Psalm 82:5-8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 82:1-5

We have here, I. God's supreme presidency and power in all councils and courts asserted and laid down, as a great truth necessary to be believed both by princes and subjects (Ps. 82:1): God stands, as chief director, in the congregation of the mighty, the mighty One, in coetu fortis?in the councils of the prince, the supreme magistrate, and he judges among the gods, the inferior magistrates; both the legislative and the executive power of princes is under his eye and his hand. Observe here, 1.... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 82:6-8

We have here, I. Earthly gods abased and brought down, Ps. 82:6, 7. The dignity of their character is acknowledged (Ps. 82:6): I have said, You are gods. They have been honoured with the name and title of gods. God himself called them so in the statute against treasonable words Exod. 22:28; Thou shalt not revile the gods. And, if they have this style from the fountain of honour, who can dispute it? But what is man, that he should be thus magnified? He called them gods because unto them the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 82:5

They knew not ,.... The Targum adds, to do well. This is to be understood of unjust judges and wicked magistrates, who know not God, and have not the fear of him before their eyes, though he stands in the midst of them, and judges among them; which is the source of their unjust judging and unrighteous proceedings: for because they know not God, nor fear him, therefore they regard not men: nor do such know themselves; they are called gods, and they think they are so, and do not consider they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 82:6

I have said, ye are gods ,.... In the law, Exodus 21:6 or they were so by his appointment and commission; he constituted them judges and magistrates, invested them with such an office, by which they came to have this title; see Romans 13:1 , and so our Lord interprets these words, that they were gods "to whom" the word of God came, which gave them a commission and authority to exercise their office, John 10:35 , or rather "against whom" it came, pronouncing the sentence of death on... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 82:7

But ye shall die like men ,.... As men in common do, to whom it is appointed to die, Hebrews 9:27 or as common men, as men in the lowest class of life: the wise man dies as the fool, the king as the peasant, high as the low, rich as the poor; death levels and makes all alike: or as Adam, as the first man, so Jarchi, who was lord of the whole universe; but being in honour, abode not, but became like the beasts that perish; sinning he died, and so all his posterity, even those who have the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 82:8

Arise, O God ,.... These are the words of the prophet, or of the church, whom he represents, addressing Christ, who is God over all; that seeing there was such a corruption and degeneracy in the world, and such wretched perversion of justice, that he would arise and exert himself, and show himself strong on the behalf of his people: judge the earth : who is the Judge of the whole earth, to whom all judgment is committed, and who will judge the world in righteousness: for thou shalt... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 82:5

They know not - The judges are not acquainted with the law of God, on which all their decisions should be founded. Neither will they understand - They are ignorant and do not wish to be instructed. They will not learn; they cannot teach. Happy England! How different from Judea, even in the days of Jehoshaphat! All thy judges are learned, righteous, and impartial. Never did greater men in their profession dignify any land or country - (1822). All the foundations of the earth - " All... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 82:6

Ye are gods - Or, with the prefix of כ ke , the particle of similitude, כאלהים keelohim , "like God." Ye are my representatives, and are clothed with my power and authority to dispense judgment and justice, therefore all of them are said to be children of the Most High. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 82:7

But ye shall die like men - כאדם keadam , "ye shall die like Adam," who fell from his high perfection and dignity as ye have done. Your high office cannot secure you an immortality. And fall like one of the princes - Justice shall pursue you, and judgment shall overtake you; and you shall be executed like public state criminals. You shall not, in the course of nature, fall into the grave; but your life shall be brought to an end by a legal sentence, or a particular judgment of God. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 82:8

Arise, O God, judge the earth - Justice is perverted in the land: take the scepter, and rule thyself. For thou shalt inherit all nations - Does not this last verse contain a prophecy of our Lord, the calling of the Gentiles, and the prevalence of Christianity over the earth? Thus several of the fathers have understood the passage. It is only by the universal spread of Christianity over the world, that the reign of righteousness and justice is to be established: and of whom can it be said... read more

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