Psalm 133:1
Bible verses · Also called: Psalm 133:1, Ps. 133:1, Brethren to dwell together in unity, Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity
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Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
The text is the New Korean Revised Version (1998), shown under a licence from the Korean Bible Society. Wording may differ slightly from the Korean Revised Version and the Revised New Korean Standard Version. Read in the Korean Revised Version
A verse celebrating how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. It is frequently read at joint worship services of churches and denominations and at family gatherings, and it is invoked from various positions in debates over how far the scope of unity should extend.
Context
Psalm 133 is a short song of three verses whose superscription reads "A Song of degrees of David." Verse 1 extols the unity of brethren. Verse 2 compares it to the oil poured on the head of the high priest Aaron, running down to his beard and to the skirts of his garments, and verse 3 compares it to the dew of Hermon descending upon the mountains of Zion, concluding that there the LORD commanded the blessing. The psalm is often read against the background of the pilgrimage feasts, when people from the various tribes gathered together in Jerusalem.
Interpretation
- As harmony within the family or among the tribes: This reading takes "brethren" to mean blood relatives or the tribes of Israel and understands the psalm as celebrating the joy of a once-divided people gathering in one place. Some interpreters also point to the ancient custom of brothers living together without dividing their inheritance as the background.
- As the unity of the community of faith: Christian interpreters extend the verse to the communion of saints within the church. Some add that because oil and dew both descend from above, unity too is a gift from God.
- As a priestly blessing: Focusing on the image of Aaron's anointing, some read the verse to mean that a united community becomes a community set apart for God.
Controversies and Issues
This verse is frequently cited in interdenominational unity movements. Supporters of the ecumenical movement use it as a basis for visible unity across denominational lines, while evangelical and conservative denominations maintain that unity without doctrinal agreement is not the unity this verse describes. The same verse thus serves both as grounds for unity and as grounds for scrutinizing the conditions of unity. Critics also note that in situations of church conflict, the verse has been used to invoke "unity" in order to silence legitimate concerns.
In the Korean Church
The verse is often read at joint Easter services, united revival gatherings, worship services marking church mergers, family gatherings, and family worship during traditional holidays. Gospel songs setting this verse to music are also widely sung.
Related Passages
- John 17:21
- Ephesians 4:3
- Psalm 122:1
See also 5
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