What does the Bible mean by “you are gods” in Psalm 82:6 and John 10:34? | GotQuestions.org

Psalm 82 and the Meaning of “You are gods”

Today's question is, what does the Bible mean by, you are gods, in Psalm 82, verse 6 and John 10, verse 34? In this video I'll answer that question from a biblical perspective. Then afterwards, as always, I'll share some helpful resources, so stick around until the end.

Let's start with a look at Psalm 82, the psalm that Jesus quotes in John 10, verse 34. The Hebrew word translated gods in Psalm 82, verse 6, is Elohim. It usually refers to the one true God, but it does have other uses.

Earthly Judges Called “gods” in Psalm 82

Psalm 82, verse 1 says, God presides in the great assembly. He gives judgment among the gods. It is clear from the next three verses that the word gods refers to magistrates, judges, and other people who hold positions of authority and rule.

Calling a human magistrate a god indicates three things. First, he has authority over other human beings. Second, the power he wields as a civil authority is to be feared. And third, he derives his power and authority from God Himself, who is pictured as judging the whole earth, in verse 8.

This use of the word gods to refer to humans is rare, but it is found elsewhere in the Old Testament. For example, when God sent Moses to Pharaoh, He said, See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, Exodus 7, verse 1.

This simply means that Moses as the messenger of God was speaking God's words and would therefore be God's representative to the king. The Hebrew word elohim is translated to judges in Exodus 21, verse 6, 22, 8, 9, and 28.

The whole point of Psalm 82 is that earthly judges must act with impartiality and true justice, because even judges must stand someday before the judge. Verses 6 and 7 warn human magistrates that they too must be judged.

I said, You are gods, you are all sons of the Most High, but you will die like mere men, you will fall like every other ruler. This passage is saying that God has appointed men to positions of authority in which they are considered as gods among the people.

They are to remember that even though they are representing God in this world, they are mortal and must eventually give an account to God for how they use that authority. Now, let's look at how Jesus uses this passage.

Jesus’ Use of Psalm 82 in John 10

Jesus had just claimed to be the Son of God in John 10, verses 25 -30. The unbelieving Jews responded by charging Jesus with blasphemy, since He had claimed to be God in verse 33. Jesus then quotes Psalm 82, verse 6, reminding the Jews that the law refers to mere men, albeit men of authority and prestige, as gods.

Jesus' point is this, you charge me with blasphemy, based on my use of the title Son of God, yet your own Scriptures apply the same term to magistrates in general. If those who hold a divinely appointed office can be considered gods, how much more can the one whom God has chosen and sent, verses 34 -36?

The Serpent’s Lie and Why Humans Are Not “Little Gods”

In contrast, we have the serpent's lie to Eve in the garden. His statement, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil, Genesis 3, verse 5, was a half-truth. Their eyes were opened, verse 7, but they did not become like God.

In fact, they lost authority rather than gaining it. Satan deceived Eve about her ability to become like the one true God and so led her into a lie. Jesus defended His claim to be the Son of God on biblical and semantic grounds.

There is a sense in which influential men can be thought of as gods. Therefore, the Messiah can rightly apply the term to Himself. Human beings are not gods or little gods. We are not God. God is God, and we who know Christ are His children.

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