Does the Bible ever imply that there are other gods besides YHWH?

The Bible is clear in its assertion that there is only one God, YHWH, also known as Jehovah. In fact, this is a central tenet of the Jewish and Christian faiths, as well as others that believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. However, there are some passages in the Bible that seem to imply the existence of other gods. So, does the Bible ever imply that there are other gods besides YHWH?

One of the most well-known passages in the Bible that seems to suggest the existence of other gods is Exodus 20:3, which says, “You shall have no other gods before me.” This implies that there are other gods that people might be tempted to worship instead of YHWH. However, this passage is better understood as a commandment to not worship any other gods, rather than an acknowledgement of their existence.

Another passage that is often cited as evidence for the existence of other gods is Psalm 82:1, which says, “God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment.” Some interpret this to mean that there are other gods who are part of a council with YHWH. However, this passage can be better understood as a reference to heavenly beings like angels or divine messengers, rather than actual gods.

There are also passages in the Bible that refer to false gods or idols, such as Deuteronomy 32:17, which says, “They sacrificed to demons, not God, to gods they had not known, to new gods that had come recently, whom your fathers had never dreaded.” These false gods were not actual deities, but rather representations of human desires and fears.