Psalm 82:6

6 I have said, elohim ye are; and all of you are Bnei HaElyon.

Psalm 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 ) .

Psalm 82:6 In-Context

4 Deliver the poor and needy; rid them out of the yad resha’im.

5 They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in choshech; all the foundations of ha’aretz are shaken.

6 I have said, elohim ye are; and all of you are Bnei HaElyon.

7 But ye shall die like adam, and fall like one of the sarim (princes).

8 Arise, Elohim, judge ha’aretz; for Thou shalt inherit kol HaGoyim.