Psalm 68:12

Psalm 68:12

ESV: "The kings of the armies ? they flee, they flee!" The women at home divide the spoil ?

KJV: Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.

NIV: "Kings and armies flee in haste; the women at home divide the plunder.

NKJV: "Kings of armies flee, they flee, And she who remains at home divides the spoil.

NLT: Enemy kings and their armies flee,
while the women of Israel divide the plunder.

Meaning

Psalm 68:12 proclaims that the divine utterance or command given by the Lord initiated a widespread and joyful response. It describes a vast assembly, specifically identified as women, who zealously proclaimed this word or good news, likely concerning a great victory or blessing granted by God. The verse highlights God as the source of truth and triumph, whose declarations are immediately taken up and broadcast by His people, leading to a jubilant, collective witness.

Cross References

Context

Psalm 68 is a grand celebration of God's majestic power, especially as a victorious warrior and Deliverer of His people. The psalm likely describes a triumphant procession, possibly associated with the Ark of the Covenant, moving towards Zion, symbolizing God's establishment of His dwelling among His people after overcoming His enemies. Verses preceding 68:12 detail God's past victories and His care for the vulnerable. Following verse 12, the psalm continues to describe the division of the spoils of victory among the people and further highlights God's attributes as defender and sustainer. Historically, the scene echoes instances where Israelite women celebrated military victories with song and dance (Exod 15:20-21, 1 Sam 18:6-7), making their role in proclaiming the "word" a customary and prominent part of the celebration. The divine "word" here could refer to a decree of victory, the announcement of spoils, or the good news of God's triumph.

Word analysis

• The Lord (אֲדֹנָי - ’Adonai): Refers to God as the Sovereign Master and Proprietor. It signifies His absolute authority and power as the one who issues commands and decrees. The effective nature of His commands is inherent.
• gave (נָתַן - nātan): This verb means to give, grant, place, or appoint. Here, it conveys that the "word" originated from the Lord, directly issued by Him, emphasizing divine initiative and authority.
• the word (אֹמֶר - ’ōmer): Refers to an utterance, saying, or divine command. Unlike dāḇār (which can be a broader 'thing' or 'matter'), ’ōmer emphasizes the spoken utterance. It is the specific decree or good news from God, implying a revelation or proclamation that brings about significant results, in this context, victory and the distribution of spoil.
• great (רָב - rāḇ): Signifies numerous, mighty, much, or abundant. It points to the sheer multitude and impact of those who proclaimed the message.
• was the company (צָבָא - tsābā’): Traditionally refers to a host, army, or multitude, often used for male warriors or heavenly armies. Its application here, specifically modified by the feminine participles, highlights a significant number or organized group of women. This suggests an active and intentional collective participation.
• of those that published it (מְבַשְּׂרֹת - mᵊḇaśśārōṯ): This is a feminine plural participle derived from the root בָּשַׂר (bāśar), meaning "to bring good news," "to proclaim," or "to herald good tidings." It is the very root from which the Greek term for "gospel" (euangelion) finds its Old Testament parallel. The explicit feminine plural points specifically to women as the announcers of this good news or victory.

Words-Group analysis:

• The Lord gave the word: Emphasizes divine authorship and authority. God is the source of the message, ensuring its truth and power. This 'word' is a decree or news that compels action.
• great was the company of those that published it: This phrase highlights the vast number and the specific role of the proclaimers. The 'company' (tsābā’) as a 'great host' emphasizes the overwhelming enthusiasm and widespread nature of the announcement. The 'publishers' (feminine participle mᵊḇaśśārōṯ) confirms that women, consistent with ancient Near Eastern and Israelite customs after battle, were at the forefront of celebrating and spreading the news of divine triumph. Their proclamation transforms God's decree into public celebration and recognition.

Commentary

Psalm 68:12 serves as a vivid portrayal of God's active involvement in the affairs of His people and their responsive devotion. When "The Lord gave the word," it implies a decisive, powerful utterance, a divine decree that fundamentally alters circumstances, most likely regarding victory over enemies or provision of spoils. This is not merely a spoken message but an effective command. What follows immediately is a widespread, joyful proclamation: "great was the company of those that published it." The deliberate use of the feminine plural participle, mᵊḇaśśārōṯ, is crucial, specifying that a large multitude of women were the heralds of this good news. This echoes ancient Near Eastern practices where women celebrated military victories with song, dance, and proclamation, and validates their significant role in recognizing and publicizing God's works.

The verse is a testimony to the power of God's word and the spontaneous, abundant response it elicits from His people. It signifies that when God acts and speaks, His triumph becomes public knowledge, spread eagerly by a dedicated host. Spiritually, this can be seen as a prototype for the spread of the Gospel, where God provides the "good news," and a great multitude of His followers, both men and women, are commissioned and compelled by His Spirit to proclaim it throughout the world.

Bonus section

• The use of mᵊḇaśśārōṯ strongly connects this verse to the concept of the Gospel, as bāśar is the Hebrew root for bringing good news or glad tidings, equivalent to "euangelizo" in Greek. This suggests a prophetic insight into the widespread dissemination of God's salvific message.
• Some interpretations suggest the "word" the Lord "gave" was the distribution of spoils among His people (as implied by the verses that follow Psalm 68:12-14), which the women then publicly celebrated and perhaps even participated in distributing. This ties the proclamation directly to the tangible benefits of God's victory.
• The portrayal of a "great company" or "host" (tsābā’) implies an organized or vast movement, not just individual sporadic declarations. It underscores the communal and overwhelming nature of the joyful response to God's triumphant acts.
• This verse can be understood as prophetic of the role of believers, including women, in the New Covenant, who are empowered to share the "good news" of Christ's victory over sin and death (Mk 16:15; Acts 1:8). The early Church indeed saw numerous women serving actively in spreading the message (Phil 4:3; Rom 16:1-15).

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