Psalms 82
AOSNPsalms 82:1-8
God condemns those who mistreat the helpless.
Psalms 82:1
God is ready to give judgment (see Isaiah 3:13).
divine assembly: See Job 1:6.
Psalms 82:2
Because justice defines God’s rule (Psalm 89:4), he does not support the wicked. The psalmist is confused by this situation and cries out to God to bring justice (Psalm 82:3–4, 8).
Psalms 82:5
Unjust oppressors cannot bring or restore order. They wander about in darkness, unmoved by circumstances, even when the whole world order falls apart around them (compare Psalm 11:3).
Psalms 82:6-7
The gods (see study notes on Psalm 29:1–2; 58:1), like mere humans, cannot escape the judgment common to human rulers. Jesus quoted from this passage in John 10:34.
Psalms 82:8
The nations belong to God. He will take over the realms formerly ruled by local gods and give them to his people, just as he did with the promised land.
Aquifer Open Study Notes © 2026 Mission Mutual, an adaptation of the Tyndale Open Study Notes © 2023 Tyndale House Publishers. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.