Genesis 6:1-4: Exploring the Sons of God

Genesis 6:1-4: Exploring the Sons of God

In Genesis 6:1-4, we encounter a mysterious passage that has intrigued Bible scholars, theologians, and believers for centuries. The verses read as follows in the King James Version (KJV):

“And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.” (Genesis 6:1-4, KJV)

The key phrase in these verses, “the sons of God,” has sparked various interpretations throughout history. Who were these “sons of God,” and what does their union with the “daughters of men” signify? Two primary views have emerged, each with its own biblical and theological basis.

View 1: The Sons of God as Angels

One interpretation suggests that the “sons of God” mentioned here were angelic beings. This belief is supported by passages in the Book of Job, where the term “sons of God” is clearly used to refer to angels:

“Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.” (Job 1:6, KJV)

In this context, the “sons of God” seem to be heavenly beings in the company of Satan, reinforcing the idea that the term can be used to describe angels. According to this view, the angels who took the daughters of men as wives were fallen angels, and their offspring were the “giants” or “Nephilim” mentioned in verse 4. The Book of Enoch, an ancient Jewish text not included in the KJV Bible, also supports this interpretation. It speaks of angels, called the Watchers, who descended to earth, took human wives, and produced a race of giants.

Though the Book of Enoch is not recognized as part of the biblical canon in most Christian traditions, it was well known in ancient Jewish circles and has influenced interpretations of this passage. Some proponents of this view argue that the union between angels and humans led to a corruption of God’s creation, prompting the flood as a divine judgment.

View 2: The Sons of God as the Descendants of Seth

Another prominent interpretation is that the “sons of God” were not angels but rather the righteous descendants of Seth, the third son of Adam and Eve. According to this view, the “daughters of men” were the descendants of Cain, Adam and Eve’s first son who was cursed after murdering his brother Abel. Proponents of this view suggest that the “sons of God” refer to the godly lineage of Seth, who were meant to remain faithful to God, while the “daughters of men” represent the ungodly descendants of Cain.

This interpretation sees the passage as describing the intermarriage between the righteous Sethites and the wicked Cainites. The mixing of these two groups led to the moral decline of humanity, as the Sethites were influenced by the sinful ways of the Cainites. Thus, the Nephilim or giants mentioned in verse 4 would have been powerful and corrupt individuals, not the offspring of angels, but of this union between the two human lineages.

The Sons of God in the Book of Job

As previously mentioned, the Book of Job provides another instance where the phrase “sons of God” is used to describe angels:

“When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (Job 38:7, KJV)

This association with angelic beings lends credence to the idea that the “sons of God” in Genesis 6 could indeed be angels. However, the context of Job is different from that of Genesis, which leaves the interpretation of Genesis 6:1-4 open to debate.

Conclusion: A Question for the Reader

The identity of the “sons of God” in Genesis 6:1-4 remains a subject of ongoing discussion. Some believe they were angels, based on parallels in Job and ancient texts like the Book of Enoch. Others hold that they were the descendants of Seth, viewing the passage as a metaphor for the moral decline caused by intermarriage between the godly and ungodly lines of humanity.

In the end, the interpretation is left to you, the reader. Do you lean toward the belief that the “sons of God” were angelic beings who descended to earth, or do you believe they were the righteous descendants of Seth who strayed from their path? The Bible presents us with the facts, but the choice of interpretation is yours to make.