What does this mean: "I have said, Ye are gods..."

[Nehemiah6]

In another thread this Scripture was discussed and there seemed to be some confusion about its meaning. Got Questions has nicely clarified the meaning of this phrase.

Question: "What does the Bible mean by 'you are gods' / 'ye are gods' in Psalm 82:6 and John 10:34?"

Answer:

Let’s start with a look at Psalm 82, the psalm that Jesus quotes in John 10:34. The Hebrew word translated “gods” in Psalm 82:6 is Elohim. It usually refers to the one true God, but it does have other uses. Psalm 82:1 says, “God presides in the great assembly; he gives judgment among the gods.” It is clear from the next three verses that the word “gods” refers to magistrates, judges, and other people who hold positions of authority and rule. Calling a human magistrate a “god” indicates three things: 1) he has authority over other human beings, 2) the power he wields as a civil authority is to be feared, and 3) he derives his power and authority from God Himself, who is pictured as judging the whole earth in verse 8.

This use of the word “gods” to refer to humans is rare, but it is found elsewhere in the Old Testament. For example, when God sent Moses to Pharaoh, He said, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh” (Exodus 7:1). This simply means that Moses, as the messenger of God, was speaking God’s words and would therefore be God’s representative to the king. The Hebrew word Elohim is translated “judges” in Exodus 21:6 and 22:8, 9, and28.

The whole point of Psalm 82 is that earthly judges must act with impartiality and true justice, because even judges must stand someday before the Judge. Verses 6 and 7 warn human magistrates that they, too, must be judged: “I said, `You are gods; you are all sons of the Most High.' But you will die like mere men; you will fall like every other ruler.” This passage is saying that God has appointed men to positions of authority in which they are considered as gods among the people. They are to remember that, even though they are representing God in this world, they are mortal and must eventually give an account to God for how they used that authority.

Now, let’s look at how Jesus uses this passage. Jesus had just claimed to be the Son of God (John 10:25-30). The unbelieving Jews respond by charging Jesus with blasphemy, since He claimed to be God (verse 33). Jesus then quotes Psalm 82:6, reminding the Jews that the Law refers to mere men—albeit men of authority and prestige—as “gods.” Jesus’ point is this: you charge me with blasphemy based on my use of the title “Son of God”; yet your own Scriptures apply the same term to magistrates in general. If those who hold a divinely appointed office can be considered “gods,” how much more can the One whom God has chosen and sent (verses 34-36)?

In contrast, we have the serpent’s lie to Eve in the Garden. His statement, “your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5), was a half-truth. Their eyes were opened (verse 7), but they did not become like God. In fact, they lost authority, rather than gaining it. Satan deceived Eve about her ability to become like the one true God, and so led her into a lie. Jesus defended His claim to be the Son of God on biblical and semantic grounds—there is a sense in which influential men can be thought of as gods; therefore, the Messiah can rightly apply the term to Himself. Human beings are not “gods” or “little gods.” We are not God. God is God, and we who know Christ are His children.

https://www.gotquestions.org/you-are-gods.html

 

[JoshMal]

Firstly, the offspring of a cat will be a cat, the offspring of a human will be human.
Spiritual offsprings of God are gods.
When God was with Moses, He made Moses like a god unto pharoah. He made David like one to the philinstines after he slew Goliath and what kind of normal boy will fight with a bear and a lion and win.
The apostles were even idolized by people that thought they were Zeus and Hermes.
The point is that, the truth is no one born of God is ordinary. The Bible says it in 1 John that we have overcome the world. This means we are supernatural beings not bound by natural laws.
A child of God lying down sick in d hospital believing the doc's report should not be so. When others see walls, we see doors. What others struggle to reach, we reach without stress and the list goes on and on, brother.
This is the Truth.

 

[miknik5]

In another thread this Scripture was discussed and there seemed to be some confusion about its meaning. Got Questions has nicely clarified the meaning of this phrase.

It means that to those to whom THE WORD of GOD has come have eternal life

 

[miknik5]

Just as HE clearly stated

yet not all have received THE WORD of GOD

 

[Zmouth]

And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: Rev 5:10

 

[breno785au]

Well I got this from KJV Lexicon:

Ye are gods
'elohiym (el-o-heem')
angels, exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), (very) great, judges, mighty.

Don't we authority over this earth? What we imagine, whether it be good or evil and invent, hasn't it directed the course of how this home that God has given us turned out?

I don't know much about what that ye are gods statement means, but I feel as if it is saying something like that we are powerful and in a place of authority. But obviously we are accountable to what we do and have done with that.

 

[miknik5]

You aren’t a “god” but through faith in JESUS CHRIST, we, nevertheless are PROMISED Eternal life

 

[miknik5]

And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: Rev 5:10

For the same purpose. Reconciling back to GOD what had been lost

we have entered into the ministry of reconciliation

but if we are pointing others anywhere else but to CHRIST we aren’t doing the work of a priestly people before HIM at all

 

[miknik5]

Well I got this from KJV Lexicon:

Ye are gods
'elohiym (el-o-heem')
angels, exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), (very) great, judges, mighty.

Don't we authority over this earth? What we imagine, whether it be good or evil and invent, hasn't it directed the course of how this home that God has given us turned out?

I don't know much about what that ye are gods statement means, but I feel as if it is saying something like that we are powerful and in a place of authority. But obviously we are accountable to what we do and have done with that.

ye are god’s to WHOM THE WORD OF GOD HAS COME

Not all have received THE TRUTH and therefore do not have eternal life

He who has the SON has life

not all believe

 

[DevotiontoBible]

Jesus never told anybody they were a god. If you think you are a god then you are a blasphemer: “You must not have any other god but me." Exodus 20:3 NLT, and under God's curse: “Tell them this: ‘These gods, who did not make the heavens and the earth, will perish from the earth and from under the heavens.’ ”
Jeremiah 10:11 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/jer.10.11.NIV

 

[miknik5]

Jesus never told anybody they were a god. If you think you are a god then you are a blasphemer: “You must not have any other god but me." Exodus 20:3 NLT, and under God's curse: “Tell them this: ‘These gods, who did not make the heavens and the earth, will perish from the earth and from under the heavens.’ ”
Jeremiah 10:11 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/jer.10.11.NIV

what is missed in this statement is that JESUS said TO WHOM THE WORD OF GOD HAS COME

Those who have believed are not “gods” but have (because the SON gives eternal life to those who believe) eternal life BECAUSE they have believed

 

[DevotiontoBible]

what is missed in this statement is that JESUS said TO WHOM THE WORD OF GOD HAS COME

Those who have believed are not “gods” but have (because the SON gives eternal life to those who believe) eternal life BECAUSE they have believed

That has nothing to do with what the psalm or Jesus is talking about.

 

[miknik5]

That has nothing to do with what the psalm or Jesus is talking about.

Except that’s not what the OP of this thread was discussing to begin with

he was pointing to psalm 82 in reference to John 10

And CHRIST did say. If it says ye are god’s to whom the word of god has come then scripture can not be broken

 

[miknik5]

But we are not gods in the sense apart from
HIM we have life

because we don’t

apart from HIM there is no life in us

 

[DevotiontoBible]

But we are not gods in the sense apart from
HIM we have life

because we don’t

apart from HIM there is no life in us

Again, that has nothing to do with what Psalm 82 nor with what Jesus was saying in John 10:33-35.

 

[miknik5]

Again, that has nothing to do with what Psalm 82 nor with what Jesus was saying in John 10:33-35.

It has EVERYTHING to do with John 10 in full context

no one will enter in by way of THE DOOR if (as the Jewish Pharisees snd teachers showed by their unbelief) one doesn’t believe that THE ONE WHO IS THE SON OF GOD AND SHEPHERD OVER THE FLOCK CAN PROMISE ETERNAL LIFE

and thats what led to the discussion of those to whom the word of GOD has come

 

[miknik5]

Do not take a portion of scriptures and disregard in context what JESUS was fully discussing in John 10’

HIMSELF as THE DOOR unto the HOUSE/FLOCK for GOD

And the sons of the kingdom are going to testify that HE alone is THE DOOR

 

[miknik5]

The sons of the kingdom will in no way say that they are “god’s”

they understsnd and it is because through HIM we have ETERNAL LIFE

 

[DevotiontoBible]

It has EVERYTHING to do with John 10 in full context

no one will enter in by way of THE DOOR if (as the Jewish Pharisees snd teachers showed by their unbelief) one doesn’t believe that THE ONE WHO IS THE SON OF GOD AND SHEPHERD OVER THE FLOCK CAN PROMISE ETERNAL LIFE

and thats what led to the discussion of those to whom the word of GOD has come

No, it doesn't because 10:22 is another day and discussion from that discussion.

 

[Enoch987]

the One whom God has chosen and sent (verses 34-36)?
Interesting you quoted from a bible that uses the word "chosen." This is the same chosen as the chosen in Luke 9:35 where God says of Jesus, "This is my chosen Son." king james bible has beloved Son but all modern bibles translated from the earliest manuscripts have chosen. Coupled with Hebrews 1:8-9, Jesus was anointed from his companions, do we believe that Jesus was chosen and anointed from his companions? Who were his companions? Were they candidates to become the chosen One? Did one of them become jealous and turn evil?