What does “You are gods” refer to in Psalm 82?

QUESTION ON FACEBOOK:  Can someone help me understand Psalm 82?  When HaShem says, "I said, 'You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you,'" who is He speaking to?

Is HaShem referring to human judges and rulers who were given authority to judge on His behalf, or is He speaking to spiritual beings? I've heard both interpretations and I'm trying to understand which fits the context best.

Also, when the Psalm refers to "gods" (elohim), is that title being used because judging is an authority that belongs to HaShem, or is there something deeper going on in the Hebrew that I'm missing?

Jeremy Chance Springfield of Random Groovy Bible Facts responds:

You are familiar with the concept of “principalities and powers” that Paul wrote about in Ephesians 6, which were not “flesh and blood,” ie, human rulers?

That is what is being referenced in Psalm 82—the spiritual entities who are set over nations. This is mentioned in a few other places. The book of Daniel references the notion when he is greeted by the Angel Gabriel, who tells him he would have arrived sooner to speak with him, if not for the “prince” of Persia who opposed him, and who was eventually sidetracked by the coming of the angel Michael to fight and allow him to pass through to Daniel.

You see them in the first part of the book of Job, when they go to appear before the Creator, and of course the Satan goes along with them and essentially boasts of his authority to control the peoples of the world.

The end goal is stated in Psalm 82—all the spiritual powers will be judged and removed from their authoritative positions, and the Creator will once again be in full control of this earthly realm.