good (as an adjective) in the widest sense · adjective, masculine singular absolute
pleasant
נָּעִ֑יםna.'Im
H5273
delightful (objective or subjective · adjective, masculine singular absolute
brethren
אַחִ֣ים'a.Chim
H251
a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relation… · noun, common masculine plural absolute
dwell
שֶׁ֖בֶתShe.vet
H3427
properly · verb, qal infinitive construct
together
יָֽחַדYa.chad
H3162
properly · noun, common masculine singular absolute
unity
יַחַדyachad
H3162
properly
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).
Cross-references
1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among yo…
1 Peter 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Philippians 2:2-5 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Ephesians 4:3-6 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou h…
Jeremiah 32:39 And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:
Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).
Commentary
Matthew Henry on Psalms 133:1–end
Here see, I. What it is that is commended - brethren's dwelling together in unity, not only not quarrelling, and devouring one another, but delighting in each other with mutual endearments, and promoting each other's welfare with mutual services. Sometimes it is chosen, as the best expedient for preserving peace, that brethren should live asunder and at a distance from each other; that indeed may prevent enmity and strife (Gen 13:9), but the goodness and pleasantness are for brethren to dwell together and so to dwell in unity, to dwell even as one (so some read it), as having one heart, one soul, one interest. David had many sons by many wives; probably he penned this psalm for their instruc…
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is,.... Aben Ezra thinks the word thing should be supplied; the thing is what follows;
for brethren to dwell together in unity: which the Targum interprets of Zion and Jerusalem, as two brethren; Aben Ezra of the priests; Kimchi of the King Messiah and the priest; and Jarchi, and Kimchi's father, of the Israelites; which is best of all, especially of those who are Israelites indeed; for this is not to be understood of all mankind, who are in some sense brethren, being all of one blood, and among whom peace is to be cultivated; nor merely of those of the same nation, under one and the same government, who should endeavour to live peaceably and quietly; no…
Psalm 133:1-3
1. Behold! how good, and how becoming, that brethren [142] should even dwell together! 2. Like the precious ointment upon the head, that descendeth upon the beard, the beard of Aaron, which descendeth upon the skirt of his garments. [143] 3. Like the dew of Hermon, [144] which descendeth upon the mountains of Zion, [145] for there [146] Jehovah commanded the blessing, life for evermore.
1. Behold how good, etc. I have no doubt that David in this Psalm renders thanks to God for the peace and harmony which had succeeded a long and melancholy state of confusion and division in the kingdom, and that he would exhort all individually to study the maintenance of peace. This is the s…
The Church Fathers
This is a short Psalm, but one well known and quoted. "Behold, how good and how pleasant is it, that brethren should dwell together in unity" [Psalm 133:1]. So sweet is that sound, that even they who know not the Psalter, sing that verse. ...
The law was given not for one, but for all. So, too, Christ came not for one or to one but to all and for all. He desired to bring all things together into a unity that alone is good and pleasant. The prophet, aware of the future, assures us, "Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." For not singularity but unity is acceptable to God. The Holy Spirit descended on the apostles with all his welling fountain when they were assembled together. This occurred after the apostles had been instructed by the Lord's own commandment to wait in a group for the Spirit's coming.
The prophet said in praise of fraternal charity: "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." What good is there in the life of people except peace, in which upright pursuits make progress and religious activities are fostered? What is more joyful than all nations serving the one God in peace and the prayers of all people converging to the praise of the one Lord?To dwell together in unity is this: to believe in God and faithfully to remain in the one Son of God. This is the one profitable and joyful union for mortals: our not dividing, as the heretics do, the Father from the Son, or the Son from the Father or the Holy Spirit from both, but, rather, our believing that these three names are distributed among the persons and that the persons rejoice in the participation of the one godhead. Thus it comes to pass that, when there is agreement to unity, there will be no shattering of charity in the church.
The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).
Dictionary and topics
Communion · OF SAINTS — OF SAINTS
Communion Of Saints · Delight of — Delight of
Families · Should: Live in unity — Should: Live in unity
Family · .Live in unity — .Live in unity
Fraternity · General scriptures concerning — General scriptures concerning
Happiness · OF THE RIGHTEOUS — OF THE RIGHTEOUS
Happiness Of Saints In This Life · Is derived from: Their mutual love — Is derived from: Their mutual love
Love To Man · Is good and pleasant — Is good and pleasant
Peace · General references — General references
Unity · OF THE RIGHTEOUS — OF THE RIGHTEOUS
Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).
Ps 133 In this wisdom psalm (see Ps 1), peaceful and harmonious relationships manifest the presence of God.
133:1-2 The psalmist tells of the joy of consecrated relationships.
133:1 Brothers are related by blood, by profession, or by commitment.
Spurgeon's Treasury of David on Psalms 133:1
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
Behold. It is a wonder seldom seen, therefore behold it! It may be seen, for it is the characteristic of real saints, —therefore fail not to inspect it! It is well worthy of admiration; pause and gaze upon it! It will charm you into imitation, therefore note it well! God looks on with approval, therefore consider it with attention. How good and holy pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! No one can tell the exceeding excellence of such a condition; and so the Psalmist uses the word "how" twice;—Behold how good! and how pleasant! He does not attempt to measure either the good or the pleasure, bu…
