Who were "the sons of God" and "the daughters of men" mentioned in Genesis 6:1-4?
The phrase "daughters of men" simply refers to human women. Some scholars believe that the phrase is used to contrast the "sons of God," who were divine or semi-divine beings, with ordinary human women.
Genesis 6:1-4 is one of the most intriguing and controversial passages in the Bible. It reads:
"When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. Then the Lord said, 'My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.' The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown."
The passage raises several questions, including who were the "sons of God" and the "daughters of men," and who were the Nephilim? Let's explore these questions in more detail.
Who were the "sons of God"?
The phrase "sons of God" appears several times in the Hebrew Bible and is generally understood to refer to angels or divine beings. In the book of Job, for example, the "sons of God" appear before Yahweh, and Satan is among them. In Psalm 82, the "sons of God" are described as judges who are accountable to Yahweh.
In the context of Genesis 6:1-4, some scholars believe that the "sons of God" were fallen angels who lusted after human women and had sexual relations with them. This interpretation is based on the fact that the phrase "sons of God" is used in other ancient Near Eastern texts to refer to divine beings who had sexual relations with human women.
Other scholars, however, believe that the "sons of God" were simply powerful men or rulers who saw the daughters of men and took them as wives. This interpretation is based on the fact that the phrase "sons of God" can also refer to human beings who are faithful to Yahweh and are part of his covenant community.
Who were the "daughters of men"?
The phrase "daughters of men" simply refers to human women. Some scholars believe that the phrase is used to contrast the "sons of God," who were divine or semi-divine beings, with ordinary human women.
Who were the Nephilim?
The Nephilim are described in Genesis 6:4 as the offspring of the union between the "sons of God" and the "daughters of men." The word "Nephilim" comes from the Hebrew word "nephil," which means "fallen ones" or "mighty ones."
The identity of the Nephilim is a matter of debate among scholars. Some believe that they were the offspring of angels and human women and were therefore semi-divine beings. Others believe that they were simply powerful or heroic figures who were renowned for their strength or bravery.