Psalm 45:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia. From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad;

NIV: All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; from palaces adorned with ivory the music of the strings makes you glad.

NASB: All Your garments are fragrant with myrrh, aloes, and cassia; From ivory palaces stringed instruments have made You joyful.

CSB: Myrrh, aloes, and cassia perfume all your garments; from ivory palaces harps bring you joy.

NLT: Myrrh, aloes, and cassia perfume your robes. In ivory palaces the music of strings entertains you.

KJV: All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.

NKJV: All Your garments are scented with myrrh and aloes and cassia, Out of the ivory palaces, by which they have made You glad.

Myrrh is pleasant-smelling resin from trees in Arabia. It was used as a perfume (Proverbs 7:17). Aloes were also used for their fragrance (Numbers 24:6; Proverbs 7:17). Cassia was another perfume derived from roots or bark which might have resembled cinnamon. In reference to the wedding of an earthly king (Psalm 45:1, 9), these depict a lavishly dressed, impressive figure. Myrrh and aloe, however, were also used to prepare bodies for burial (Matthew 2:11; John 19:39). This is another point which connects this psalm to the then-future work of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Ivory has always been a relatively expensive material, suitable for ornate objects (1 Kings 10:18). To use it as an element of a home's design would be extravagant (Amos 3:15; Song of Solomon 7:4). The imagery here is that of a lavish, gorgeous environment filled with beautiful music. As far as it applies to the literal wedding of an earthly king (Psalm 45:1), this is part of celebrating the joyous occasion.

The same imagery also serves to foreshadow the joyful occasion when King Jesus leaves heaven to be joined in marriage to His bride (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18). Revelation 19:6–8 anticipates Jesus' return to from heaven to celebrate the marriage supper. A person whose walls were inlaid with ivory was considered wealthy. King Ahab's house is described as "the ivory house" (1 Kings 22:39), but the place Jesus is preparing for believers is far superior to any earthly ivory house (John 14:3).

The psalm begins with the exaggeration for effect common to love songs and works celebrating an earthly king. The groom is described as handsome, powerful, and graceful. The psalm also speaks of an eternal throne—this connects to prophecies about the Messiah (2 Samuel 7:12–13; Hebrews 1:8–9). The Bible often uses marriage images to explain the relationship between Christ and the church, including songs such as this.

This psalm is often identified as a marriage song, likely ascribing praise to a descendant of David. However, its praise transcends a mortal ruler and his wedding. There are messianic interpretations, noted in the New Testament (Hebrews 1:8–9). These references provide another layer of meaning, as they praise the King of kings, Jesus Christ.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.