The Meaning of Psalms 82:1 Explained

Psalms 82:1

KJV: {A Psalm of Asaph.} God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.

YLT: -- A Psalm of Asaph. God hath stood in the company of God, In the midst God doth judge.

Darby: {A Psalm of Asaph.} God standeth in the assembly of God, he judgeth among the gods.

ASV: God standeth in the congregation of God; He judgeth among the gods.

Discover Psalms 82:1

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Psalms 82:1?

MEANING: What does Psalms 82:1 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Psalms 82:1 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Psalms 82:1?

What is the context of Psalms 82:1?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

{{A Psalm of Asaph. }} God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.

What does Psalms 82:1 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The writer envisioned God sitting as Judge over a gathering of human Judges , the judges that lived in every town in Israel. The human judges in Israel served as God"s judicial representatives among His people. The Hebrew word translated "rulers" (NASB) or "gods" (NIV) is elohim (lit. strong ones). This word usually describes God in the Old Testament, but sometimes it refers to the strong ones in Israel, namely, the human rulers or authorities (cf. Psalm 45:6; Exodus 21:6; Exodus 22:8-9). It does not refer to angels here (cf. Ephesians 6:12) as the Syriac translators thought. This is clear from the context. It does not refer to the gods of the heathen either (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:20).

Context Summary

Psalms 82:1-8 - The Just Judge Of All

Those described here as gods are evidently the judges and magistrates of Israel. See John 10:34. They were intended to be the mouthpiece and representatives of God; but instead, they thought only of their own interests and sought personal aggrandizement. But the psalmist beheld what was veiled from ordinary view-God standing in the midst of His people, judging them Himself and judging their judges.

We may have done wrongs of which no judge has convicted us. But God has seen, and unless there is confession, leading to forgiveness, He will certainly punish. Or, we may have been grossly misjudged, and in that case He will vindicate us. Go to Jesus, to whom the Father has committed all judgment, and remember that while all things are naked and open to His eyes, He also is the High Priest who is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and the Lamb that takes away sin. When the foundations of the earth are out of course, let us remember that we belong to a kingdom that cannot be moved, Hebrews 12:28. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 82

¹ The psalmist, having exhorted the judges
⁵ And reproved their negligence
⁸ Prays God to judge

What do the individual words in Psalms 82:1 mean?

A Psalm of Asaph God takes His stand in the congregation of the divine among the gods He judges

מִזְמ֗וֹר לְאָ֫סָ֥ף אֱ‍ֽלֹהִ֗ים נִצָּ֥ב בַּעֲדַת־ אֵ֑ל בְּקֶ֖רֶב אֱלֹהִ֣ים יִשְׁפֹּֽט

מִזְמ֗וֹר	A Psalm
Parse: Noun, masculine singular Root: מִזְמֹור Sense: melody, psalm.
לְאָ֫סָ֥ף	of Asaph
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular Root: אָסָף Sense: the father of Hezekiah’s secretary.
אֱ‍ֽלֹהִ֗ים	God
Parse: Noun, masculine plural Root: אֱלֹהִים Sense: (plural).
נִצָּ֥ב	takes His stand
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine singular Root: הֻצַּב Sense: to stand, take one’s stand, stand upright, be set (over), establish.
בַּעֲדַת־	in the congregation
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct Root: עֵדָה Sense: congregation, gathering.
אֵ֑ל	of the divine
Parse: Noun, masculine singular Root: אֵל Sense: god, god-like one, mighty one.
אֱלֹהִ֣ים	the gods
Parse: Noun, masculine plural Root: אֱלֹהִים Sense: (plural).
יִשְׁפֹּֽט	He judges
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular Root: שָׁפַט Sense: to judge, govern, vindicate, punish.

What are the major concepts related to Psalms 82:1?

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Similar Scriptures for Psalms 82:1

		John 10:35 [9]
		2 Chronicles 19:6-7 [7]
		Psalms 82:6-7 [6]
		Isaiah 3:13 [5]
		Ecclesiastes 5:8 [4]
		Psalms 58:11 [4]
		Psalms 138:1 [4]
		Exodus 21:6 [2]
		Exodus 22:28 [2]
		Exodus 18:21 [1]
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