Have you ever stumbled across Jesus’ puzzling declaration, “you are gods,” and wondered if you misread the text? This mysterious statement in John 10:34 has confused believers for centuries. When Jesus quotes from Psalm 82, He opens a door to one of Scripture’s most fascinating and often overlooked cosmic realities—the divine council worldview.
This isn’t simply an obscure theological footnote but reveals profound truths about our spiritual identity and purpose that can transform how we understand our place in God’s redemptive story. The implications ripple through both ancient worldviews and our own spiritual journeys today.
Biblical Insight
To properly understand Jesus’ statement in John 10:34, we must first examine the Psalm He quotes. Psalm 82:1-8 depicts יהוה (Yahweh) standing in “the divine council” or “assembly of gods,” where He pronounces judgment on these “gods” (elohim): “I said, ‘You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince’” (Psalm 82:6-7). The Hebrew term “elohim” here doesn’t refer to false pagan deities but to real spiritual beings—divine council members who were tasked with administering justice over the nations but failed in their responsibilities. This divine council framework appears throughout the Old Testament, particularly in passages like Deuteronomy 32:8-9 (in older manuscripts like the Dead Sea Scrolls), which describes how God divided the nations according to “the number of the sons of God” after Babel.
When Jesus quotes this passage in John 10:31-36, He’s responding to accusations of blasphemy for claiming divine identity. His argument follows this logic: if Scripture itself calls certain beings “gods” without committing blasphemy, how much less blasphemous is it for the one “whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world” to call Himself God’s Son? Jesus employs a rabbinic “light to heavy” (qal vahomer) argument—if lesser figures can legitimately bear this title in Scripture, how much more can He? Importantly, Jesus isn’t lowering His claims to divinity but showing that His accusers misunderstand their own Scriptures, which acknowledge multiple levels of divine beings without threatening monotheism.
The framework that scholar Michael Heiser elucidates shows that the ancient Israelite worldview included supernatural beings who, while created and subordinate to יהוה (Yahweh), possessed genuine authority as His divine council. Psalm 82 portrays these beings facing judgment for their corruption and failed governance. Jesus’ reference to this psalm simultaneously defends His own divine claims while revealing that God’s ultimate plan involves humans replacing these fallen divine beings in His governance structure. As Revelation 3:21 promises, believers will sit with Jesus on His throne, and 1 Corinthians 6:3 says we will judge angels. This cosmic drama of rebellion, judgment, and replacement forms the backdrop to Jesus’ seemingly perplexing statement.
Practical Wisdom
Understanding this divine council framework radically transforms our view of our spiritual identity. When we grasp that God created humans to be His image-bearers—His representatives ruling creation—we recognize our original purpose was actually “god-like” in function, though always dependent on and subordinate to the Creator. The fall disrupted this, but in the Messiah, we’re being restored to our intended role as God’s royal representatives. As 2 Peter 1:4 boldly declares, we are “partakers of the divine nature,” not becoming divine ourselves, but participating in God’s work through the indwelling Holy Spirit.
This perspective should inspire profound humility alongside genuine confidence. The authority we exercise isn’t our own but comes from our relationship with the Father through Jesus. Like the divine council members who fell through pride and injustice, we must remain aware that any authority we possess is delegated and requires faithful stewardship. The blood of Jesus has cleansed us and qualified us for this high calling, removing the accusations against us in the heavenly courts. When we fail and sin, immediate repentance restores our fellowship and effectiveness, allowing us to walk in the royal priesthood identity described in 1 Peter 2:9.
Living as “gods” in the biblical sense means exercising righteous authority in our spheres of influence—whether family, workplace, or community—always pointing to the Source of that authority. It means participating in the Messiah’s ongoing work of establishing His kingdom, acting as His ambassadors, and mediating His presence to a broken world. This isn’t about self-aggrandizement but self-surrender, allowing the Holy Spirit to work through us as we participate in the divine nature and purpose. The divine council framework reveals that our struggle isn’t merely against flesh and blood but against these very spiritual powers (Ephesians 6:12) whose authority Jesus is in process of reclaiming through His people.
Clearing up Misunderstandings
One common misinterpretation of Jesus’ “you are gods” statement is that He was endorsing human deification or self-realization philosophies popular in new age spirituality. Nothing could be further from the truth. The biblical understanding maintains a clear Creator-creature distinction. The “gods” of Psalm 82 are created beings who remain infinitely less than יהוה (Yahweh) and are judged precisely for overstepping their authority. Jesus wasn’t suggesting humans can become autonomous divine beings but was referring to delegated authority within God’s governance structure.
Another misconception is that Jesus was simply referring to human judges or rulers when He quoted “you are gods.” While some commentators have taken this position to avoid supernatural implications, it fails to account for the explicit divine council setting of Psalm 82:1 and the broader biblical pattern where “sons of God” and similar phrases typically refer to heavenly beings. The psalm speaks of beings who will “die like men”—an odd statement if they were already human. The divine council worldview isn’t pagan polytheism seeping into Scripture but represents a sophisticated monotheism that acknowledges lesser divine beings while maintaining יהוה’s (Yahweh’s) absolute supremacy.
Some Christians avoid this topic for fear it threatens monotheism, but properly understood, it actually highlights God’s unique sovereignty. יהוה (Yahweh) stands among these “gods” to judge them, demonstrating His absolute authority. Jesus’ use of this text affirms that participation in divine authority, whether by supernatural beings or redeemed humans, never threatens the unique position of the one true God but actually serves to manifest His glory throughout creation as His will is enacted through faithful agents.
Conclusion
Jesus’ statement “you are gods” opens a window into a biblical worldview far richer and more cosmically significant than many modern readers initially perceive. Rather than diminishing Jesus’ divinity or promoting human deification, it reveals humanity’s astonishing calling to participate in God’s governance of creation—a role originally intended at creation, lost in the fall, and now being restored through the Messiah. Through the indwelling Holy Spirit and the cleansing power of Jesus’ blood, we are being transformed into the royal priesthood God always intended us to be.
As we embrace this high calling with appropriate humility, we can walk in both authority and dependency, representing the King of Kings in a world still influenced by rebellious spiritual powers. Our participation in the divine nature isn’t about becoming gods ourselves but about fulfilling our design as image-bearers who reflect יהוה’s (Yahweh’s) character and carry out His purposes in creation. What incredible love the Father has lavished upon us—not only to call us His children but to invite us into His divine council work of governing creation alongside the Messiah!
Did You Know?
The concept of divine beings called “sons of God” administering the nations appears explicitly in older manuscripts of Deuteronomy 32:8-9. While many modern translations based on the Masoretic Text read “sons of Israel,” both the Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint preserve the original reading “sons of God” (or “sons of El” in the DSS). This passage describes how at the Tower of Babel, יהוה (Yahweh) divided humanity according to the number of divine beings in His council, while keeping Israel as His own personal inheritance—a crucial background for understanding Jesus’ reference to Psalm 82.
