Psalm 68:11
(KJV) The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.
(1611 KJV) The Lord gaue the word: great was the company of those that published it.
(1568 Bishops Bible) The Lorde gaue the worde: great was the company of the preachers.
 
Counterfeit Versions
(CSB) The Lord gave the command; a great company of women brought the good news:
(NIV-2011) The Lord announces the word, and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng:
(NASV) The Lord gives the command; The women who proclaim the good tidings are a great host:
(AMP) The Lord gives the word [of power]; the women who bear and publish [the news] are a great host.
(ESV) The Lord gives the word; the women who announce the news are a great host:
(CEV) You gave the command, and a chorus of women told what had happened:
(1901 ASV) The Lord giveth the word: The women that publish the tidings are a great host.
(HCSB) The Lord gave the command; a great company of women brought the good news:
(NWT-Jehovah’s Witnesses) Jehovah himself gives the saying; The women telling the good news are a large army.
 
Hebrew Word in Question
There are two Hebrew words which must be looked at. The first is the word for “company” and that is the word “tsava” which can be translated “host or army.” It is a noun in the masculine gender and singular. The next word for “those that published” is “hamvasseroth” which means to “bring news or report.” This word is a verb in the Piel stem, participle, feminine plural. The Piel stem is an intensive active which intensifies the action of the verb. In this case it is speaking of the company which published it as an intensified action or strengthened or increased in the activity of publishing. If you will notice the way the modern versions have added “the or of women” after “company “ or after the first clause of the verse. The normal Hebrew word for women is “ishsha” which is not used here. The modern translators took liberty with the feminine gender of the word “hamvasseroth” and added “of women” which is not in view in the text. Now when looking at this verse do we take a cultural look or do we take a Scriptural look? The translators in these versions took the cultural look because there is precedent for women announcing victories such as:
 
(Exo 15:20-21 KJV) And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. {21} And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
 
(Judg 11:34 KJV) And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.
 
(1 Sam 18:6-7 KJV) And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of music. {7} And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.
 
So culturally speaking the modern version editors believed that they had precedence for translating it that way. Now we have to ask another question, are there any other women beside individual women in the Bible who is a large company? The answer is yes and that is the body of believers otherwise known as the bride of Christ.
 
(John 3:29 KJV) He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
 
(Rev 21:2 KJV) And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
 
(Rev 21:9 KJV) And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
 
Now let us ask another question? How great is the company of believers which have published God’s word all over this world? It is a great company and what is in view in Psalm 68:11, is not a small group of women in one country, but the body of believers down through time who have published the word of God which makes it the great company. The feminine gender of our Hebrew word “hamvasseroth” is realized in the body of Christ. That is the great company who has published the word of God. Once again the modern versions muddy the waters of biblical understanding.  Remember the women were proclaiming victories, not the word of God, that has been committed to the body of believers.

Back