Ps 82:6–7: "you are gods," and "like man you will die"

Says 82:6 reads אֲנִי־אָמַרְתִּי אֱלֹהִים אַתֶּם וּבְנֵי עֶלְיוֹן כֻּלְּכֶם ("I said, gods are you, and sons of Elyon, all of you," literal; BSB "You are gods; you are all sons of the Most High"). אָמַרְתִּי is a Qal perfect first singular; אַתֶּם and the suffix of כֻּלְּכֶם are second masculine plural; בְנֵי עֶלְיוֹן stands parallel to אֱלֹהִים. For עֶלְיוֹן see note.language.Deut.32.7-Deut.32.9.elyon-portion.

Uncertain Whether אֲנִי־אָמַרְתִּי means "I declared" or "I thought." The lean is "I declared," God's own word of appointment, which אָכֵן overturns. The main alternative is "I had thought," a supposition that 82:7 corrects; BDB lists this אָכֵן among those that set "the reality" against "what had been wrongly imagined."

Says BDB gives אָכֵן "with strong asseverative force: surely, truly," "emphasizing a contrast, but indeed, but in fact." תְּמוּתוּן and תִּפֹּלוּ are second masculine plural imperfects.

Uncertain The lean for כְּאָדָם is "like man, like mortals" (BDB "man, mankind"; BSB "But like mortals you will die"); the main alternative is "like Adam," who died (Gen 3:19). וּכְאַחַד הַשָּׂרִים is "like one of the princes" (BSB "like rulers you will fall"); whether these are human rulers or heavenly princes (compare Dan 10:13, 20) follows the identity question, and no lean is taken.

Implies Whatever these אֱלֹהִים are, God judges them and sentences them to die, so the psalm does not make them his equals.

Uncertain Who they are: heavenly beings of God's council, human judges or rulers, or Israel at Sinai. No lean is taken here; see note.exegetical.Ps.82.6-Ps.82.7.you-are-gods.