Psalm 132 verses 1-3a

Psalm 132

Vulgate	Douay-Rheims
Canticum graduum David.	A gradual canticle of David.
Ecce quam bonum, et quam jucúndum * habitáre fratres in unum.	Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity:
2  Sicut unguéntum in cápite, * quod descéndit in barbam, barbam Aaron.	Like the precious ointment on the head, that ran down upon the beard, the beard of Aaron,
3  Quod descéndit in oram vestiménti ejus: * sicut ros Hermon, qui descéndit in montem Sion.	which ran down to the skirt of his garment: As the dew of Hermon, which descends upon mount Sion.
4  Quóniam illic mandávit Dóminus benedictiónem, * et vitam usque in sæculum	For there the Lord has commanded blessing, and life for evermore.

Notes on the verses

1	Vulgate/NV	Ecce quam bonum, et quam jucúndum * habitáre fratres in unum.
	Jerome Heb.	Ecce quam bonum et quam decorum habitare fratres in unum !
	Septuagint	ἰδοὺ δὴ τί καλὸν ἢ τί τερπνὸν ἀλλ' ἢ τὸ κατοικεῖν ἀδελφοὺς ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό

Ecce (See/behold) quam (how) bonum (good) et (and) quam (how)  jucúndum (pleasing)

habitáre (to dwell) fratres (bothers) in unum (in one/in harmony/in unity)

Ladouceur notes that the Hebrew is rather more emphatic than ‘in unum’ suggests – all-together.

ecce, adv.  see! behold

quam, adv.  emphatic how, how much, how great; than.

bonus, a, um, good; morally good, upright

habito, avi, atum, are to dwell, abide, live.

frater, tris, m.  a brother;  a fellow-man, kinsman, one of the same tribe

unus, a, um, unius, uni, one. in unum = together, into a single group, in concert, unity

jucundus, a, um pleasing, acceptable; happy, fortunate; good;  sweet, pleasant. 

DR	Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity:
Brenton	See now! what is so good, or what so pleasant, as for brethren to dwell together?
Coverdale	Behold, how good and joyful a thing it is, brethren, to dwell together in unity!

This verse is frequently cited by the Fathers as a basis for cenobitic monasticism, but they also point to its obvious wider application to communities of Christians generally, and the importance of Christian unity.  The Fathers saw this verse, though, not as a plea for tolerance of error and dissent, but rather as teaching just how terrible the sins of heresy and schism are since they offend against this unity.

2	V	Sicut unguéntum in cápite, * quod descéndit in barbam, barbam Aaron.
	NV	sicut unguentum optimum in capite, quod descendit in barbam, barbam Aaron,
	JH	Sicut ungentum optimum in capite quod descendit in barbam, barbam Aaron,
		ὡς μύρον ἐπὶ κεφαλῆς τὸ καταβαῖνον ἐπὶ πώγωνα τὸν πώγωνα τὸν Ααρων

3A	Vulgate	Quod descéndit in oram vestiménti ejus:
	Neo-Vulgate	quod descendit in oram vestimenti eius
	Jerome Hebrew	quod descendit super oram uestimentorum eius
	Septuagint	τὸ καταβαῖνον ἐπὶ τὴν ᾤαν τοῦ ἐνδύματος αὐτοῦ

Sicut (Like) unguentum (ointment) in capite (on the head) quod (that) descendit (it descends/pours down) in barbam (onto the beard) barbam (the beard) Aaron (of Aaron) quod (which) descendit (descended/flowed down) in oram (to the edge/hem) vestimenti (of the garment/robe) ejus (his)

Britt notes that: “Among the Jews and other oriental peoples much importance was attached to the possession of a beard. It was an attribute of manly dignity. The allusion is to the oil of priestly consecration which was poured in such abundance upon the head of the high priest that it ran down upon his beard (and upon the border of his vesture). Cf. Exod. 30,22-30; Lev. 8,12.” 

sicut, adv., as, just as, like.

descendo, scendi, scensum, ere 3  to descend, to come or go down.

unguentum, i, n. ointment, fragrant oil.

caput, itis, n. the head,

barba, ae, f., the beard.

ora, ae, f., the extremity of a thing; the edge, rim, border.

vestimentum, i, n.  a garment, vesture, raiment

DR	Like the precious ointment on the head, that ran down upon the beard, the beard of Aaron,
Brenton	It is as ointment on the head, that ran down to the beard, even the beard of Aaron
Coverdale	It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down unto the beard, even unto Aaron’s beard

DR	which ran down to the skirt of his garment:
Brenton	that ran down to the fringe of his clothing.
Cover	and went down to the skirts of his clothing

The Fathers generally provide a Christological explanation of this verse, seeing the ointment as the sweet odour of salvation that flows from Christ as head of the Church, and down to us through the witness of the apostles and their successors.  Here is St Augustine's take on the subject:

"What was Aaron? A priest. Who is a priest, except that one Priest, who entered into the Holy of Holies? Who is that priest, save Him, who was at once Victim and Priest? save Him who when he found nothing clean in the world to offer, offered Himself? The ointment is on his head, because Christ is one whole with the Church, but the ointment comes from the head. Our Head is Christ crucified and buried; He rose again, and ascended into heaven; and the Holy Spirit came from the head. Whither? To the beard. The beard signifies the courageous; the beard distinguishes the grown men, the earnest, the active, the vigorous. So that when we describe such, we say, he is a bearded man. Thus that ointment descended first upon the Apostles, descended upon those who bore the first assaults of the world, and therefore the Holy Spirit descended on them. For they who first began to dwell together in unity, suffered persecution, but because the ointment descended to the beard, they suffered, but were not conquered...."

And you can find notes on the remaining verses of this psalm here.