The gods of Psalm 82
The 'gods' among whom God judges — members of a heavenly council, human judges, or Israel; Jesus cites the psalm in John 10:34-36.
Psalm 82:1-8
1God presides in the great assembly. He judges among the gods.
2“How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked?”
3“Defend the weak, the poor, and the fatherless. Maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.
4Rescue the weak and needy. Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.”
5They don’t know, neither do they understand. They walk back and forth in darkness. All the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6I said, “You are gods, all of you are sons of the Most High.
7Nevertheless you shall die like men, and fall like one of the rulers.”
8Arise, God, judge the earth, for you inherit all of the nations.
What each tradition says
Rabbinic / Midrashic
Rashi understands God as standing in the congregation of God to see whether the judges judge fairly. God then asks the judges how long they will judge unjustly.
Rashi (Solomon ben Isaac, 1040-1105), trans. A. J. Rosenberg (Judaica Press), Rashi's commentary on Psalms 82:1, in The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi — via the Sefaria API — Rashi on Psalms 82:1
Patristic
Augustine rejects understanding the “gods” of Psalm 82 as Gentile gods, idols, or any heavenly or earthly creature. He holds that the psalm itself identifies them as men, for it says God stood in their synagogue and calls them “gods” and “children of the Most High,” yet says they shall die like men.
Augustine of Hippo (354-430), Expositions on the Book of Psalms, Psalm 82 (trans. J. E. Tweed et al.), in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, ser. 1, vol. 8 (New York: Christian Literature Co., 1890) — Exposition of Psalm 82, §1 (on 'God stood in the synagogue of gods')
Catholic
Haydock says the “gods” here are judges who act in God’s name, citing Deuteronomy 1:17 and Exodus 22:28. He notes the Hebrew reads “of God,” who presides in his own council and gives authority to others, while the Syriac, Chaldean, Protestant, and Aquila versions render them angels, the just, the mighty, or the powerful ones.
George Leo Haydock (1774-1849), with Calmet and Worthington, George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary (1859), note on Psalm 81:1 (Douay/Vulgate numbering = Psalm 82 Hebrew) — note on Psalm 81:1 ('Of gods')
Orthodox
Chrysostom says the first is the honor of a name, while in the second the thing goes with it. Of the first, the Prophet says, “I have said, Ye are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High.” Of the second, they “were born of God” by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost.
John Chrysostom (c. 349-407), Homilies on the Gospel of St. John, Homily XIV (the Oxford translation, ed. Philip Schaff), in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, ser. 1, vol. 14 (New York: Christian Literature Co., 1889) — Homily XIV (on John 1:16), the contrast of the two sonships
Reformed / Protestant
Calvin takes the "gods" in Psalm 82:1-4 to mean judges, on whom God has impressed special marks of his glory. He rejects applying the term to angels, calling that a fancy too strained to admit of serious consideration.
John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on the Book of Psalms, vol. 3 (trans. James Anderson; Edinburgh: Calvin Translation Society), on Psalm 82:1-4 — Commentary on Psalm 82:1, second clause
Evangelical
Adam Clarke says God is among his people and presides especially in the courts of justice he established. Like a king in his court, God is present in his court, so judges should beware, for God will judge in the midst.
Adam Clarke (1760-1832), The Holy Bible with a Commentary and Critical Notes (1810-1826), note on Psalm 82:1 — note on Psalm 82:1, 'God standeth in the congregation of the mighty'