In Psalm 82, Asaph delivers from God "a word of judgment on unjust rulers and judges.... [He shows] God presiding over his heavenly court [verse 1].... As the Great King (see...Psalm 47) and the Judge of all the earth (see Psalm 94:2; Genesis 18:25; 1 Samuel 2:10) who 'loves justice' (Psalm 99:4) and judges the nations in righteousness (see Psalm 9:8; Psalm 96:13; Psalm 98:9), he is seen calling to account those responsible for defending the weak and oppressed on earth" (Zondervan NIV Study Bible, note on Psalm 82).

Observe in verses 1 and 6 the term "gods" (Hebrew elohim). This plural word can refer to a plurality of gods (usually false gods) or in a singular sense to the one God (or God family) comprising more than one Being--God the Father and God the Son, Jesus Christ. To learn more about this terminology and the nature of God, see our free booklet “Who Is God”.

Here the term "gods" refers to human beings--“children of the Most High" (verse 6). Consider that when God created the plants and animals of the earth in Genesis 1, He made them to reproduce each "according to its kind." But in the same context, God said of humanity, "Let Us [the Father and the preincarnate Christ] make man in Our image, according to Our likeness" (verse 26)--language denoting producing a child in one's image (compare Psalm 5:3). So man was made according to the God-kind. Yet this initially is in an incomplete sense of resembling God in appearance on a physical level and having an intelligent and creative mind (though still unimaginably inferior to God's). God ultimately intends for man to be a spiritual creation completely in His likeness.

Jesus would later use Psalm 82:6 to confound the Jewish religious authorities who were upset because He declared Himself the Son of God. Reminding them that their own law (Scripture) referred to human beings as "gods," he asked them why they were so upset at Him for merely saying He was the Son of God (John 10:31-37).

One godlike characteristic human beings were given at man's initial creation was that of having dominion over the earth--representing Him as ruler over creation (Genesis 1:26-28). For many, this dominion would extend over other human beings. Yet for the most part, people have not taken after God's nature in the way they have fulfilled this responsibility. Rather, they have taken advantage of and abused each other. Psalm 82 addresses this failing. It is in fact a message for everyone--but applies all the more to those who are in positions of power, who have the capacity to help others in the ways called for in verses 2-4.

Verse 5 speaks of the colossal failure of human misrule. Commenting on this verse, the Zondervan NIV Study Bible notes: "They ought to have shared in the wisdom of God (see 1 Kings 3:9; Proverbs 8:14-16; Isaiah 11:12), but they are utterly devoid of true understanding of moral issues or of the moral order that God's rule sustains (see Isaiah 44:18; Jeremiah 3:15; Jeremiah 9:24).... When such people are the wardens of justice, the whole world order crumbles (see Psalm 11:3; Psalm 75:3...)."

Clearly the human beings addressed in Psalm 82 as gods are not truly gods in an ultimate sense--as God says they will die as mere mortal men, falling "like every other ruler" (verse 7, NIV). Yet for those who submit to God's ways, other passages show that men can receive eternal life and divine glory as spirit-born members of the God family.

Thankfully, while the current societal order will fall to pieces, the ultimate world order God has ordained will stand (Psalm 75:3; Psalm 93:1). As the concluding verse of Psalm 82 calls for, He will intervene and set all things right in all nations. For all nations will at last be His, not just as His property but as His true children in His likeness-not only of form, but of character.

Supplementary Reading:"You Are Gods," The Surprising Sayings of Jesus Christ series, The Good News, July–Aug. 2002, pp. 28-29).