1. Understanding the use of the Term Elohim in Psalm 82 Ben Stanhope Psalm 82 Stanhope CSC 1123
2. Michael S. Heiser M.A., Ph.D. Academic Editor Logos Bible Software Hieser, Michael S. “Should the Plural אלהים of Psalm 82 Be Understood as Men or Divine Beings?” Evangelical Theological Society, 2010. Heiser Michael S. “What is / are (an) Elohim?” Evangelical Theological Society, 2010. Stanhope CSC 1123
3. Pslam 82 1 God (אלהים) standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods (אלהים). 6 I have said, Ye are gods (אלהים); and all of you are children of the most High. 7 But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes. מזמור לאסף אלהים נצב בעדת־אל בקרב אלהים ישפט׃1 אני־אמרתי אלהים אתם ובני עליון כלכם׃ 6 אכן כאדם תמותון וכאחד השרים תפלו׃ 7 Stanhope CSC 1123
4. Pslam 82 1 God (אלהים) standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods (אלהים). 6 I have said, Ye are gods (אלהים); and all of you are children of the most High. 7 But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes. מזמור לאסף אלהים נצב בעדת־אל בקרב אלהים ישפט׃1 אני־אמרתי אלהים אתם ובני עליון כלכם׃ 6 אכן כאדם תמותון וכאחד השרים תפלו׃ 7 Stanhope CSC 1123
5. Pslam 82 1 God (אלהים) standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods (אלהים). 6 I have said, Ye are gods (אלהים); and all of you are children of the most High. 7 But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes. מזמור לאסף אלהים נצב בעדת־אל בקרב אלהים ישפט׃1 אני־אמרתי אלהים אתם ובני עליון כלכם׃ 6 אכן כאדם תמותון וכאחד השרים תפלו׃ 7 Stanhope CSC 1123
6. Pslam 82 1 God (אלהים) standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods (אלהים). 6 I have said, Ye are gods (אלהים); and all of you are children of the most High. 7 But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes. מזמור לאסף אלהים נצב בעדת־אל בקרב אלהיםישפט׃1 אני־אמרתי אלהים אתם ובני עליון כלכם׃ 6 אכן כאדם תמותון וכאחד השרים תפלו׃ 7 Stanhope CSC 1123
7. Pslam 82 1 God (אלהים) standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods (אלהים). 6 I have said, Ye are gods (אלהים); and all of you are children of the most High. 7 But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes. מזמור לאסף אלהים נצב בעדת־אל בקרב אלהים ישפט׃1 אני־אמרתי אלהים אתם ובני עליון כלכם׃ 6 אכן כאדם תמותון וכאחד השרים תפלו׃ 7 Stanhope CSC 1123
8. ? “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:” - Duet. 6:4 “He judgeth among the gods”- Psalm 82 Stanhope CSC 1123
9. Pslam 82 1 God (אלהים) standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods (אלהים). 6 I have said, Ye are gods (אלהים); and all of you are children of the most High. 7 But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes. מזמור לאסף אלהים נצב בעדת־אל בקרב אלהים ישפט׃1 אני־אמרתי אלהים אתם ובני עליון כלכם׃ 6 אכן כאדם תמותון וכאחד השרים תפלו׃ 7 Stanhope CSC 1123
10. Michael S. Heiser M.A., Ph.D. Academic Editor Logos Bible Software Stanhope CSC 1123
11. Michael S. Heiser M.A., Ph.D. Academic Editor Logos Bible Software “Making them human is the easiest path to removing the problem [of polytheism]. But is this correct? My answer is “No.”…[A]rguing that these אלהים are human beings is inescapably incoherent and, more importantly, completely unnecessary for defending the real point of a monotheistic biblical theology…the Hebrew text should not be translated or exegeted so that it conforms to our theological expectations or needs. Yet that is precisely what many translators and scholars do in Psalm 82 in the name of fidelity to the unique God.” Stanhope CSC 1123
13. What is an אלהים? Demons (Deut 32:17) Stanhope CSC 1123
14. What is an אלהים? Demons (Deut 32:17) Disembodied human dead (1 Sam 28:13) Stanhope CSC 1123
15. What is an אלהים? Demons (Deut 32:17) Disembodied human dead (1 Sam 28:13) Angels (Gen 35:7) Stanhope CSC 1123
16. What is an אלהים? Demons (Deut 32:17) Disembodied human dead (1 Sam 28:13) Angels (Gen 35:7) Gods of other nations (1 Kings 11:33) Stanhope CSC 1123
18. Why not men? This same congregation of elohim is said to dwell in the clouds in Psalm 89. Stanhope CSC 1123
19. Why not men? This same congregation of elohim is said to dwell in the clouds in Psalm 89. These elohimadministered corruptly over all the various pagan nations. Stanhope CSC 1123
20. Why not men? This same congregation of elohim is said to dwell in the clouds in Psalm 89. These elohimadministered corruptly over all the various pagan nations. There are no other meritorious examples of men being called elohim in the Bible. Stanhope CSC 1123
21. Why not men? This same congregation of elohim is said to dwell in the clouds in Psalm 89. These elohimadministered corruptly over all the various pagan nations. There are no other meritorious examples of men being called elohim in the Bible. Translating the elohim as men in Psalm 82 renders Jesus’ quotation in John 10:34 useless. Stanhope CSC 1123
22. Jesus’ use of Psalm 82in John 10 Has it not been written in your Law, ‘I said you are gods’? “If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?...[T]he Father is in Me, and I in the Father. Therefore they were seeking again to seize Him, and He eluded their grasp. Stanhope CSC 1123
23. Two Views On the traditional view where the elohim of Psalm 82 are only men Jesus is really only saying, “hey, you guys are mere men and you get to call yourselves gods on the basis of Psalm 82 so you shouldn’t be upset with me when I say I’m God because you’re all gods too.” Stanhope CSC 1123
24. Two Views On the traditional view where the elohim of Psalm 82 are only men Jesus is really only saying, “hey, you guys are mere men and you get to call yourselves gods on the basis of Psalm 82 so you shouldn’t be upset with me when I say I’m God because you’re all gods too.” On the view where theelohim of Psalm 82 are non-human divine beings Jesus is saying, “God called the divine created beings gods therefore, how dare you say I am blaspheming when I, being much greater than the divine created beings (being one with the Father and sent by Him), call myself God. Stanhope CSC 1123
