Psalm 36 Study Notes
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36:1 The Hebrew word ne’um, translated here as oracle, is used by the prophets in a more formal sense to signify God’s official declarations through the prophets to his people (note especially its use in Jeremiah; e.g., 1:8,15,19). Its use here could also refer to an official prophetic oracle against the wicked. The difference between this and the prophets is that the message originated within the psalmist’s heart and not from God’s spoken word to him.
36:2 The Hebrew text is difficult here and literally reads, “for it is smooth to him in his own eyes to find his iniquity to hate.” The word for “smooth” (Hb chalaq) is sometimes used in the context of speech and associated with flattery (12:3; Dn 11:32). This concept makes sense here even though it is not directly related to speech. Opinion of himself means in his own estimation; in other words, it is perception and not reality that prevents this wicked person from hating his iniquity.
36:3-4 The malicious plans are made in bed so they can be carried out during the daytime (Mc 2:1).
36:5-6 Heaven and clouds illustrate the extent of the Lord’s covenant faithfulness as do the extremes of highest mountains and deepest sea. There is no limit to God’s love for his people (Rm 8:35-39) nor any place that is beyond his reach (Ps 139:7-12).
36:7 The imagery the shadow of your wings is also found in Ps 17:8; 57:1; 63:7.
’awen
| Hebrew pronunciation | [AH vehn] |
| CSB translation | evil, malicious, disaster, sorrow |
| Uses in Psalms | 29 |
| Uses in the OT | 85 |
| Focus passage | Psalm 36:3-4,12 |
’Awen, a root occurring only in Hebrew and appearing largely in poetic and prophetic texts, signifies evildoers (Is 31:2), wickedness (1Sm 15:23), sin (Ps 56:7), and iniquity (Is 1:13). Specifically, it connotes crime (Ps 55:10), malice (Jr 4:15), injustice (Hab 1:3), or evil intent (Is 29:20). ’Awen denotes evil’s consequences of disaster (Nm 23:21), distress (Jb 5:6), and sorrow (Ps 90:10). It specifies evil’s emptiness as falsehood (Zch 10:2), delusion (Is 41:29), nothing (Am 5:5), and idol (Is 66:3). ’Awen appears alongside ‘amal (“trouble”) eleven times (Jb 4:8). Adjectivally, ’awen is malicious, wicked, sinful, and crooked (Is 10:1). The phrase po‘aley (“doers of”) ’awen (22x) is normally translated evildoers (Ps 36:12). ’Awen names a valley Aven (Am 1:5) and once seems to be a shortened form of Beth-aven (Hs 10:8; cp. v. 5). ’Aven is part of the place name Beth-aven (7x). Beth-aven might derogatorily substitute for Bethel (Hs 4:15; cp. Am 5:5).
36:8 Abundance is literally “oil” and represents blessing (Is 55:2). The imagery of oil and refreshing stream bring together the same images as those in Ps 23 (see notes at 23:2-3,5).
36:9 Wellspring of life is used elsewhere to describe the Lord as the source of life (Jr 2:13; 17:13). Light can refer to truth (43:3) or salvation (27:1). The combination of life and light is particularly significant in John’s Gospel and is applied to Jesus Christ (Jn 1:4; 8:12).
36:10 Spread your faithful love may relate to the image of a mother bird’s “wings” in v. 7.
36:11-12 Victory in the ancient world was often represented by the victor’s foot on the neck of the vanquished (110:1).