Psalm 82 gods (elohim) most likely refers to earthly rulers ironically addressed as divine beings, not literal supernatural deities.

Mike acknowledges Michael Heiser's divine council worldview (that elohim here refers to actual spirit beings) but currently does not hold that position. His reading: elohim is a flexible term referring to non-embodied spirit beings (it is used of Samuel's ghost in 1 Samuel 28), so the English word god is a poor translation here. The rebukes in Psalm 82 — show justice, defend the fatherless, maintain rights of the afflicted — match the language God uses when rebuking human rulers and nations. The phrase like men you shall die reinforces their human identity. Parallels Moses being as God to Pharaoh (Exodus 7:1) — a figure of authority, not divinity. Jesus quotes Psalm 82 in John 10, which Mike reads as also ironic. He references a more detailed discussion in his interview with Melissa Dougherty.