Who are the “sons of God” in Genesis 6:2,4?

I said it was a Hebrew term. I was talking about the OT Hebrew references to the son's of God.

I hate to sound like a broken record, but since the brother of the Lord (Jude) spoke of the book of Enoch, don't you think it would be beneficial to read it? It was a book that the Jews were very familiar with. If it were untrue, would God have referenced it in His word?

 

I was making a joke. Cain whined about his punishment for killing Abel.

The passage says God destroys the earth because of the wickedness and evil of the people who, just 3 verses earlier began to intermarry. Seems to be a strong connection, in context, imho.

Ok.

peace to youraying:

 

Here's an excerpt from the book of Enoch.

LINK

 

Well, Ok, Hosea says that the sons of Israel will be called the Sons of the Living God.

I haven't read it. Does it say the angels married the human women? (edit: I see you posted a quote while I was posting).

The writer of the book of Enoch appears to have held to the same theory concerning the angels. No doubt it was a popular theory among the Jews as it is today.

I don't believe the point Jude is making is to agree with everything in the book of Enoch. Paul quotes pagan philosophers to make a point. That doesn't make those writings scripture.

Jude's one clear reference (if I remember my studies) concerns the archangel Micheal disputing Satan over the body of Moses, which is making the point that God is the ultimate Judge of the ungodly (both angels and men).

I can see why it is appealing to refer to Jude's quote from Enoch to support the theory. I will give it some more thought, but I don't see it as definitive in the debate.

peace to youraying:

 

Good post Gabriel.

I will be out of town for most of the day tomorrow, so I'll check in on this thread tomorrow night. Thanks for starting this thread. It's super interesting and hopefully something we can all discuss without all the un-niceness (yes, that's a word; I made it up myself) we have in other discussions.

 

I believe that Jude's reference to the book of Enoch is valid or it wouldn't be in God's word. He speaks of it as truth in the same way that Jesus spoke of Noah, the flood, Jonah..ect.


I'm not arguing with you. Just giving my opinion. It's a hard concept, but I think if you keep studying you might come to the same conclusion as I have.

But you have to admit, it's a great topic of discussion!

 

So, based on the Enoch quote, God destroyed the earth and all the people in it because of the sin of a couple hundred angels that married human women?

peace to youraying:

 

I like Pink on this. Reference in your mind Gen 3:15 and the picture story of the Woman and the Great Red Dragon of Rev 12:

“....It is a significant fact that some versions of the Septuagint contain the word "angels" in Genesis 6:2, 4......These "sons of God," then, appear to be angels who left their own habitation, came down to earth, and cohabited with the daughters of men. Before we consider the outcome of this illicit intercourse, let us first enquire into the cause of it. Why did these angels thus "sin" (2 Pet. 2:4)? The answer to this question leads us into a mysterious subject which we cannot now treat at length: the "why" finds its answer in Satan.

Immediately after that old serpent, the Devil, had brought about the downfall of our first parents, God passed sentence on the "serpent" and declared that the woman’s "Seed" should "bruise his head" (Gen. 3:15). Hence, in due course, Satan sought to frustrate this purpose of God. His first effort was an endeavor to prevent his Bruiser entering this world. This effort is plainly to be seen in his attempts to destroy the channel through which the Lord Jesus was to come.

First, God revealed the fact that the Coming One was to be of human kind, the woman’s Seed, hence, as we shall seek to show, Satan attempted to destroy the human race. Next, God made known to Abraham that the Coming One was to be a descendant of his (Gen. 12:3; Galatians 3:18; Matthew 1:1); hence, four hundred years later, when the descendants of Abraham became numerous in Egypt Satan sought to destroy the Abrahamic stock, by moving Pharaoh to seek the destruction of all the male children (Ex. 1:15, 16). Later, God made known the fact that the Coming One was to be of the offspring of David (2 Samuel 7:12, 13); hence, the subsequent attack made upon David through Absalom (2 Samuel 15). As, then, the Coming One was to be of the seed of David, He must spring from the tribe of Judah, and hence the significance of the divided Kingdom, and the attacks of the Ten Tribes upon the Tribe of Judah!

The reference in Jude 6 to the angels leaving their own habitation, appears to point to and correspond with these "sons of God" (angels) coming in unto the daughters of men. Apparently, by this means, Satan hoped to destroy the human race (the channel through which the woman’s Seed was to come) by producing a race of monstrosities. How nearly he succeeded is evident from the fact, that with the exception of one family, "all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth" (Gen. 6:12). That monstrosities were produced as the result of this unnatural union between the "sons of God" (angels) and the daughters of men, is evident from the words of Genesis 6:4: "There were giants in the earth in those days." The Hebrew word for "giants" here is nephilim, which means fallen ones, from "naphal" to fall. The term "men of renoun" in Genesis 6:4 probably finds its historical equivalent in the "heroes" of Grecian mythology. Satan’s special object in seeking to prevent the advent of the woman’s "Seed" by destroying the human race was evidently an attempt to avert his threatened doom!"

http://www.pbministries.org/books/pink/Gleanings_Genesis/genesis_11.htm

 

Thank you for sharing Amy. VERY Interesting. I will be doing some more reading on this.

Question: If this "angel theory" is accurate, how do we view the action of God himself in this, it could seem almost as though these "angels" "snuck" out of the house to do this dastardly deed.

Another evidence for me:

All that is in God's revelation to man is truth, but not all truth is contained in God's revelation to man.

 

Put me down for the line of Seth (but Gabriel probably already knew that ) I believe they were the leaders from this line (judges).

In God's creation narrative, He created "kinds" to populate with each other. I cannot find where a human is the same "kind" as an angel, and where different species can procreate with each other.

Also, sons of God always refers to Angels...not fallen angels, just like believers are referred to as sons of God. That implies union with the Creator, not enmity, what a fallen angel would be.

 

If Amy will appeal to the book of Enoch, I will raise her a book of Jasher

18 And their judges and rulers went to the daughters of men and took their wives by force

from their husbands according to their choice, and the sons of men in those days took from
the cattle of the earth, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and taught the mixture
of animals of one species with the other, in order therewith to provoke the Lord; and God saw
the whole earth and it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted its ways upon earth, all men
and all animals."​

 

Another Sethite here.
1. I don't believe angels can reproduce offspring. They are not given in marriage. (Mark 12:25)
2. Christ died for all mankind, not the angels. If people were half human and half angel, that implies Christ would have died for angels or part-angels, and that idea is not supported in scripture.
3. Adam was referred to as a "son of God." Seth was his son, so it makes sense that his offspring would be called the sons of God. In scripture we see references to "Israel" which actually refers to the children of Israel. So, I can see that happening with the sons of Seth.

 

This assumes they could inter-breed. I don't see that proof as a given.

Scripture does state Angels are men, and in no place does it refer to one as a woman. I will give it is as possibility demon possessed men could have been the ones procreating, but there is still the problem with the usage of "sons of God."

Actually, I believe that phrase is used in regards to those who are in union with God as opposed, whether it be an Angel, Israelite, or Christian. The Job 1 passage only says that Satan appeared "with" the sons of God. These could have been angels or humans, btw.

True...but holy Angels would no longer be referred to in that light the way they are in Genesis 6.

Possibly, but this still goes back to my first reply that ability is needed, and we don't find that. In fact, when comparing Bible against Bible, and modern science, it is impossible for different species to cross breed.

One issue that needs to be brought to this discussion is "who are the Nephilim"? The fallen angel theorists state they are the byproduct of this union between fallen angels and man, but Scripture states they were already here when the sons of God took the daughters of man.

 

Like the cal v. arm debate...I believe it's "both" They were the righteous leaders from Seth.