Ps 82:1: God takes his stand in the assembly of El
Says Ps 82:1 (LXX 81:1) opens מִזְמוֹר לְאָסָף ("A Psalm of Asaph," BSB); in the MT and the BSB the superscription is part of verse 1. The verse goes on אֱלֹהִים נִצָּב בַּעֲדַת־אֵל בְּקֶרֶב אֱלֹהִים יִשְׁפֹּט (elohim nitsav ba'adat-el beqerev elohim yishpot).
Says נִצָּב is a Niphal participle and יִשְׁפֹּט a Qal imperfect, both masculine singular, so the first אֱלֹהִים is the one God who stands and judges. עֲדַת is a feminine construct, "assembly of," governing אֵל; the second אֱלֹהִים, like the first, is plural in form. BDB glosses the noun "congregation" and the Niphal "take one's stand."
Says In this part of the Psalter (Pss 42–83), אֱלֹהִים is the usual word for Israel's God.
Implies The lean is that בַּעֲדַת־אֵל means "in the assembly of God (El)," since the God who stands in it is named in the same line. The main alternative takes אֵל adjectivally ("divine, mighty"), as the BSB's "divine assembly" does.
Implies נִצָּב pictures a judge taking his stand, as the same participle does in Isa 3:13, נִצָּב לָרִיב יְהוָה (BSB "The Lord arises to contend"). The main alternative is a more general "is stationed, presides" (BSB "presides").
Uncertain Who the אֱלֹהִים of 82:1b are: heavenly beings of God's council, human judges or rulers, or Israel at Sinai. No lean is taken here; see note.exegetical.Ps.82.1.god-in-the-assembly. For the Greek συναγωγῇ θεῶν see note.textual.Ps.82.1-Ps.82.8.minor-variants and the Greek note.
Claims
- SaysPs 82:1 (LXX 81:1) opens מִזְמוֹר לְאָסָף ("A Psalm of Asaph"), inside verse 1 in MT and BSB, then אֱלֹהִים נִצָּב בַּעֲדַת־אֵל בְּקֶרֶב אֱלֹהִים יִשְׁפֹּט.
- Saysנִצָּב (Niphal participle) and יִשְׁפֹּט (Qal imperfect) are masculine singular, so the first אֱלֹהִים is the one God; עֲדַת is a feminine construct governing אֵל; the second אֱלֹהִים is plural in form.
- SaysIn Pss 42–83 אֱלֹהִים is the usual word for Israel's God.
- ImpliesLean: בַּעֲדַת־אֵל = "in the assembly of God (El)"; main alternative: adjectival "divine, mighty" (BSB "divine assembly").
- Impliesנִצָּב pictures a judge taking his stand (as in Isa 3:13); main alternative: "is stationed, presides" (BSB "presides").
- UncertainWho the אֱלֹהִים of 82:1b are (heavenly council, human judges or rulers, Israel at Sinai): no lean.
Citations
- OSHB CC BY 4.0 Ps 82:1 (WLC/OSHB; morph HVNrmsa, HR/Ncfsc, HNcmsa, HNcmpa, HVqi3ms)
- OSHB CC BY 4.0 Isa 3:13 (WLC/OSHB; morph HVNrmsa)
- OSHB CC BY 4.0 Pss 42–83, lemma counts (WLC/OSHB): H430 (God) 248, H3068 (the LORD) 40; Pss 1–41: 49 and 278
- BSB public domain Ps 82:1; Isa 3:13
- BDB CC BY 4.0 s.v. H5712, p. 417, entry j.cb.ab; BDB 1906 page image, archive.org hebrewenglishlex00browuoft, leaf n440
- BDB CC BY 4.0 s.v. H5324, p. 662, entry n.ep.aa; BDB 1906 page image, archive.org hebrewenglishlex00browuoft, leaf n685
2026-11-10
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