I have said, ye are gods,.... In the law, Exo 21:6 or they were so by his appointment and commission; he constituted them judges and magistrates, invested them with such an office, by which they came to have this title; see Rom 13:1, and so our Lord interprets these words, that they were gods "to whom" the word of God came, which gave them a commission and authority to exercise their office, Joh 10:35, or rather "against whom" it came, pronouncing the sentence of death on them, as in Psa 82:7, to which the reference is; declaring, that though they were gods by office, yet were mortal men, and should die. The Targum is, "I said, as angels are ye accounted"; and so judges and civil magistrates had need to be as angels, and to have the wisdom of them; see Sa2 14:20. Jarchi interprets it of angels, but magistrates are undoubtedly meant: and all of you are children of the most High; the Targum here again renders it, "the angels of the most High:'' and so Aben Ezra explains it of them who are called the sons of God, Job 38:7 but men in power are meant, who, because of their eminency and dignity, their high office, post, and place, are so called; see Gen 6:2.