Week 44 Psalm 82
The bible I usually read says God takes His stand in His own congregation; He judges in the midst of the rulers. It’s the kind of wispy comment I usually glide over. But this time I notice that ‘rulers’ has a number beside it. The note says ‘rulers’ literally means ‘gods’.
I check another version: God stands in the divine assembly; he pronounces judgment among the gods. Its note says ‘gods’ also means ‘heavenly beings, or earthly rulers’.
Another version: God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment. There aren’t any notes.
One final version: God stands in the assembly of El; in the midst of the gods he renders judgment. This version – the New English Translation – is interesting because it adds extensive notes saying who or what it thinks the ‘gods’ are. It says there are three possible options:
1. the ‘gods’ are false / pagan gods who make up ‘the assembly of El’. Since El is a false god God is there to judge him (NET likes this option)
2. the ‘gods’ are important people – judges or rulers (NET gives a couple of examples to back up this idea)
3. the ‘gods’ are angelic beings.
I don’t think we get to just take-our-pick since all three options can’t be right.
I’m tending in the direction of #3. And now going forward I’ll need to see how that version tests-out.
Note: quote from Psalm 82:1 (NASB CSB ESV NET)