Who were the sons of God and daughters of men?
Genesis 6:1 - 4
ESV - 1 When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them. 2 The sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose.
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Asked July 01 2013
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Anonymous (via GotQuestions)
For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Steve Ross
This has been a fascinating question for me and the answer given here is as good as any I've heard. The best answer here suggests that these wicked angels were imprisoned, so what would be the thought "also afterward"? 6:4
Will others not imprisoned, fall into that same sin in later days ahead?
Annemarie Dedekind
I cannot see that fallen angels are involved. Why would God call FALEN ANGELS the Sons of GOD, If the unrighteous people are not even carrying the title, Sons of God?
Frank Scimeca
It's interesting to me how so many answers to this have no Biblical basis. The original answer was spot on.
Daniel Ellenwood
Lets establish first by scripture that angels can and do take on earthly form. As Hebrews 13:2 states that we should be hospitable to strangers, as some have entertained Angels without knowing it! Secondly whethr Hebrew or greek the word "Angel" is presented in the masculine, indicating they are male! When they take on human flesh such as Jesus did, then they also are subject to temptations of the flesh, (Like Jesus Was)! Matt. 22:30 specifically says "Angels in heaven do not marr.y" So when they visit Earth as we established in Hebrews 13:22, they have to take on an earthly body, along with its earthly temptations.
And let's not forget that we too are spiritual beings! Our spirit does not pro-create, but our flesh can! We cannot make a spiritual being, but when man and woman come together at conception it becomes human life. But only God can give it a spirit to make it an eternal being. As scripture says the flesh came first and then the spirit. 1 Corithians 15:46 says the natural body came first and the spitual came later! Even though it's talking about a different subject the fact remains the same and can be applied to this.
So to sum it up, the angels can and do take on earthly form in the new covenant, and therefore take an earthly body along with its temptations.
Genesis 6:1-4 indicates that they saw the daughters of men were beautiful and they took any wife they chose. That indicates the women had no say in the matter. Jude 1:6 indicates that angels can leave their intended purpose, and that God has a place of judgement reserved for those that do!
So according to sripture it is possible these giants were created by angels who took human form, and probably took on massive masculine bodies to aid to the women's attraction of them, and to scare off other men who had an interest in the women. Thus the large bodies would have caused giant men, as mankind already knows in breeding of animals and the disgusting practice of slaves as breeding was performed to make stronger men for more work.
This scenario is entirely and biblically posible, though I hold no strong view either way.
Angel karing
How can an angel procreate if they weren't made for marriage? And if Satan has to ask God for permission to harm us, wouldn't other angels have to get permission as well?
David Adom
Well, I think Angel Karing was right.
Frederick Thomas
Iin my research and reading all the ideas submitted for consideration these questions came to me. What size were the "fallen angels" "sons of God" when they kidnapped earth's beautiful women married them made children and the women gave birth to giants?
Why would they be fallen angels, kidnapped the good looking women then keep God's commandment to marry before having sex? Why bother to marry?
If the above is true that when an angel (spiritual being) have sex with an human the offspring is giants then was Jesus a giant too?
Why would God create angels with an male sexual gender/organ Does He have future sexual plans for them? Whatever God creates is purposeful and when He create angels He later said "angels don't marry". If they don't marry why would God give them sexual appetite.
When God said "angels don't marry" He means everything that goes with it.
If God made only male angels why would He give them sexual ability for the opposite sex?
Or did God create female angels also?
When Jesus said "angels don't marry" he meant everything that goes with that. That is no sexual ability therefore they don't marry.
Or maybe these angels caused themselves to have sexual abilities and caused themselves to be able to reproduce.
I thought, scripture teach only God gives life. God is the creator of all humans.
Danny Hickman
"The sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive." Who are these sons of God? I believe the writer is talking about men who were of a good report. Men who were called by God for His service. They were divided in their dedication to God and their weakness as men in the flesh. So they took wives for themselves. There was nothing evil or immoral about them getting married and having children. In fact their offspring are said to be "mighty men who were of old, the men of renown." (Gen 6:4)
THESE CHILDREN WERE NOT HALF ANGEL-HALF HUMAN!!
How did something like that ever take root in our belief system? The giant sized outcome of God's chosen sons getting the hook-up with everyday, ordinary women is the focus here. This is plain ole' biblical symbolism. It's prophetic and spiritually reforming!
Why are we told about these giants? Whatever the reason, their contribution to our faith is overshadowed by the time in which they are debuted. The inhabitants of the earth are on the precipice of being destroyed. The way it's told, they are part of the reason. That's not a proper reading of what is being said.
They are being introduced into the story of life. Their size emphasizes a special difference they have from others. They are men of spiritual valor (fame). Their "likeness" survived the flood (in Noah and his children).
The "angels having sex with women of "the world," interpretation is regrettable.
It would be called "ABOMINABLE," outright!! Don't you think?
Danny Hickman
Here's another imaginary assumption of scripture, created out of some kind of law-based interpretation of a class of people, about whom the bible doesn't speak clearly:
"Godly descendants of Seth intermarrying with wicked descendants of Cain." (read Mr Houdmann's answer)
Where did this get its birth? I've been studying scripture for years and never ran across anything about Seth's descendants being any more godly than any other people. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23)
This "intermarrying" political poisoning of the word is totally out of place. For instance: Moses was a godly man. He "intermarried" with a non-Jewish woman. His siblings protested and were reprimanded by God. There was nothing wrong with Moses marrying the woman of his choice.
Seth's descendants were no more "godly" than any other people. Where did the notion that they were come from? Noah was a descendant of Seth. Noah was a godly man.
(This question is for the people who make it their business to distinguish Noah's son Ham as different from the other two sons). Was Ham a descendant of Seth? How about Ham's son Caanan; was he? Of course they were!! When Mr Houdmann calls Seth's descendants godly, does he mean the Caananites were godly?
You see now why you can't correctly separate these people into the godly group that belongs to Seth, and the ungodly that belongs to Cain? It's totally without a bible basis. People are individuals, not groups.
Chris Burnette
Im surprised that nobody has mentioned the Book of Enoch. The fact that it wasn’t canonized does not mean Enoch didn’t write it, or negate the fact that it wasn’t part of scripture for thousands of years! It means the Holy Spirit didn’t allow it to become part of the Bible 2000 years ago.
“In the early 1950's, copies of the book of Enoch were found in the Dead Sea Caves, amongst the Dead Sea Scrolls. This lent credence to the antiquity of the book, and provided copies of original text written in Aramaic.
It is quite amazing that perhaps the first words ever written dealt with the end times! It is even more amazing if one is of the school of thought we are living in those last days.
If one ascribes to that theory, then Enoch was speaking to this generation, thousands and thousands of years prior! Perhaps it is no coincidence the Book of Enoch has reappeared in this modern era.”
Excerpted from israel-a-history-of.com
This holds true to my opinion that the Holy Spirit kept it out if the canonized version of our Bible specifically because it was a message for another time. That time is now, it’s out everywhere and easy to find and clearly explains this topic fully.
Another fun fact about the book of Enoch, it is quoted from in the book of Jude!