Imagery in the Psalms
August 2002

Dear Readers,

Three days after the terrorist attacks a year ago, I
had the opportunity to hear an excellent talk about
imagery in the Psalms. It was both a relief and a
comfort to dive into the Psalms at that time. In this
newsletter I'll touch on just a few of the thought-
provoking and inspiring examples of imagery that are
contained in the Psalms. I am deeply grateful for a
new awareness of the evocative language used by the
Psalmist.

The speaker I heard last September is Dr. William P.
Brown, Professor of Old Testament at Union Theological
Seminary in Richmond, Virginia. He is also an ordained
minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Another
main source of information for this topic is a terrific
book entitled, "Dictionary of Biblical Imagery"
published in 1998 by InterVarsity Press. The lead
editor is Leland Ryken.

Finally, to learn more about each of the 150 psalms,
I used a commentary by James Limburg titled, "Psalms."

What is imagery? According to the "American Heritage
Dictionary," it is "the use of figures of speech or
vivid descriptions in writing to produce mental images."

If you'll read the first psalm, you'll notice that the
first picture evoked is that of a tree. Of what do you
think when you contemplate a tree? A tree is a very
evocative image -- alive, rooted, beautiful, fruitful,
sturdy, flexible, providing shelter. Perhaps you
quickly relate the tree of Psalm 1 with "the tree of
knowledge of good and evil" in Genesis and "the tree
of life" in Revelation. Dr. Brown noted that in Bible
times, planting an olive tree was a very future-oriented
and hopeful activity because olive trees didn't bear
fruit for decades after they were planted.

"Images call for interpretation, and to leave biblical
imagery uninterpreted is a great waste," write the
editors of the "Dictionary of Biblical Imagery." They
continue: "The images of the Bible exist to tell us
something about the godly life, something they will not
do if they are allowed to remain as physical phenomena
only." (p. xiv) In other words, the reader is required
to use his imagination. The reader also needs to "be
sensitive to the connotations or overtones of the
image....Images encapsule truth by placing objects side
by side in comparison. In this symbolism or 'putting
together,' from the Greek..., a lesser-known...concept
or experience is explained by its association...with a
more familiar one." (Ryken, ed., p. 684)

So, back to the first psalm. A "righteous" or godly
man is compared with "a tree planted by the rivers of
water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season."
The "ungodly" or wicked are nothing more than
wind-driven chaff. I love the idea that the righteous
are correlated with slow, steady growth upwards. The
wicked are linked with husks of grain that are cast off
after the seed is preserved.

James Limburg in his commentary throws light on the
question, "how can my life be vital, productive, rooted,
even beautiful -- like that tree?" Limburg states:

"The answer is given in the first words of this psalm.
The opening describes those persons who are happy
(vv. 1-3.) First come three negatives: such people
don't follow the advice of wicked people; they don't
take the paths that sinners take; and they don't
associate with cynics and scoffers. Then comes the
positive, and here is the point of this psalm in this
place: those who are truly happy--whose lives can be
represented by that tree--are those people who take
delight in the Lord's teaching.

"The Hebrew text says, 'Surely in the torah of the Lord
is their delight.' The Hebrew word torah can mean
'law,' and so it is translated in most modern English
Bibles. But it is often better translated as 'teaching'
or 'instruction,' and such is the case here. The Jewish
Publication Society translation puts it this way:
'rather, the teaching of the Lord is his delight, and he
studies that teaching day and night.'" (Limburg, p. 2)

In the first psalm, the torah is compared to "the rivers
of water." Again, the symbolism of rivers and water is
significant. Just as with the tree image, I associate
water with both Genesis and Revelation. The importance
of "rivers of water" in Bible times cannot be
overestimated. Water was vital for survival. When I
checked a concordance, I found over six hundred
references to water or waters. Rivers are mentioned in
Scripture over 200 times. Water conjures up thoughts of
purity, cleanliness, refreshment, coolness, quenching of
thirst. For Christians, "rivers of water" brings to
mind baptism, Christ Jesus, and the River Jordan.

The tree image continues in the book of Psalms. Here
are two examples:
"I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I
trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever."
(Psalm 52)

"The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he
shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be
planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the
courts of our God." (Psalm 92)

As you read the psalms, be on the lookout for imagery.
The sun and light signify God's presence. The break of
dawn and morning are symbolic of order. Because the sun
runs a regular path and is constant, it is linked to the
law. The law is a path on which we walk. "Shew me thy
ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths." (Psalm 25) The
image of path is throughout the Psalter. The
"Dictionary of Biblical Imagery" has over 1000 pages,
with substantial articles on trees, water, Psalms, sun,
path and many other images.

To learn more on this topic, you can borrow tapes by
William P. Brown from the library at Union Theological
Seminary in Richmond, VA. (See their online catalog
for a listing of his work.)

Below is the full bibliographic information for the two
books I consulted.

Ryken, Leland, Wilhoit, James C., Longman III, James,
General Editors. "Dictionary of Biblical Imagery."
Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press 1998.

Limburg, James. "Psalms." Louisville, Kentucky:
Westminster John Knox Press, 2000.

When I want to do in-depth Bible research, I go to the
Spiritual Resource Library at the Tenacre Foundation in
Princeton, New Jersey. This library is fabulous, and
the librarian, Jacqueline Severini, is extremely
helpful. Not only does the library have numerous,
up to date books, but it is exceptionally inviting with
plenty of windows, comfy chairs, and even a gas
fireplace. The number of volumes is this library is
over 2800.

I enjoy hearing from my e-newsletter subscribers, so
please email me your comments and questions.

Yours truly,

Joan Koelle Snipes

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