The quotation of Psalm 68.18 is prefaced by a verbal phrase which may be taken to mean “And so he (that is, God) says,” or “And so it (that is, the scripture) says.”
In many languages it is impossible to speak of the Scriptures “saying” something. Scriptures can be “read” but they do not “speak.” Therefore, as the scripture says must often be translated as “as anyone can read in the Holy Writings” or “… in a part of the Holy Writings.”
Psalm 68.18 reads in the Hebrew text: “You went up on the heights, you captured captives, you received gifts among men,” which is a description of the procession of the victorious king up Mount Zion, where he is paid tribute by his defeated enemies. Good News Bible translates Psalm 68.18: He goes up to the heights, taking many captives with him; he receives gifts from rebellious men. The Septuagint follows the Hebrew text closely and does not change the meaning of the text.
The clause when he went up to the very heights may be rendered as “when he went up to the very high place.”
The quotation here changes the second person of the Hebrew (and of the Septuagint) to the third person. But the greatest change is from the verb “to receive” of the Hebrew and Septuagint to “to give,” which is the very opposite of the meaning of the Old Testament text.
It is very important that translators remember to translate this quotation the way it appears here, and not try to harmonize it with Psalm 68.18. Some translators have translated heights as “heaven.” This is primarily because of the discussion about the meaning of this in verses 9 and 10. However, that discussion would be meaningless if the translation specified “heaven” in verse 8, and it is therefore important that something such as “heights” or “high space” or “highest place” be said here in verse 8.
He took many captives: this is the meaning of the idiomatic Greek phrase “he captured captivity,” which slavishly represents the Hebrew idiom. There is no way of determining who the New Testament writer considered these captives to be, whether human or angelic opponents (as in Col 2.15). The text is quoted for the purpose of using he gave gifts to mankind as the scriptural proof of Christ’s bestowing gifts on his people. It is quite certain that the “captives” are not the same as the following “men” to whom gifts are given.
In translating he took many captives with him, it is important to use terms which would suggest that he was a conquering hero leading captives. And it should be clear in translation that he took the captives with him to the heights, not that he captured them there. For captives one can use a phrase “those whom he had captured.”
He gave gifts to mankind can be translated as “he gave gifts to people.”
Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert C. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1982. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .