1A Psalm of Asaph. God 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.
Psalms 82 Section and Chapter Commentary
Ps 82:1-8
Jesus' Use of Psalm 82:6 in John 10
Jesus cites Psalm 82:6, 'I said, 'You are gods,'' in John 10 to defend himself against accusations of blasphemy. He argues that if God called human authorities 'gods' in scripture, it is not blasphemous for him, as the Son of God, to make similar claims. This interpretation detaches the verse from its original context in Psalm 82, where it refers to divine beings being judged and demoted by God.
Summarized by AI · Jesus and the Old Testament · Lecture 4: Angle 2 | New Testament Authors Passing on Earlier Jewish Traditions · watch the clip
Psalm 82 depicts Yahweh's judgment over other deities
Psalm 82 presents a unique scenario where Yahweh, as one god among many in a divine assembly, judges other deities for their failure to administer justice. Yahweh accuses these 'gods' of being bad at their jobs and declares that they will no longer be gods, ultimately calling for Yahweh to judge the entire earth. This psalm offers a glimpse into a complex, non-monotheistic understanding of the divine realm, where Yahweh asserts dominance over a pantheon of other gods.
Summarized by AI · The Hebrew Bible: Exploring the Literature of Ancient Israel · Lecture 21: Psalms | The Poetry of the People (?) · watch the clip
Psalms 82 Verse Notes
Ps 82:1
The Sexualized Deity in the Bible
Contrary to the long-held scholarly view that Adonai is unique among ancient Near Eastern deities for being non-sexualized and without a consort or children, new evidence suggests otherwise. With the benefit of Ugaritic literature and archaeological findings, many scholars now believe that the God of Israel was indeed part of a larger divine family, potentially having a wife (Asherah) and being one of the 'Ben Elohim' (children of God) with divine siblings, aligning more with the pantheons of surrounding nations.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · The Bible Says So: What We Get Right and Wrong About the Bible · watch the clip
Ps 82:6
Deification and Divine Status
John's Gospel presents a concept of deification, where human beings can acquire a divine status and attributes through Jesus. Jesus states in John 17 that he has given believers the same glory the Father gave him, and that they may be one as the Father and Son are one. Furthermore, in John 10, Jesus cites a Psalm where God calls humans 'gods,' implying that believers can possess a subordinate, participatory divine nature.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · What's the Point of John's Gospel? · watch the clip
