Towards an Islamic Commentary to the Book of Psalms. Psalm 36

The symbols used most often in the Qor’ān for the Life of the Hereafter are gardens and rivers.

Interestingly there is a parallel in Psalm 36:8 [translation ESV2011]

“They [humans] feast on the abundance of your house,

and you give them drink from the river of your delights.”

The word translated here by “delights” is עֲדָנֶ֣יךָ `adāne-ka, a fairly rare word occurring only in Gen. 18:12, 2 Sam. 1:24, Psalm 36:8, Jer. 51:34. Etymologically it is a cognate of عَدْن `Adn which occurs in Qor’ān 9:72, 13:23, 16:31, 18:31, 19:61, 20:76, 35:33, 38:50, 40:8, 61:12, 98:8, always in the phrase جَنَّٰت عَدْنٍ djannāt `Adn), the gardens of Paradise. Other translations are “pleasures” (among others, KJV and NKJV), or “your goodness”. Some Dutch translations speak of “Your delightful gifts”, “Your love”, or “joy”.

The symbol of the river means abundance (the drinkers can keep drinking till they almost burst with happiness) and continuity (rivers will not stop flowing). The only thing not fully clear is whether Psalm 36:8 is giving an image of the Hereafter, or of the present life as well.

The similarity with pictures of Paradise is raised by several Christian exegetes commenting on Psalm 36:8.

Pulpit Commentary:

“Literally, the river of thy Edens. Thou shalt give them access to an exhaustless fountain of delight, a stream like that which watered Eden.”

And MacLaren’s Expositions:

“There may be a possible reference here, couched in the word ‘pleasures,’ to the Garden of Eden, with the river that watered it parting into four heads; for ‘Eden’ is the singular of the word which is here translated ‘pleasures’ or ‘delight.’ If we take that reference, which is very questionable, there would be suggested the thought that amidst all the pain and weariness of this desert life of ours, though the gates of Paradise are shut against us, they who dwell beneath the shadow of the divine wing really have a paradise blooming around them; and have flowing ever by their side, with tinkling music, the paradisaical river of delights, in which they may bathe and swim, and of which they may drink.”

These exegetes also consider the meaning of “your house”, agreeing that, while it may apply to a house of worship on earth, it applies in particular to heaven.

− Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers:

“The house of God may either be the whole earth (Gesenius), or, more probably, heaven.”

− Pulpit Commentary:

“The “house” typified heaven, whence, of course, the blessings really came.”

− Matthew Poole’s Commentary:

“In thy habitation, i.e. either,

1. In the tabernacle, where they used to feast upon the remainders of the sacrifices; to which also he seems here to allude. Or rather,

2. In heaven; which is called God’s house, both in Scripture, as John 14:2, and in divers ancient heathen authors. For the expressions here used are too magnificent to be bestowed upon those feasts, or indeed upon any of the enjoyments of this life, and do ill become him, who professedly disowns the having of his portion in this life, and declares his expectation of happiness in the next life, Psalm 17:14,15.”

==============================================================

Psalm 36 verse 2
O LORD, your faithfulness and love
reach to the heights of heaven above.
Your justice lasts forever;
it is like mountains vast and steep;
your judgments all are ocean-deep.
Both man and beast you favour.
We in the shadow of your wings
to you, O LORD, for refuge cling;
you will not let us perish.
All whom you to your feasts invite
will drink from rivers of delight.
Your precious love we cherish.