יְ֭הוָהYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
אֶת(obj)obj marker · אֵת (H853)Particle or relational elementאֵת (H853) '(obj)'.
הַבְּרָכָ֑הthe blessingart + N com f sg abs · בְּרָכָה (H1293)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)בְּרָכָה (H1293) 'the blessing'.
חַ֝יִּ֗יםaliveN c · חַי (H2416)Construct chain (genitival)חַי (H2416) 'alive'.
עַדuntilprep · עַד (H5704)Particle or relational elementעַד (H5704) 'until'.
הָעוֹלָֽםperpetuityart + N com m sg abs · עוֹלָם (H5769)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)עוֹלָם (H5769) 'perpetuity'.