Who are the "sons of God"
in Genesis Chapter 6?"

By Stephen M. Golden
Copyright © 2024-05-16, 2024-07-24



The phrase "sons of God" does not mean "sons of Seth."




In Genesis 6, we're told that sons of God mated with human women, called “daughters of men”.


Genesis 6:2

[2] that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose.


As people often do when confronted with the possibility of something that's incongruent with their understanding of reality, many have tried to say these sons of God were actually nothing more than the sons of Seth. But there are problems with that assertion. Let's read on.



Genesis 6:4

[4] The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.


Why doesn't the Bible tell us more of these "mighty men who were of old, men of renown"? Because Moses' audience was already well familiar with them, as evidenced by Moses' phrasing in verse 4. They were described in the annals of History Books (scrolls) held and taught by Hebrew scholars. For more information on these books, see Biblically-Endorsed, Extra-Scriptural Texts.



Darby’s New Translation includes a note regarding “men of renown”:

*[Genesis 6:4 Or ‘the name,’ i.e. who had a peculiar and known name on the earth. Heroes is Gibbor in Hebrew, meaning ‘mighty men.’ ][Genesis 6:4 Or ‘the name,’ i.e. who had a peculiar and known name on the earth. Heroes is Gibbor in Hebrew, meaning ‘mighty men.’]


This was not a complimentary note.


Of "Nephilim," Strongs's[01] says:

5303. נְפִילִים ם Nephilim orנְפִלִים ם Nephilim (658c); from 5307; “all the sons of God">giants,” name of two peoples, one before the flood and one after the flood:—Nephilim(3).


Nephilim is derived from the Hebrew word "Nephal." Of Nephal, Strongs's[02] says:

5307. נָפַל naphal (656c); a prim. root; to fall, lie:—abandon(1), allot(1), allotted(2), anyone falls(1), apportioned(2), attacked(2), born(1), bring down(1), burst(1), came down(1), cast(16), cast down(5), casts(1), collapse(1), come(3), dash down(1), defect(1), defected(3), deserted(3), deserters(3), did(1), dismounted(1), divide by lot(2), divide it by lot(1), downfall(1), dropped(1), fail(1), fail*(1), failed(4), fall(130), fall down(4), fallen(55), fallen away(1), fallen down(4), falling(3), falling down(2), falls(22), falls away(1), fell(98), fell down(8), felled(1), felling(1), give birth(1), go over(1), going over(2), gone over(3), inferior(2), killed(1), knocks(1), lay(1), lay down(1), lay flat(1), lie down(1), look(1), lost(2), lying(5), making(1), perish(1), present(1), presenting(3), prostrating(1), remains(1), settled(1), surely fall(1), throw(2), topple(1), turns(1), void(1), waste away(3).

5308. נְפַל nephal (1103a); (Ara.) corr. to 5307; to fall:—came(1), fall down(5), fell(3), fell down(1), have occasion(1).



Of "renown," Strong’s[03] says:

8034. שֵׁם shem (1027d); of unc. der.; a name :—byword(1), defamed*(1), defames*(1), fame(8), famous(3), famous*(1), memorial(1), Name(3), name(654), name's(11), name*(4), named(7), named*(66), names(80), renown(6), renowned(1), report(1), repute(1), same names(1).


Apparently, when the sons of God mated with the daughters of men, the offspring were giants. How does the mating of the sons of Seth with ... any other human women (the daughters of men) produce giants?


The indication is that whenever a son of God mated with a daughter of man, an unusual person was born. If you then say the sons of God were merely the sons of Seth, you're saying any offspring of Seth would likely produce giants.


The Bible indicates the result of this mating was a bad thing. If the sons of Seth were the good guys, why would they be doing the bad thing?



Let's consider other passages in the Old Testament that refer to "sons of God":


In Job 38, God asks where Job was when he created the world… while all the sons of God shouted for joy. “sons of God” means Angels, or beings in the presence of the Almighty God at the time of creation. These were certainly not humans, since they were shouting for joy when God laid the footings of the earth:


Job 38:4-7

[4] “Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?

Tell me, if you understand.

[5] Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!

Who stretched a measuring line across it?

[6] On what were its footings set,

or who laid its cornerstone —

[7] while the morning stars sang together

and all the angels shouted for joy?

NIV



[4] Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

[5] Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?

[6] Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;

[7] When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

KJV



[4] “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?

Tell Me, if you have understanding,

[5] Who set its measurements? Since you know.

Or who stretched the line on it?

[6] “On what were its bases sunk?

Or who laid its cornerstone,

[7] When the morning stars sang together

And all the sons of God shouted for joy?

NASB 1985



I believe these sons of God are angels. These can’t be men because men hadn’t been created yet. These are the same “sons of God” referenced in Genesis 6, although they were ones who had been cast out of Heaven.




Other verses referring to sons of God indicate they were angels, or at least, not humans:

Job 1:6

And there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah; and Satan came also among them.


Job 2:1

And there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, and Satan also came among them to present himself before Jehovah.




What about "sons of God" in the New Testament?



In the New Testament, “sons of God” refers to Christians. There were no Christians in Old Testament times, and no human souls had gone to heaven before the foundation of the earth was laid (Job 38:4).



Matthew 5:9

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.


Luke 20:36

for they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.


Romans 8:14

For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.


Romans 8:19

For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.


Galatians 3:26

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.



So, Christians are the new additions to the sons of God "being sons of the resurrection" through "faith in Christ Jesus."




Endnotes