View all posts by James Hutton. Some have fallen into sin to the point of routinely committing evil. The earliest pictures of Jesus date from 200-300 years after his birth. Why? Copyright Like The Master Ministries. He shall then wash his clothes and bathe his body in water and be clean. Joe
English Standard Version A beard that was left unattended symbolized neglect, uncleanliness, and a carefree life. Sam is a founder and editor of Catholics & Bible. It is good in every way when Gods people experience unity. In Leviticus 21:5, the Bible says. From Judaism to Sikhism, beards have a special place in society and in the circles of faith. Theres no definitive answer to that question, but there are a few clues. It is attributed to King David, and he speaks of how good and pleasant it is to live in unity. Bezalel is also mentioned as having a beard. However, many Christian men do choose to grow beards as a sign of their faith. There are several stories in Scripture that illustrate how removing a beard or part of the beard was considered shameful. I would expect so! Looking back at his life, we read of many times when he had conflict with others. In Ezekiel 5:1, we see that God told Ezekiel to shave his head and beard as a sign of mourning. This seems to suggest that most of the New Testament prophets probably didnt have beards. What is the meaning of Psalm 133:2 when it says, . In general, beards were seen as a sign of wisdom, power, and virility. We need to be grateful to God that we can enjoy such a blessing! He holds a doctorate in Spiritual formation and is a sought-after writer, speaker, and retreat leader. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. When I heard this report, I tore my tunic and cloak, pulled out the hair from my head and beard, and sat down appalled.. God had set Aaron and his sons apart, anointing them for service. However, because he was anointed, Aaron had the joy of worship, and approached God on behalf of His people! This was such a significant insult that the men were instructed to stay at Jericho until their beards grew. In fact, the Hasidic sect of Judaism is known for its bearded men. One law (Leviticus 14:8-9) commanded that men who had been healed from a skin disease were to shave off their hair to prove to the priest and the people in the camp that they were disease-free. the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down
133 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! I wrote this short, fast-paced, practical guide to productivity to share what I have learned about getting things done in todays digital world. He is best known for his visions and prophecies. Mt. His beard and hair also represented his status as a prophet. In this way, their lives will be different from the surrounding nations and God will set them apart for a blessing. It is like the precious oil on the head, that ran down on the beard, even Aarons beard, that came down on the edge of his robes, As ointment in the head; that goeth down into the beard, into the beard of Aaron. It is here where the Lord enlists Aaron, Moses brother (Exodus 4:14). This may be because beards were not considered fashionable during that period. Please read our PRIVACY POLICY. This lyric could also be referring to Aaron Rose, a filmmaker and artist from Oregon. Psalm 133:2, ESV: It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! Beards were seen as a sign of wisdom in biblical times, and many of the most important figures in the Bible such as Abraham, Moses, and Jesus were bearded men. 133:1-2. 2 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; 3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the . The people of Israel would bring their prayer items to the priests and the priest would present them before the Lord at the altar. Jesus on Adultery: Its More Controversial Than You Think. We read about this in Exodus 28. You shall take the anointing oil and pour it on his head and anoint him, said God through Moses. It is like the precious oil upon the head, That ran down upon the beard, Even Aaron's beard; That came down upon the skirt of his garments; AMP. His beard represents his strength and power. In addition, they say that beards represent the image of God. He then confirmed that setting apart through supernatural events: God Himself set fire to the offering, and His glory appeared before the people. They also argue that beards are a sign of respect and authority. It "ran down", and it" went down": love for the brethren condescends to men of low estate, it is not puffed up, but is lowly and meek. This downward movement demonstrates that the source of unity is above and beyond the priesthoodit is extrinsic to them. Perhaps this gives rationale for Moses hesitancy to take up the call of God, and why the arrival of Aaron helped Moses accept this divine commission. It is like the precious oil on the head, Running down upon the beard. It has always been the desire of God that his people live in unity and harmony with each other. Its possible that this meant it was never to be shaved, or that it was only to be trimmed in a certain way, meaning that even Aarons beard probably didnt know a barbers razor. I'd say it was pretty long, right?! Aaron was set apart (sanctified) and anointed as high priest. Psalm 133King James Version. Welcome to the online home of Tim Challies, blogger, author, andbookreviewer. Abraham, Moses, and Jesus were all considered strong and powerful men, and beards may have been seen as a way to express that power. In the following sections, we shall look at the symbolism of the beard in the biblical context. The beginning of the psalm gives us the reason for its writing. In the same verse, the Bible talks of the cuttings in the flesh. Aaron, on the other hand, is glaringly absent from this list. Cymbalaria muralis (Ivy-leaved toadflax, Kenilworth ivy), native to south and southwest Europe; Hypericum calycinum (Great St. John's-wort, Jerusalem star), widely cultivated. Noah/Russel Crowe had a beard. When these spices were mixed with oil, the oil became holy oil. Christianity.com is a member of the Salem Web Network of sites including: Copyright 2023, Christianity.com. Every picture or sculpture is an artists representation based on their perception and culture. It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down on the collar of his robe. (NASB) 1 Cor. 80s wresters were the best wrestlers of all time. Whats clear is that David has in mind the anointing of the high priest, a ceremony that involved oil. Such moments are only fully realized if we do have unity among ourselves. New Living Translation For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron's head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe. I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from shame and spitting.. Verse 2 mentions how it is like oil that ran down Aaron's beard. However, he ends the section with words of hope. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. PennyNoyes, M.Ed. One day perhaps you will understood how much this meant to me to read this today. It is like the precious ointment upon the head that ran down upon the beard, even Aarons beard that went down to the skirts of his garments. For example, Ezekiel mentions that beards are a sign of mourning and disgrace (Ezekiel 24:17). There are also many instances where Aarons anointing is mentioned in the scriptures. There are a lot of reasons for a beard turning grey. One is that beards were simply more common in biblical times than they are today. The Biblical Timeline indicates that Aaron was born in 1574 B.C. So Hanun took Davids servants, shaved them, and cut off their garments in the middle, at their buttocks, and sent them away. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information, Jeremiah writes about shaven beards as a sign of mourning in, Isaiah proclaimed Judahs enemies would have their beards would be cut off as a sign of Gods judgment in, When Ezra heard about the spiritual unfaithfulness in Israel he pulled hair from his beard to show his shock and horror (. This verse describes Johns prophetic role. How Long to Grow a Goatee in 6 Easy Steps, Beard Growth Science: Average Beard Growth Rate, 12 Unusual Foods that Help Grow Facial Hair, Trimming Beard Tips: Everything to Know About Trimming Your Facial Hair, Beard Moisturizer: Everything About Beard and Face Lotion, Beard Dandruff: Easily Get Rid of It for Good, Styling a Beard: 6 Best Tips To Get it Right, Hair Shampoo on Your Beard? Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, and Ezekiel all had beards as symbols of their faith, and Jesus may have worn a beard to show his solidarity with other Jewish men. He calls us to live in harmony and unity. This oil was both liquid and fragrantit would flow and it would smell, and it seems that both properties included an element of symbolism. "And he [Moses] poured some of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him in order to make him holy." (Lev 8:12) In the ancient Near East, priests were the religious functionaries, the ones . Magnificence, misnamed by churls extravagance and waste, is the invariable attribute of all true love. A Man With a Beard by subhamshome from Pixabay.Dew Covering a Field of Spring Flowers by Zazu70 from Pixabay. This isnt just for the High Priest. Verse 2. Moses wore a beard, obviously, and Aaron's beard is specifically mentioned in Psalm 133. Finally, its possible that beards had religious significance in biblical times. Any suggestions? At his birth, Zechariah declares that John will be the prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him (Luke 1:76). The priests in the Bible played a very key role as the go between God and the people. In personal life he is a proud father of a boy and twin girls. Learn how your comment data is processed. Bezalel is described as being filled with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of craftsmanship (Exodus 31:3). Here are both verses together. Precious ointment upon the head. Despite being commissioned as priest for the people, Aaron is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. Jesus may have cut off his beard as a sign of mourning, but there is no mention of it in the Bible. A beard that was left unattended symbolized neglect, uncleanliness, and a carefree life. As a faithful, law-abiding Jewish man, Jesus would have had a beard except in unusual circumstances. There must have been special reasons why a priestly anointing should be selected for the comparison, and why that of Aaron, rather than of any other of the high priests. If Aaron was never anointed then the people of Israel would be unable to worship the Lord acceptably. The vessel was emptied on the High Priest's person, so that its contents flowed clown from the head upon the beard, and even to the skirts of the sacerdotal robes. His challenges with Saul immediately come to mind. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! Learning Lessons From Scandals Close to Home, New and Notable Christian Books for February 2023, Jinger Vuolos Story of Disentangling Faith from Fear, 8 Sins You Commit Whenever You Look at Porn. Is the One You Now Serve Able to Deliver You? He is best known for his religious reforms and for his extensive building projects. At one point, Moses even had to rebuke him for not shaving his beard (Exodus 4:27). 133:2 Ointment It is no less grateful and refreshing than that oil which was poured forth upon Aaron's head at the time of his consecration to the priestly office. We often focus on Moses when we read the story of the Exodus. . "It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down on the collar of his robe." (Psalms 133:2) Neglecting one's beard was unusual. They are these --, Verse 2-3. Gods people today, like Gods people in that day, have been given his gift of unity. Aaron is instructed in the precise words he is to use for this blessing. Aaron is not simply the sidekick to Moses. --Alexander Balmain Bruce, in "The Training of the Twelve", 1877. John the Baptist is mentioned in the Bible as having a beard and longer hair. Bezalel was an artist and craftsman who was chosen by God to help build the tabernacle. 10:24). Follow Christ's journey to the Cross. This budding staff is then placed in the ark of the covenant. It ran down Aaron's beard. God heard his prayer and Hezekiah was miraculously healed. Take also for yourself the finest of spices: of flowing myrrh five hundred shekels, and of fragrant cinnamon half as much, two hundred and fifty, and of fragrant cane two hundred and fifty, and of cassia five hundred, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and of olive oil a hin. Verse 12. Of the Hebrew perfumes an immense quantity was annually manufactured and consumed, of which we have a very significant indication in the fact that the holy anointing oil of the tabernacle and temple was never made in smaller quantities than 750 ounces of solids compounded with five quarts of oil, and was so profusely employed that when applied to Aaron's head it flowed down over his beard and breast, to the very skirts of his garments. A non-profit, 501(c)3 corporation. Aarons beard which was part of his identity as a priest had to be aligned to the collar of his robes so that the anointing oil could flow seamlessly. Oldest.org, 7 Oldest Paintings of Jesus in the World.. It is not enough for the psalmist to simply state this as fact. Jesus might have neglected his beard as a sign of mourning or during his fast in the wilderness before the temptation (Matthew 4:1 and Luke 4), but the Gospel writers did not mention it. It is like fine, scented oil on the head, running down the bearddown Aarons beard running over the collar of his robes. For less than $5/mo. learn more . That being the person of Jesus Christ. > Faith". This means that the Israelites were not to shave the hair on the sides of their heads or cut off the edges of their beards. After a lengthy discussion, Moses defiantly asks Please send someone else (Exodus 4:13). It has a sweet perfume about it, comparable to that precious ointment with which the first High Priest was anointed at his ordination. Rather, I think of the joy that comes from being able to approach God and set apart as a member of His family. One of the most distinctive features of Aaron is his long beard. Instead, they probably used a sharp sword or knife to trim their beards. The prophet speaks of other sufferings alongside the pulling of the beard such as smoking and spitting. And you shall make of these a holy anointing oil, a perfume mixture, the work of a perfumer; it shall be a holy anointing oil . There is a reason that I am stressing these anointings. Wesley's Psalms 133:2 Bible Commentary.
Holy oil was often used in relation to worship of God. You can follow Penny on herblogand on Instagram@pennynoyes. Neglecting ones beard was unusual. Though Jesus is portrayed with a beard doesnt mean he had one. (NASB) Ps. Pulling or shaving off a beard could be a sign of being a captive or in mourning. Psalms 133:2 Context. . He is also thought to have been the one who designed and created the Ark of the Covenant. The Talmud, which is a collection of rabbinic writings, states that the beard ought to be left grown (Shabbat 151b). Does not nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him?. He believes it is more important than ever before to help people find a genuine faith. Why did Abraham, Moses, and Jesus all have beards? Some Orthodox Jewish men grow their beards as a sign of piety and devotion to God. In lieu of a comments section, I accept and encourage letters to the editor. He also wrote many of the Psalms in the Bible. Beards have been associated with Christianity since the time of the early church fathers. It is the bond of his priesthood which joins us together as brethren. Here are some examples: You shall not cut the hair on the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.. Please click here to learn more. Verse 2. The purpose of the psalm is made obvious in its opening line: Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! This is a poetic celebration of brotherhood, of harmony. From bearing the names of the congregation upon his shoulders, announcing the dawning redemption, to blessing the people with divine words, Aaron is a wonderful example for all who would embrace the call to service, love, and ministry. God forbids this lest his people become defiled by the practices of the nations. That ran down that went down, etc. His beard is mentioned in Leviticus 10:6 as being specially consecrated. Some Hasidic Jews also grow beards. As the good oil on the head, Coming down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, That cometh down on the skirt of his robes. It was an objective reality they needed to understand, enact, and foster. King Hezekiah is mentioned in the Bible as having a beard. 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; It is like the good oil upon the head, Coming down upon the beard, Aarons beard, Coming down upon the edge of his robes. As a Levitical priest, Aaron oversees the religious life of Israel. However, Hanuns commanders convinced him that they were spies for David, so they shaved off half of the mens beards and cut off their garments at the buttocks to embarrass them. This is no small part of its excellence: oil would not anoint if it did not flow down, neither would brotherly love diffuse its blessing if it did not descend. 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