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 ) .