Psalm 68 11

Psalm 68:11 kjv

The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.

Psalm 68:11 nkjv

The Lord gave the word; Great was the company of those who proclaimed it:

Psalm 68:11 niv

The Lord announces the word, and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng:

Psalm 68:11 esv

The Lord gives the word; the women who announce the news are a great host:

Psalm 68:11 nlt

The Lord gives the word,
and a great army brings the good news.

Psalm 68 verses

Psalm 68 11 Meaning

Psalm 68:11 conveys that the Sovereign Lord initiates and gives a powerful word—a message of divine truth, victory, or salvation—and a multitude of women respond by actively proclaiming this good news, forming a great and influential company. This verse highlights both God's divine revelation and the significant role of His people, particularly women, in broadcasting His mighty acts.

Psalm 68 11 Context

Psalm 68 is a grand triumphal processional psalm, possibly celebrating a victory of God's people or a re-enactment of the ark's journey to Jerusalem. It begins with the invocation "Let God arise, Let His enemies be scattered" (Psa 68:1), echoing Num 10:35, suggesting a divine warrior leading His people to triumph. The psalm weaves together themes of Exodus, wilderness journey, Sinai covenant, and the conquest of Canaan, culminating in God's establishment in Zion. Verse 11, therefore, is nestled within a narrative of divine power and victorious action, portraying the enthusiastic reception and proclamation of God's deeds by His people as He leads them in triumph. Historically, women in ancient Israel played significant roles in public celebration and announcement of military victories (e.g., Exod 15, 1 Sam 18).

Psalm 68 11 Word analysis

• הַ (hā): The

  • Definite article, points to specific, known entities.

• אֲדֹנָי (Adonai): The Lord / My Lord

  • Significance: A respectful, common title for God in the Old Testament, denoting absolute sovereignty, mastery, and authority. It often implies a relationship of faithful dependence between servant and master. Here, it underscores that the "word" originates from the supreme, all-powerful ruler.

• יִתֵּן (yitten): He gives / He will give

  • Verb from the root נָתַן (natan), meaning "to give, to place, to set, to grant."
  • Significance: Indicates divine initiative and active provision. God is not merely approving, but actively bestowing or providing the "word," emphasizing His sovereignty in revelation. It's a spontaneous and powerful act from God.

• אֹמֶר (omer): word / utterance / saying / command

  • Significance: This word, omer, distinct from davar (a broader term for "word" that can imply concrete action or an ongoing discourse), often refers to a distinct, divinely issued utterance or oracle, a specific message. In this context, it is God's announcement or declaration concerning His mighty acts and victory, possibly a command to go forth and declare His triumph.

• הַמְבַשְּׂר֥וֹת (ham'vas's'rot): The women who proclaim good news / The female evangelists / The female heralds

  • הַ (ha): The (definite article).
  • מְבַשְּׂר֥וֹת (mevasrot): Feminine plural participle of the verb בָּשַׂר (basar), meaning "to bring good news," "to announce," "to proclaim glad tidings."
  • Significance: This is a highly significant term. It is the root of the Hebrew word besorah (gospel/good news). The active participle implies ongoing, continuous action. The specification of "women" is crucial, pointing to their prominent, recognized, and celebrated role in announcing victories and good news in ancient Israel (as seen in Exod 15:20-21, 1 Sam 18:6-7, Isa 40:9). It challenges assumptions about female roles in proclamation. In the New Testament, the Greek equivalent, euangelizomai (to evangelize), continues this theme.

• צָבָא (tzava): company / host / army / multitude

  • Significance: While tzava often refers to an army or military host, it also means a large gathering or multitude. In this context, it depicts the overwhelming number and even organized force with which these women perform their task of proclamation. It implies their collective power and impact.

• רָב (rav): great / numerous / much

  • Significance: Emphasizes the significant quantity or greatness of the company. It points to the widespread effect of God's word when it is proclaimed.

Words-group by Words-group Analysis:

• "The Lord gives the word": This phrase highlights God's sovereignty, initiative, and the divine origin and authority of the message. It's not a human idea but a revelation from the Almighty. This "word" empowers, directs, and enables the ensuing action.
• "The women who proclaim the news": This underscores the active agency and the specific demographic (women) involved in publishing God's word. It showcases their enthusiastic and vital role in the spread of God's message, especially good news or news of triumph. This isn't passive reception but active declaration.
• "are a great company": This signifies the sheer number, magnitude, and collective impact of those who declare the news. The use of "company" (צָבָא - tzava) can even suggest an organized or formidable force, highlighting the powerful, collective spread of the divine message through the appointed human agents.

Psalm 68 11 Bonus section

The active participle ham'vas's'rot emphasizes that these women were not merely passive recipients of the word but active, vocal participants in its proclamation. The noun besorah (good news, gospel), rooted in basar, highlights that the content of the divine omer is fundamentally good news, tidings of victory, deliverance, and peace brought by God Himself. This verse presents a unique perspective on gender roles in ancient public life, asserting women's undeniable and celebrated role in announcing significant, God-ordained events. It can be seen as an enduring testament to God's readiness to use all His people, without exception, to fulfill His divine purposes and spread His message.

Psalm 68 11 Commentary

Psalm 68:11 powerfully illustrates the dynamic relationship between divine initiative and human response in the spread of God's truth. God, as the supreme Lord (Adonai), is the ultimate source, actively providing ("gives") His divine utterance or specific message (omer), which is laden with authority and purpose, often concerning His victory and salvific acts. This "word" is not abstract but a potent revelation. Critically, the verse identifies "the women who proclaim the news" (ham'vas's'rot) as the primary bearers of this message. This is not incidental; it speaks to a culturally recognized and significant role for women in Israelite society to publicly announce triumphs and celebrate God's deliverances, much like Miriam (Exod 15) and the women who greeted David (1 Sam 18). They become a "great company" (tzava rav), a multitude so vast as to appear like a mighty host, underscoring the widespread and powerful dissemination of the good news. This suggests that when God speaks, the ensuing proclamation through His people, especially those who might seem overlooked, generates an overwhelming and influential witness. The verse beautifully prefigures the New Testament concept of the "good news" or "gospel" (which uses the Greek verb euangelizomai, translating basar), often proclaimed by a diverse and zealous company of believers, including many women, empowering them to spread the truth of God's victory through Christ.