Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 14:7

"Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When Jehovah bringeth back the captivity of his people, Then shall Jacob rejoice, [and] Israel shall be glad." — Psalms 14:7 (ASV)

Oh that the salvation of Israel - Margin, “Who will give,” etc. The Hebrew literally is, “Who will give out of Zion salvation to Israel?” The word “Israel” refers primarily to the Hebrew people, and then it is used generally to denote the people of God. The wish expressed here is in view of the facts referred to in the previous verses—the general prevalence of iniquity and of practical atheism, and the sufferings of the people of God for that reason. This state of things suggests the earnest desire that the people of God might be delivered from all such evils.

The expression in the original, as in the margin, “Who will give,” is a common expression in Hebrew and means the same as in our translation, “Oh that.” It is expressive of an earnest desire, as if the matter were in another's hands, that he would impart that blessing or favor.

Out of Zion - On the word “Zion,” see the note at (Isaiah 1:8). It is referred to here, as it is often, as the seat or dwelling-place of God; the place from where he issued his commands, and from where he put forth his power. Thus in (Psalms 3:4), He heard me out of his holy hill. In (Psalms 20:2), the Lord ... strengthen thee out of Zion. In (Psalms 128:5), the Lord shall bless thee out of Zion. Here the phrase expresses a wish that God, who had his dwelling in Zion, would put forth his power in granting complete deliverance to his people.

When the Lord brings back - Literally, “In Yahweh’s bringing back the captivity of his people.” That is, the particular salvation for which the psalmist prayed was that Yahweh would return the captivity of his people, or restore them from captivity.

The captivity of his people - This is “language” taken from a captivity in a foreign land. It is not necessary, however, to suppose that any such literal captivity is referred to here, nor would it be necessary to infer from this that the psalm was written in the Babylonian captivity, or in any other particular exile of the Hebrew people. The truth was, that the Hebrews were often in this state (see the Book of Judges, throughout), and this language came to be the common method of expressing any condition of oppression and trouble, or of a low state of religion in the land. Compare (Job 42:10).

Jacob shall rejoice - Another name for the Hebrew people, as descended from Jacob (Isaiah 2:3; Isaiah 41:21; Isaiah 10:21; Isaiah 14:1; Amos 7:2; and often). Professor Alexander renders this, “Let Jacob exult; let Israel joy.” The idea seems to be that such a restoration would give great joy to the people of God, and the language expresses a desire that this might soon occur—perhaps expressing the idea also that in the certainty of such an ultimate restoration, such a complete salvation, the people of God might now rejoice. Thus, too, it will not only be true that the redeemed will be happy in heaven, but they may exult even now in the prospect, the certainty, that they will obtain complete salvation.