Psalms 82:6

6 I say, ‘You are gods; you are all children of the Most High.

Psalms 82:6 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 82:6

I have said, ye are gods
In the law, ( Exodus 21:6 ) ( 22:28 ) or they were so by his appointment and commission; he constituted them judges and magistrates, invested them with such an office, by which they came to have this title; see ( Romans 13:1 ) , and so our Lord interprets these words, that they were gods "to whom" the word of God came, which gave them a commission and authority to exercise their office, ( John 10:35 ) , or rather "against whom" it came, pronouncing the sentence of death on them, as in ( Psalms 82:7 ) , to which the reference is; declaring, that though they were gods by office, yet were mortal men, and should die. The Targum is, "I said, as angels are ye accounted"; and so judges and civil magistrates had need to be as angels, and to have the wisdom of them; see ( 2 Samuel 14:20 ) . Jarchi interprets it of angels, but magistrates are undoubtedly meant:

and all of you are children of the most High;
the Targum here again renders it,

``the angels of the most High:''

and so Aben Ezra explains it of them who are called the sons of God, ( Job 38:7 ) but men in power are meant, who, because of their eminency and dignity, their high office, post, and place, are so called; see ( Genesis 6:2 ) ( Psalms 89:6 ) .

Psalms 82:6 In-Context

4 Rescue the poor and helpless; deliver them from the grasp of evil people.

5 But these oppressors know nothing; they are so ignorant! They wander about in darkness, while the whole world is shaken to the core.

6 I say, ‘You are gods; you are all children of the Most High.

7 But you will die like mere mortals and fall like every other ruler.’”

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