Psalms 82
God Judges the Divine Council 1–2
A Call for Justice on Earth 3–5
The Sentence of Mortal Judgment 6–8
Bible text: American Standard Version (1901) · Public domain
Study Notes for Psalms 82
Verse 1
among the gods — Elohim is also the word for Israel's judges: 'the cause of both parties shall come before the judges' (Ex 22:8–9, elohim in Hebrew). So God 'standeth' (natsab, takes his place) in the assembly of those who judge in his name. Jehoshaphat told such men, 'ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment' (2 Chr 19:6).
Verse 2
accept the persons of the wicked — The Hebrew says to 'lift up the face' (nasa panim) of the wicked, to favour them. The law forbade it: 'Ye shall not respect persons in judgment' (Deut 1:17), whether 'the poor' or 'the mighty' (Lev 19:15). 'Unjustly' is evel, injustice. The question 'How long?' is followed by Selah, a pause.
Verse 3
Defend the poor and fatherless — The verb 'defend' is shaphat, to judge, the same verb as in vv.1, 2 and 8; the judges are told to judge for the weak what they have judged for the wicked. 'Do justice' is tsadaq, to declare righteous. Isa 1:17 gives the same charge: 'seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.'
Verse 5
all the foundations of the earth are out of course — The judges 'know not' (yada) and 'understand' (bin), and 'walk on in darkness'. Their injustice shakes the 'foundations' (mosad): the verb mot is the one in Ps 93:1, where the world 'cannot be moved'. Compare Prov 29:4, 'The king by judgment establisheth the land.'
Verse 6
Ye are gods — Christ quotes this verse when charged with blasphemy: 'If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken' (John 10:34–36). The address belongs to those who held office from God, called 'children of the most High' (Elyon) for the authority entrusted to them.
Verse 7
ye shall die like men — The judges who bear God's name are mortal. 'Men' is adam, the human race; 'one of the princes' (sar) falls as any ruler does. Ps 146:3–4 says the same: 'Put not your trust in princes… His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth.' 'Shall die' is muth, the plain word for dying.
Verse 8
Arise, O God, judge the earth — Since the human judges have failed, the prayer asks God himself to rise and judge (shaphat, the verb of vv.1–3). The ground is 'for thou shalt inherit all nations', as the Son is promised in Ps 2:8. John hears it fulfilled: 'The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ' (Rev 11:15).