What does "you will die like men" reveal about human mortality?

The Verse in View

Psalm 82:6-7:

“I have said, ‘You are gods; you are all sons of the Most High.’

But like mortals you will die, and like rulers you will fall.”

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Setting the Scene

• Asaph pictures God presiding over an assembly and indicting unjust judges.

• Though these authorities are called “gods” (because they act as representatives of God’s justice), the Lord reminds them that exalted titles do not exempt them from the common fate of humanity.

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Key Truths Revealed About Human Mortality

• Inevitable – “You will die” underscores death as a certainty for every person, regardless of status.

• Universal – The phrase levels the ground: kings, judges, and commoners share the same end.

• Consequence of Sin – Scripture connects death to humanity’s fall (Genesis 3:19; Romans 5:12). Psalm 82 echoes that verdict.

• Limitation of Human Power – Earthly authority is temporary; God alone possesses eternal, sovereign life (Psalm 90:2).

• Accountability – Mortality reminds every ruler that a final judgment lies beyond the grave (Hebrews 9:27; Psalm 82:8).

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Supporting Passages

• Genesis 3:19: “For dust you are, and to dust you will return.”

• Ecclesiastes 3:19-20: All “share one breath… All are from dust, and all return to dust.”

• Psalm 90:10: “The length of our days is seventy years— or eighty if we are strong.”

• Romans 5:12: “Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men.”

• 1 Corinthians 15:21-22: “For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.”

• Hebrews 9:27: “It is appointed for men to die once, and after that to face judgment.”

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Living in Light of This Truth

• Embrace humility—titles and achievements cannot stave off death.

• Seek righteousness—God evaluates how authority is used (Psalm 82:3-4).

• Anchor hope in Christ—He alone conquers death and offers eternal life (John 11:25-26).

• Steward life wisely—our limited days are gifts meant for justice, mercy, and faithfulness (Micah 6:8; Ephesians 5:15-16).