Psalms 53:6

Psa 53:6 Oh that the salvation of Israel [were come] out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, [and] Israel shall be glad.

Ver. 6. Oh that the salvation] Heb. Salvations; indicat plenam salutem, Let it show full salvation, saith Kimchi.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Psa_53:6

Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion.

The salvation of the Church, and the destruction of her enemies

I. The destruction of the wicked (Psa_53:5).

1. Utter and irreversible.

2. Effected by God.

3. Overtaking them when they regarded themselves as quite secure.

4. Inflicted because of their hostility to the people of God.

(1) He is in covenant relation with His people, and is pledged to help them.

(2) He is profoundly and tenderly interested in His people (Isa_49:14-16; Mat_18:5-6; Mat_25:40; Mat_25:45; Act_9:4). An inspiring and strengthening consideration for the people of God. Motive and encouragement to those who would aid them. Warning to those who would injure them.

II. The destruction of the wicked in former times as an encouragement to the good to expect salvation from present dangers. This we take to be the connecting link between Psa_53:5; Psa_6:1-10.

1. The poetic view of salvation. It is here represented as deliverance from captivity.

2. The grand source of salvation. Out of Zion.

3. The earnest desire of salvation.

4. The encouragement to expect salvation. God is unchangeable. What He has done in the past He is able to do in the present. He is faithful. What He has promised that will He perform. (W. Jones.)

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Psa_54:1-7

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Psa 53:6. O that the salvation, &c. — See on Psa 14:7.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

7. (Psa 53:6). Who will give out of Zion salvations (to) Israel—in God's returning (to) the captivity of his people—let Jacob exult, let Israel joy! See above, on Psa 14:7. The only variations are the change of Jehovah to Elohim, and of the singular salvation to its plural, denoting variety and fulness. See above, on Psa 18:50 (49). The exact translation is salvations of Israel, and the meaning of the next clause, "when God revisits (or in God's revisiting) his captive people."

Joseph Addison Alexander, The Psalms Translated and Explained (1850) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Verse 6. O that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion!] I have already shown that the proper translation is, "Who shall give from Zion salvation to Israel?" The word salvation is in the plural here, deliverances: but many MSS., with the Septuagint, Vulgate, Arabic, and Anglo-Saxon, have it in the singular.

When God bringeth back] When Jehovah bringeth back, is the reading of more than twenty of Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS., with the Septuagint, Syriac, and Chaldee, and Justinianus' Polyglot Psalter.

For larger notes and an analysis, the reader is requested to refer to Ps 14:1, c. (note) and for a comparison of the two Psalms he may consult Dr. Kennicott's Hebrew Bible, where, under Ps 14:1, &c., in the lower margin, the variations are exhibited at one view.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

6. Concluding prayer for the full restoration of Israel. Some commentators have regarded this as a liturgical addition, but its presence in both recensions is in favour of its originality. It forms an appropriate conclusion to the Ps., and the recollection of past deliverance in Psa_53:5 naturally passes into a prayer for further restoration.

the salvation of Israel] Lit. salvations, victory and deliverance full and complete. (Psa_14:7 has the singular.) Zion is Jehovah’s dwelling-place, the centre from which He exercises His earthly sovereignty.

when God bringeth back &c.] Or, as R.V. marg., returneth to the captivity &c. For God Psa_14:7 has Jehovah. At first sight these words seem to fix the date of the Psalm in the period of the Exile (Psa_126:1). Nor does the phrase out of Zion exclude such a view. The exiles turned to Zion even in her desolation (Dan_6:10; 1Ki_8:44), and from thence Jehovah might be expected to restore His people. But (1) it is very probable that the phrase rendered bring back the captivity means rather turn the fortunes[26]. This meaning suits all the passages in which the phrase occurs, while turn the captivity does not, except in the figurative sense of restoring prosperity. See e.g. Job_42:10; Eze_16:53; Zep_2:7. And (2) even if turn the captivity is the original meaning, the phrase is used by Amos (Amo_9:14) and Hosea (Hos_6:11) long before the Babylonian Captivity. In the time of Hezekiah the words might refer to the recent fall of the Northern Kingdom.

[26] Lit. turn a turning, the word sh’bûth being derived from shûb ‘to turn’ or ‘return,’ not from shâbâh, ‘to take captive.’ The regular word for the Babylonian captivity is gôlâh, ‘exile.’

then shall Jacob rejoice] Properly a wish or prayer (cp. Psa_13:5-6): let Jacob rejoice, and Israel be glad.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

O that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion!.... Or, "who will give (f) out of Zion the salvation of Israel?" The Targum adds, "except the Lord"; and this is a request to him for it: and, as in Psa 14:7, it may be a wish for the first coming of Christ, to work out salvation for his people; here it may be expressive of the desire of the church for his coming in a spiritual manner, in the latter day, to take to himself his great power, and reign; to destroy antichrist, and deliver his people from bondage and oppression by him; when the Gentiles shall be gathered in, the Jews will be converted, and all Israel saved; see Rom 11:25. It is in the original text, "salvations" (g); denoting the complete salvation of the church; when all her enemies will be destroyed, and all peace and prosperity shall be enjoyed by her; See Gill on Psa 14:6.

when God bringeth back the captivity of his people: who have been carried into it by antichrist, Rev 13:10;

Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad; for now the kingdoms of this world will become Christ's; the marriage of the Lamb will be come, and the bride made ready, through the calling of the Gentiles, and the conversion of the Jews; which will occasion the twenty four elders, the representatives of the Christian church, to give thanks to the Lord God Almighty, and cause many voices to be heard in heaven, expressing great joy on this occasion, Rev 11:15.

(f) "quis dabit", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, &c. (g) "salutes", Pagninus, Montanus, Cocceius; so Ainsworth.

Next: Psalms Chapter 54

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Oh that the salvation of Israel ... - The only change here from Psa 14:7 is that the word אלהים 'Elohiym, God, is substituted for “Jehovah,” Lord, and that the word rendered “salvation” is here in the plural. On the supposition that the psalm was adapted to a state of things when the city had been besieged, and the enemy discomfited, this language would express the deep and earnest desire of the people that the Lord would grant deliverance. Perhaps it may be supposed, also, that at the time of such a siege, and while the Lord interposed to save them from the siege, it was also true that there was some general danger hanging over the people; that even the nation might be described as in some sense “captive;” or that some portions of the land were subject to a foreign power. The desire expressed is, that the deliverance might be complete, and that the whole land might be brought to the possession of liberty, and be rescued from all foreign domination. That time, when it should arrive, would be the occasion of universal rejoicing.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Ver. 6. Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion. Would God the final battle were well over. When will the Lord avenge his own elect? When will the long oppression of the saints come to its close, and glory crown their heads? The word salvation is in the plural, to show its greatness.

When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad. Inasmuch as the yoke has been heavy, and the bondage cruel, the liberty will be happy, and the triumph joyous. The second advent and the restoration of Israel are our hope and expectation. We have attempted to throw into rhyme the last two verses of this Psalm:

The foes of Zion quake for fright.

Where no fear was they quail;

For well they know that sword of might

Which cuts through coats of mail.

The Lord of old defiled their shields,

And all their spears he scorned;

Their bones lay scattered over the fields,

Unburied and unmourned.

Let Zion's foes be filled with shame;

Her sons are blessed of God;

Though scoffers now despise their name,

The Lord shall break the rod.

Oh! would our God to Zion turn,

God with salvation clad;

Then Judah's harps should music learn,

And Israel be glad.

None.

Ver. 6.

I. There is salvation for Israel.

II. That salvation is in Zion.

III. Their salvation remains there when they are banished

from it.

I. Their joy becomes greater when they return. G. R.

Charles H. Spurgeon's The Treasury of David (1869–1885) — public domain. Psalms only. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

This verse is identical with Psa_14:7, except in the substitution of "Elohim" for "Jehovah," and in the pointing of one word.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The two texts now again coincide. Instead of ישׁוּעת, we here have ישׁעות; the expression is strengthened, the plural signifies entire, full, and final salvation.

Keil & Delitzsch — Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (1861–1891) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API. (Old Testament only.)

Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come

The word "Oh" here introduces an exclamation that expresses a hope or prayer. AT: "I hope that the salvation of Israel will come" or "I pray that the salvation of will come" (See: Exclamations)

the salvation of Israel would come from Zion

The salvation represents God, the savior, whose temple is in Zion. AT: "the savior of Israel would come from Zion" or "God would come from Zion and save Israel" (See: Metonymy)

When God brings back his people from the captivity

"When God saves his captive people"

Jacob will rejoice and Israel will be glad!

These two phrases have the same meaning. (See: Parallelism)

Jacob

Here "Jacob" refers to the descendants of Jacob, the Israelites. (See: Metonymy)

translationWords

save

Israel

Zion

people of God

captive

Jacob

joy

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

there was never such fear This fear was not like the first fear that came over Belshazzar, for in this redemption the Holy One, blessed be He, scattered the bones of חוֹנָךְ, those who camp around you, Jerusalem, as the matter that is stated (Zech. 14:12): “His flesh will waste away, etc.” Menachem (p. 91) interpreted it that way, but Dunash (pp. 63f.) interpreted it as (Prov. 22:6): “Train (חנך) a child according to his way”; the “chaph” of חוֹנָךְ is a radical as the “chaph” of חֲנֹךְ, train.

You have put them to shame You, O Lord, have put all my enemies to shame, for You have rejected them.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.