Psalm 45 8

Psalm 45:8 kjv

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

Psalm 45:8 nkjv

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

Psalm 45:8 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.

Psalm 45:8 esv

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

Psalm 45:8 nlt

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

Psalm 45 verses

Psalm 45 8 Meaning

Psalm 45:8 beautifully portrays the splendor of the king, who represents the Messiah. It describes his presence as supremely pleasant and costly, symbolized by his garments infused with the most precious aromatic substances: myrrh, aloes, and cassia. This luxurious imagery speaks of divine anointing, purity, and overwhelming beauty. The verse further highlights the king's joyous atmosphere, noting that music from magnificent ivory palaces accompanies his arrival, signifying celebration and gladness emanating from his very presence.

Psalm 45 8 Context

Psalm 45 is a majestic "maskil," or instruction psalm, categorized as a royal wedding song celebrating a king's marriage. Traditionally, it is interpreted on two levels: as a tribute to a human Israelite king on his wedding day, particularly his beauty, might, and righteousness; and more profoundly, as a Messianic prophecy pointing to Christ, the true King and Bridegroom, and His relationship with His church. Verse 8 forms part of a section describing the King's resplendent appearance and surroundings, emphasizing his regal glory and the sensory richness of his presence, preparing for the arrival of the royal bride.

Psalm 45 8 Word analysis

• All your garments: Hebrew `לְבוּשֶׁיךָ` (lĕ·ḇū·še·ḵā). Not merely clothes, but the king's full attire, symbolizing his identity, status, and authority. The focus on all suggests pervasive splendor. For a king, garments conveyed his glory and character; here, they are saturated with costly fragrances, indicating the king's very being exudes pleasantness and honor.
• are fragrant with: The Hebrew structure implies that the garments are these fragrances or are permeated by them. This isn't merely a casual scent; it's deep-seated and overflowing. It suggests the king's nature is inseparable from these precious qualities.
• myrrh (מֹר – mor): A costly, aromatic gum resin. Known for its medicinal, perfuming, and embalming properties. Symbolically linked to suffering (due to its bitterness and use in embalming, as seen with Jesus' burial) but also costly worship (e.g., one of the gifts of the Magi). It signifies devotion, sacrifice, and ultimate preciousness.
• and aloes (אֲהָלוֹת – ahālōt): Refers to aromatic eaglewood or lign-aloes, not the medicinal plant. This highly valued, imported wood was prized for its exquisite fragrance when burned or used in perfumes. Its inclusion underscores exotic luxury and royalty, purity, and sweetness in death or costly preparation. It appears again in the anointing of Jesus' body for burial (Jn 19:39).
• and cassia (קְצִיעוֹת – qetsi'ot): An aromatic bark akin to cinnamon, used for incense and perfumery. It was an ingredient in the holy anointing oil for priests and tabernacle articles (Exod 30:24). This links the king's fragrance to holiness, sanctification, and being set apart for divine service, symbolizing priestly royalty.
• from ivory palaces: Hebrew `הֵיכְלֵי שֵׁן` (hêḵəlê šēn). These were opulent royal residences (like Ahab's palace, 1 Kgs 22:39) adorned with rare and expensive ivory. This phrase likely indicates either:
  • The source of the garments, perfumed within these luxurious settings.
  • The location where the king is presented, enveloped in this magnificent ambiance.
  • Possibly, that musical instruments from within these palaces create joy.
  It signifies immense wealth, grandeur, strength, and supreme beauty.
• the music of stringed instruments makes you glad: Hebrew `מִנִּי נְבָלִים שִׂמְּחוּךָ` (min·nî nᵊḇālîm śimmᵊḥūḵā), literally "from stringed instruments, they have made you glad." This highlights the atmosphere of celebration, joy, and peace surrounding the king. The sounds are not just for others but bring gladness to the king himself. Stringed instruments (lyres, harps) often accompanied worship and joyous occasions in Israelite culture.

• Fragrant Garments: The combined imagery of Myrrh, Aloes, and Cassia represents more than just a pleasant smell. These are components of holy anointing oil and expensive burial spices in the Bible. This collective fragrance points to the king's divine appointment, sacred purity, sacrificial aspect (Myrrh often linked to suffering and death, but then transforming to fragrant offerings), and his unique holiness (Cassia's anointing oil connection).
• Ivory Palaces and Music: The blending of extreme material wealth (ivory) with the joyous aesthetic of music reinforces the idea of a king whose reign is one of blessing, peace, prosperity, and celebratory happiness, originating from a place of unassailable grandeur. The source of this joy and glory is intrinsic to his being and environment.

Psalm 45 8 Bonus section

The three specific spices—myrrh, aloes, and cassia—are particularly significant. Myrrh and cassia are explicitly mentioned in the recipe for the sacred anointing oil in Exodus 30, underscoring the king's consecration and being set apart by God. Aloes, being an exotic import, signify the universal and boundless nature of this king's dominion or renown. The description "from ivory palaces" implies the source of the garments' perfumed nature or the glorious setting where the king's splendor is fully displayed. This isn't merely a king in expensive clothes, but a divinely appointed figure whose presence itself is a source of spiritual pleasantness and gladness, evoking joy from both luxurious surroundings and those who perceive him. This verse paints a vivid prophetic portrait of Jesus, whose life, death, and resurrection were a perfect "fragrant offering" to God, bringing the greatest joy to those in His spiritual household.

Psalm 45 8 Commentary

Psalm 45:8 depicts a king whose very presence radiates a glorious, almost spiritual, fragrance. His royal garments are not just adorned but deeply imbued with myrrh, aloes, and cassia—substances that are universally precious, often linked with sacred anointing, worship, death, and purification. This pervasive fragrance speaks of his innate purity, divine anointing, costly character, and perhaps foreshadows the sacrificial nature of the Messiah who gives His life as a fragrant offering. This king, representing Christ, is a figure of utmost splendor and purity. His anointing is a source of joy, confirmed by the joyous sounds of stringed instruments echoing from magnificent ivory palaces. This portrays a kingdom characterized by peace, prosperity, and profound delight, where the very being of the King instills gladness and holiness in all His surroundings. It suggests that encountering Him is to experience joy, abundance, and an atmosphere permeated with divine approval and beauty.