God in the divine assembly (82:1)
Says “A Psalm of Asaph. God presides in the divine assembly; He renders judgment among the gods” (Ps 82:1 [LXX 81:1], BSB). The BSB’s “divine assembly” renders עֲדַת־אֵל (adat-el), literally “assembly of El/God.” Asaph led the Levites who played before the ark (1 Chr 16:5). Other passages picture the Lord among heavenly beings: “the assembly of the holy ones” and “the council of the holy ones” (Ps 89:5, 7 [MT 89:6, 8]), “all the host of heaven standing by Him” (1 Kgs 22:19), and “the sons of God” who “came to present themselves before the Lord” (Job 1:6). For Deut 32:8–9 and the nations, see note.historical.Deut.32.1-Deut.32.43.nations-and-heavenly-court.
Michael Heiser sets out a divine-council reading of the “sons of God” in the Hebrew Bible (BSac 158 [2001], pp. 59–60). He also argues that the Most High of Deut 32:8 is the Lord himself, not a second god (HIPHIL 3 [2006], pp. 6–7). These are his arguments, reported as his.
Implies Whoever the אֱלֹהִים (elohim) of 82:1b and 82:6 are, God judges them and sentences them to die (82:7), so the psalm does not make them God’s equals; elsewhere the Lord says, “there is no God but Me” (Isa 45:5; cf. Deut 4:35).
Uncertain The identity of these אֱלֹהִים is open: heavenly beings of God’s council, human judges or rulers in Israel, or Israel at Sinai (see note.historical.Ps.82.6-Ps.82.7.early-readings). No lean is taken here, and this background does not fix the meaning of 82:1 or 82:6.
Claims
- SaysPs 82:1 is headed “A Psalm of Asaph” and says God presides in the assembly (MT עֲדַת־אֵל, “assembly of El/God”; BSB “divine assembly”) and judges among the gods; 1 Chr 16:5 names Asaph as chief of the Levites before the ark; Ps 89:5–7 (MT 89:6–8), 1 Kgs 22:19 and Job 1:6 place the Lord among heavenly beings.
- ImpliesWhatever the elohim of Ps 82:1b and 82:6 are, God judges them and sentences them to die (82:7), so the psalm does not make them God’s equals (cf. Isa 45:5; Deut 4:35).
- UncertainThe identity of the elohim of Ps 82:1b and 82:6 (heavenly council beings, human judges or rulers, or Israel at Sinai) is open; no lean, and the background does not fix 82:1 or 82:6.
Citations
- BSB public domain Ps 82:1, 6–7; 89:5–7; 1 Kgs 22:19; Job 1:6; 1 Chr 16:5; Isa 45:5; Deut 4:35
- OSHB CC BY 4.0 Ps 82:1, 6 (WLC/OSHB), cantillation and meteg removed
- 🔒︎ Heiser, BSac 158 Copyrighted BSac 158 (2001) pp. 59–60, divine council (read on the page images; by reference; not quoted)
- 🔒︎ Heiser, HIPHIL 3 Copyrighted HIPHIL 3 (2006) p. 6 (the separate-deities view set out, and the counter-arguments begun) and p. 7 (further arguments that Elyon in 32:8 is YHWH); read on the page images; by reference; not quoted
2026-11-10
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