“God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.”
Psalm 82 opens with a vision of divine council: "God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment." The psalm presents a scene of cosmic governance: God sits among other divine beings to judge. This reflects a theistic worldview common in ancient Near Eastern mythology where chief deity presides over assembly of lesser deities.
Church Fathers on Psalms 82:1
1. This Psalm, like others similarly named, was so entitled either from the name of the man who wrote it, or from the explanation of that same name, so as to refer in meaning to the Synagogue, which Asaph signifies; especially as this is intimated in the first verse. For it begins, “God stood in the synagogue of gods” Psalm 81:1. Far however be it from us to understand by these Gods the gods of the Gentiles, or idols, or any creature in heaven or earth except men; for a…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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