The Bible — World English Bible

Psalm 82

In brief

Psalm 82 is a psalm of Asaph that stages a judgment: God stands in the assembly and judges among the gods. He reproaches those in authority for judging unjustly and reminds them of their task: to defend the weak and the fatherless. In verse 6, God says they are gods, sons of the Most High, then announces that they will die like men. The psalm ends with a plea: may God arise and judge the earth, for all the nations belong to him.

The chapter in 5 parts

  1. v. 1God stands in the assembly and judges
  2. v. 2-4The rebuke: defend the weak and the fatherless
  3. v. 5The blindness that shakes the earth
  4. v. 6-7You are gods, but you will die like men
  5. v. 8Arise, O God, judge the earth

1God presides in the great assembly. He judges among the gods.

2“How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked?”

3“Defend the weak, the poor, and the fatherless. Maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.

4Rescue the weak and needy. Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.”

5They don’t know, neither do they understand. They walk back and forth in darkness. All the foundations of the earth are shaken.

6I said, “You are gods, all of you are sons of the Most High.

7Nevertheless you shall die like men, and fall like one of the rulers.”

8Arise, God, judge the earth, for you inherit all of the nations.

Key verses

Verse 1
God presides in the great assembly. He judges among the gods.

The scene opens in a courtroom where God is the supreme judge. The powerful of this world are not above being called to account.

Verse 3-4
“Defend the weak, the poor, and the fatherless. Maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy. Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.”

These verses say what God expects from authority: to defend the weak, the fatherless and the poor. Justice is measured by how we treat the most vulnerable.

Verse 6
I said, “You are gods, all of you are sons of the Most High.

A much debated verse. Jesus quotes it in John 10:34. The gods are understood either as human judges charged with a divine authority or as heavenly beings: both readings exist in the history of the Church.

Verse 8
Arise, God, judge the earth, for you inherit all of the nations.

The psalm ends with a prayer: since people fail, God must arise himself. It is the hope of perfect justice, which Christians connect with the return of Christ.

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What the sermons say

God Is Looking for a Man to Stand in the Gap: Will You Say Here I Am?Steve Jaffar reads Psalm 82 as a council scene where God reproaches those who received authority for not giving justice to the weak, and he sees in verse 8 a cry that prepares the coming of Jesus.Read the summary →Get Out of the Jar: Step Into the Normal Life God Planned for YouYvan Castanou mentions Psalm 82, in which the gods will die like men, in a message about the life God created us for, beyond the routine.Read the summary →Consecration: What God Wants to Change in You Right NowThis message on consecration cites Psalm 82 as a judgment against injustice and a call to the God who judges the earth.Read the summary →Crossing to the Other Side of the Jordan: Leaving the Zone That Holds You BackThis message from the start of the year cites Psalm 82 for the attention we should give to the weak.Read the summary →

Frequently asked questions about Psalm 82

What does you are gods mean in Psalm 82?

Believers understand it in two ways. For some, these are human judges of Israel, called gods because they exercise authority received from God: this is the reading Jesus seems to take up in John 10:34-35. For others, they are beings of the heavenly council. In both cases, they will die and answer before God.

What is the message of Psalm 82?

God is the judge of judges. He expects those who hold authority to defend the weak, the fatherless and the poor. When they do not, the whole of society staggers. The psalm calls on God to arise and judge the earth, for all the nations belong to him.

How can I pray with Psalm 82?

Pray for the leaders of your country, your city and your church, that they may judge with righteousness. Ask God to open your eyes to a vulnerable person near you whom you could defend or help, then finish with verse 8 by entrusting to him the injustices you cannot settle.

Articles quoting Psalm 82

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World English Bible translation — public domain.