The New Living Translation (NLT) is a valuable resource for reading, studying, and teaching the Bible. Its clear, natural language helps make Scripture accessible to readers who may struggle with more traditional translations. By emphasizing readability, the NLT often communicates biblical truth in ways that are easy to understand and apply. However, every translation involves decisions about how best to express the original Hebrew and Greek texts, and occasionally those decisions can obscure details that contribute to a passage’s meaning. Psalm 68:11 provides an interesting example because several English translations specifically identify women as those announcing God’s victory, while the NLT does not preserve that distinction.
Comparing Bible Translations
A comparison of Psalm 68:11 reveals a noticeable difference in how translators identify those proclaiming the message.
- The New Living Translation reads, “The Lord gives the word, and a great army brings the good news” (Psalm 68:11, NLT).
- The English Standard Version states, “The Lord gives the word; the women who announce the news are a great host” (Psalm 68:11, ESV).
- Similarly, the New American Standard Bible reads, “The Lord gives the command; The women who proclaim the good tidings are a great host” (Psalm 68:11, NASB 1995).
While all three translations describe the announcement of important news, the ESV and NASB specifically identify women as the messengers. The NLT instead describes a great army without indicating that the Hebrew text uses a feminine grammatical form. This difference raises an important question about how closely each translation reflects the original wording.
What Does the Original Hebrew Say?
The Hebrew word translated “the women who announce” is mevasserot (מְבַשְּׂרוֹת), a feminine plural participle derived from a verb meaning to announce news or proclaim good tidings. Its grammatical form is significant because it identifies the messengers as women rather than simply describing an unspecified group of people. The verse also includes language describing a great company or host, which helps explain the NLT’s reference to a large army. However, the Hebrew does not necessarily portray these messengers as soldiers. Instead, the wording is consistent with a large company of women publicly announcing news of victory. The NLT follows a meaning-based translation approach that prioritizes clear, contemporary English. In this instance, the translators appear to have emphasized the size of the company and the announcement itself rather than preserving the feminine identification of those delivering the message. Although the central thought remains understandable, an important detail in the original text becomes less apparent.
Women Celebrating God’s Victories
The reference to women in Psalm 68:11 fits naturally with several Old Testament accounts in which women participated in public celebrations following military victories and acts of divine deliverance.
- After God delivered Israel through the Red Sea, Miriam led the women in worship with tambourines and dancing, celebrating the Lord’s triumph over the Egyptian army (Exodus 15:20–21).
- Deborah and Barak likewise sang a song acknowledging God’s deliverance of Israel from its enemies (Judges 5:1–3).
- When David returned from battle, women from the towns of Israel welcomed the victorious army with singing, dancing, and musical instruments (1 Samuel 18:6–7).
- A similar scene appears when Jephthah’s daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and dancing after his military victory (Judges 11:34).
These examples demonstrate that women were regularly involved in celebrating victories and publicly proclaiming what had taken place.
The surrounding context of Psalm 68 reinforces this understanding. The psalm celebrates God’s power, His leadership of Israel, and His victories over opposing nations. Psalm 68:12 describes enemy kings fleeing and the distribution of spoil, while Psalm 68:25 portrays a procession that includes female musicians. Within this setting, the reference to a great company of women announcing good news is consistent with the biblical pattern of public celebrations following victory. Recognizing the feminine wording in verse 11 therefore contributes to understanding the historical and literary imagery of the psalm. Rather than describing an unidentified army of messengers, the Hebrew presents women participating in the proclamation of God’s mighty works.
What Does This Passage Teach About Women in God’s Work?
Psalm 68:11 is sometimes referenced in discussions about women’s participation in ministry, although its immediate purpose is not to establish qualifications for church leadership or define the responsibilities of pastors and elders. The passage describes women announcing the news of God’s victory, and its meaning should be understood within that context. Nevertheless, the verse contributes to a broader biblical picture in which women serve important roles in communicating God’s truth and celebrating His faithfulness. Miriam led women in worship, Deborah served as a judge and prophetess, Hannah offered a remarkable prayer of thanksgiving, and Mary praised God for His promises concerning the coming Savior. The New Testament also records that women were among the first to announce the resurrection of Jesus Christ to His disciples (Luke 24:9–10). Although these accounts describe different circumstances and responsibilities, they demonstrate that God has repeatedly used women to communicate significant truths and testify to His mighty works.
Understanding this distinction allows readers to appreciate Psalm 68:11 without forcing it to address questions beyond its intended purpose. The verse does not need to settle debates about church leadership to provide a meaningful example of women participating in the proclamation of God’s victory. Its contribution is found in what the text actually describes, and preserving that detail helps readers recognize the important place these women occupied in the biblical account.
Why Comparing Bible Translations Matters
Bible translation requires balancing linguistic accuracy, readability, and the communication of meaning. Translations such as the ESV and NASB generally attempt to preserve more of the wording and grammatical structure of the original languages, while the NLT places greater emphasis on expressing the meaning in natural, contemporary English. Both approaches can benefit readers, particularly when used together. The NLT often makes difficult passages easier to understand, while more formally equivalent translations can help identify grammatical details that might otherwise be overlooked. Psalm 68:11 illustrates this benefit because the NLT communicates the announcement of God’s victory, while the ESV and NASB preserve the additional information that the messengers were women.
There is no reason to assume the NLT translators intentionally minimized the role of women or sought to change the theological meaning of the passage. Translation involves numerous decisions, and some details become less visible when translators prioritize natural expression over grammatical correspondence. Nevertheless, the feminine plural construction in Psalm 68:11 is a meaningful feature of the Hebrew text, particularly when considered alongside the Old Testament accounts of women celebrating military victories. In this instance, the more literal translations communicate a fuller picture of the passage by retaining information that the NLT leaves unstated.
Appreciating the NLT While Studying Scripture Carefully
The New Living Translation remains an excellent choice for personal Bible reading, teaching, and sharing Scripture with others. Its clarity is one of its greatest strengths, and its accessible language has helped many people understand passages that might otherwise seem difficult or unfamiliar. Appreciating those strengths, however, does not require overlooking places where another translation may preserve an important detail more accurately. Comparing reliable translations, examining cross-references, and considering the historical setting can provide a more complete understanding of what Scripture communicates.
Psalm 68:11 offers a helpful reminder that careful Bible study involves paying attention not only to the central message of a passage but also to the details through which that message is expressed. The verse declares that God gives the word and His victory is proclaimed, a truth communicated clearly in the NLT. Yet the original Hebrew also identifies those proclaiming the good news as a great company of women, a detail that fits naturally with the biblical accounts of women celebrating God’s victories. Recognizing that distinction enriches our understanding of the passage and reminds us that the goal of Bible study is not to defend a particular translation, but to understand God’s Word faithfully and allow its truth to shape our lives.
Editorial Note: This post was developed with the assistance of computer-based writing tools.