Psalms 82
Berean Standard Bible · Compare translations · Tap a verse to copy, share or highlight ·
8 verses · 112 words · ~1 min read · ~1 min listen
God Presides in the Divine Assembly
A Psalm of Asaph.
1God presides in the divine assembly;
He renders judgment among the gods:
2“How long will you judge unjustly
and show partiality to the wicked?
Selah
3Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless;
uphold the rights of the afflicted and oppressed.
4Rescue the weak and needy;
save them from the hand of the wicked.
5They do not know or understand;
they wander in the darkness;
all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6I have said, ‘You are gods;
you are all sons of the Most High.’
7But like mortals you will die,
and like rulers you will fall.”
8Arise, O God, judge the earth,
for all the nations are Your inheritance.
Footnotes (2)
- a v2 Or How long will you defend the unjust
- b v6 Cited in John 10:34
Study notes on this chapter · 1
QuotationLinked by the New Testament
I said, you are gods
When accused of blasphemy for claiming to be God's Son, Jesus points to Psalm 82, where God addresses rulers as 'gods'. He argues that if Scripture can call those to whom God's word came 'gods', it cannot be blasphemy for the one the Father sent to say he is God's Son. What Psalm 82 originally means is itself debated.
When: Psalm of Asaph; Jesus at the Feast of Dedication, c. AD 29–30.
Original passagePsalms 82:6
Where the New Testament applies itJohn 10:34–36
Ways people read this (3)
- Human judges or rulers of Israel are addressed as 'gods' because they act in God's name.
- Members of a heavenly council (angelic or spiritual powers) are condemned for unjust rule among the nations.
- Jesus' argument works either way: if the word can be applied to others, it is not blasphemy for the one sent from the Father.
Editorial note by BibleWay. Interpretations vary; dates are approximate scholarly estimates.