Psalms 53:6

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 Psalms 53:5 naturally passes into a prayer for further restoration.

the salvation of Israel Lit. salvations, victory and deliverance full and complete. (Psalms 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 GodPsalms 14:7 has Jehovah. At first sight these words seem to fix the date of the Psalm in the period of the Exile (Psalms 126:1). Nor does the phrase out of Zionexclude such a view. The exiles turned to Zion even in her desolation (Daniel 6:10; 1 Kings 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 captivitymeans rather turn the fortunes[26]. This meaning suits all the passages in which the phrase occurs, while turn the captivitydoes not, except in the figurative sense of restoring prosperity. See e.g. Job 42:10; Ezekiel 16:53; Zephaniah 2:7. And (2) even if turn the captivityis the original meaning, the phrase is used by Amos (Amos 9:14) and Hosea (Hosea 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'bûthbeing 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. Psalms 13:5-6): let Jacob rejoice, and Israel be glad.