What does "You are gods" in Psalm 82 mean?
In Psalm 82, God speaks to unjust rulers: "I said, you are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; nevertheless, like men you shall die." It is a stinging address to those given authority on earth, holding them accountable to the true God.
The "gods" are likely human judges or earthly rulers, called by an elevated title because they wield God-given authority. They will be judged precisely because they abused it.
Jesus quotes it in John 10:34 to argue from lesser to greater: if God called these "gods," how much more rightly may the Son of God be called "God"?
It does not teach that humans become divine. It teaches that authority is on loan, will be audited, and is overshadowed by the One who truly is God.
Original BibleDawn answer · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.