Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

As I interpret it, God is addressing all beings (both spiritual and physical/human) to whom He has entrusted the function of judging on His behalf or in His name. While those beings may possess significant authority in the discharge of their duties, they are all ultimately subordinate to God Himself.

Jesus later (in John 10:34) quoted from this psalm (specifically, verse six) in rebuking the Jews who wanted to stone Him for claiming that He and the Father were one.

August 15 2025 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

After reading this Psalm my opinion is as follows:

This account is A melody of Aʹsaph and Asaph ws a Priest who did temple duties:

IIn Psalm 82, God addresses the "gods" who are either the corrupt human judges of Israel or the spiritual beings to whom the world's governance was entrusted. The psalm portrays God confronting these individuals or entities for their failure to administer true justice and protect the weak.

The fundamental point of Psalm 82 is the accountability of all those in positions of power, whether human or perceived spiritual authorities.

The most common and historically held interpretation is that the "gods" are human authorities, specifically the judges and rulers of Israel.

The psalm culminates in Asaph's prayer for God to arise and judge the earth, taking the role of the supreme sovereign.

Vrs 8: Rise up, O God, and judge the earth, for all the nations belong to you.

Conclusion:

The traditional view sees Psalm 82 as a forceful reprimand to corrupt human leaders, while the divine council view presents it as a cosmic drama about supernatural beings who failed to carry out God's will for the nations.

Jesus then referred the Jews to their own Holy Scriptures, to Psalm 82:6, and said: “Is it not written in your law, I have said, Ye are gods?... To prove this, Jesus quoted to them from Psalm 82, verses 1, 2, 6, 7 (AV) of which read: “God [Elohím] standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods [elohím].

Jesus quoted Psalm 82:6, which states, "I said, 'You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince'". Jesus cited this passage in John 10:34 to deflect accusations of blasphemy, arguing that if the Scriptures could refer to human judges as "gods" due to their representative role, then it was not blasphemous for him to be called the Son of God. 

In John 10, when Jesus was accused of blasphemy by Jewish leaders, he quoted Psalm 82:6 as part of his defence. The passage reads: "Is it not written in your Law, 'I have said, "You are gods"‘?”

By quoting from their own law, Jesus forced his accusers to confront the implications of the text they claimed to uphold. Since "Scripture cannot be broken," their position was logically inconsistent.

7 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report