The Meaning of Psalms 68:11 Explained

Psalms 68:11

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

YLT: The Lord doth give the saying, The female proclaimers are a numerous host.

Darby: The Lord gives the word: great the host of the publishers.

ASV: The Lord giveth the word: The women that publish the tidings are a great host.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Psalms 68:11 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 68:1-11 - The Leader Of His People
This is one of the grandest odes in literature. It was probably composed when the Ark was brought in triumph from the house of Obed-edom to the newly acquired hill of the Lord, 2 Samuel 6:1-23. It is evidently a processional hymn, intended to be sung by bands of white-robed priests and Levites. In this paragraph the Ark was lifted to the shoulders of its bearers, while a measured strain was chanted, Psalms 68:1-6. Then, as the procession moved forward, the march through the wilderness was recited, Psalms 68:7-11.
Let God arise! These opening words are borrowed from the formula used by Moses, Numbers 10:35. Through the smoke of many a battlefield have they rung out! Cromwell's "Ironsides" charged to their music. In Psalms 68:5-6 we learn that God has a special care for lonely people and prisoners. The former He introduces to families, John 19:26-27. The latter are brought out into prosperity. Psalms 68:11, r.v. seems to have a modern fulfillment in the exodus of noble women from happy homes in Christian lands to publish the gospel of Christ to the heathen. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 68

1  A prayer at the removing of the ark
4  An exhortation to praise God for his mercies
7  for his care of the church
19  for his great works

What do the individual words in Psalms 68:11 mean?

the Lord uttered speech those who proclaimed [it] the company of Great [was]
אֲדֹנָ֥י יִתֶּן־ אֹ֑מֶר הַֽ֝מְבַשְּׂר֗וֹת צָבָ֥א רָֽב

אֲדֹנָ֥י  the  Lord 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲדֹנָי  
Sense: my lord, lord.
יִתֶּן־  uttered 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
אֹ֑מֶר  speech 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֹמֶר  
Sense: utterance, speech, word, saying, promise, command.
הַֽ֝מְבַשְּׂר֗וֹת  those  who  proclaimed  [it] 
Parse: Article, Verb, Piel, Participle, feminine plural
Root: בָּשַׂר  
Sense: to bear news, bear tidings, publish, preach, show forth.
צָבָ֥א  the  company 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: צָבָא 
Sense: that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host.
רָֽב  of  Great  [was] 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רַב 
Sense: much, many, great.