Psalm 82
- See below for verses 6-7, and see The Jewish Study Bible Notes to the psalm as a whole at Divine Council. JSB notes to verse 1 are here.
1 A psalm of Asaph.
God stands in the divine assembly;
among the divine beings He pronounces judgment.*
2 How long will you judge perversely,
showing favor to the wicked? Selah.* Jewish Study Bible notes to v.1:
82.1: 'Asaph,' see Ps. 73.1 n. 'God,' "'elohim," as is the preference in Pss. 42-83, rather than the Tetragrammaton (Yhvh); this substitution creates some confusion in the Heb. 'Stands,' rises to render a verdict. Cf. Isa. 3.13-14. 'Divine assembly,' Heb "the assembly of El." El was the head of the Ugaritic pantheon. Perhaps originally a separate deity in early Israelite religion, the name "El" became synonymous with Yhvh. 'Divine beings,' the celestial council. Cf. Isa. ch 6; 1 Kings ch 22; Job 1.6. Some commentators prefer to interpret this use of "'elohim" as human judges, but this is less likely.
1 God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.
2 How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.
. . .
6 I have said, Ye are gods;
and all of you are children of the most High.
7 But ye shall die like men,
and fall like one of the princes.
. . .
1 God has taken his place in the divine council;
in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:
2 “How long will you judge unjustly
and show partiality to the wicked?Selah
This Psalm is the source of the term "Divine Council". Jesus alludes to an interpretation of verses 6-7 in John 10:34-35.
