The “Sons Of God” Debate

I am not saying this is the best answer but it is at least a start.  The purpose of this website is to start your critical thinking processes.  Look directly at the words of the Bible without adding to them. What do you think?

Genesis 6 refers to “sons of God” having relationships with the women of the earth: “When the human beings (האדם; ha’adam) began to increase on the face of the ground, and daughters were born to them, the sons of God (בני אלהים; benei elohim) saw that the daughters of the humans (בנות האדם; benot ha’adam) were beautiful, and they took as their wives any they chose” (6:1-2). Though the identity of these “sons of God” is a matter of debate, it is most likely that they were lesser deities who rebelled against the authority of Israel’s God.

Who are the Nephilim? 

In understanding the “sons of God,” the Bible reader has multiple options. Since Scripture sometimes refers to the Davidic king as God’s “son” (בן; ben, e.g., 2 Sam 7:14; Ps 2:7), it’s possible that the “sons of God” in Genesis 6 were royal men who “took women for themselves” (יקחו להם נשׁים; yiqkhu lahem nashim) as an abuse of their power. Others have read these entities as fallen angels, noting the fact that their offspring are called the Nephilim (נפלים)–in Hebrew, “fallen ones.” However, since the “sons of God” are never called “angels” (מלאכים; malakhim), this interpretation goes beyond the textual data.

Who are the Sons of God?

Based on other biblical appearances of the “sons of God,” it is more likely that these entities are lesser gods over whom the God of Israel has authority. The beginning of Job presents a heavenly court scene in which “the sons of God (בני אלהים; benei elohim) came to present themselves before the Lord” (1:6; cf. 2:1). When God speaks to Job toward the end of the narrative, the Lord refers to the heavenly “sons of God” existing prior to earthly creation. God asks Job, “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth… when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God (בני אלהים; benei elohim) shouted for joy?” (38:7).

Since in Job the “sons of God” are divine underlings in the Lord’s entourage, it is best to view the episode in Genesis 6 as an instance of the lesser gods leaving their heavenly realm and taking human women; the sons of God choose to abandon their posts under the Lord and enter the earthly realm. This rebellious divine behavior is met with the subsequent flood (cf. Gen 6:11-13) but, ultimately, the Lord exercises continued authority over such rebellion in the preservation of humanity through Noah.

12 Responses to The “Sons Of God” Debate

  1. John S says:

    Hello Jacqueline Lee and Henry. Im not able to log onto the Zoom meetings for some reason

  2. John S says:

    Satan and those allied with him work evil on earth by entering hearts of men and women . Sexual sins are among the worst and even in Israel there were no sacrifices for the worst sexual sins like incest adultery and homosexuality….. none! Those committing those sins were to be killed to clear the evil from the holy land. Read Leviticus 15-20

  3. John S says:

    Jude 6. Angels that sinned.
    Here as in other references, the sexual sin of even angels coming to earth cohabiting with humans and a new hybrid being was born , the Nephilim of which much archaeological proof exists as well as Biblical. Genesis 3 shows undeniably Satan wanted to sexuce Eve herself to become his lover and produce seed as did happen later though with other women. Genesis 3

    Now for a side point

    ‘Jove’

    Definition of two things: Jupiter , the greatest of Roman gods

    And Jehovah the God christ proclaimed.

    Christ never said ‘Jevovah’ was Gods name. It derives from Roman and Latin language i e heard. The JW religion makes great pride in Jehovah , simply tossing out of their translation Yahweh or a close translation for the Roman god Jupiter.

    • John S says:

      “Those worsipping him must worship in spirit and in truth. John 4:23,4

      So i remember being taught by JW teachers., “it doesnt matter what we call him as long as its common in our language”

      Say WHAT!?

      Oh it matters to Yahweh! Read Exodus 20:1

      “ I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no gods except me.”

      • John S says:

        So according to millions on earth the God of the Bible just happens to share his name with the most High Roman god Jupiter. (Jove)

  4. Brett says:

    Interesting thoughts…
    I have some thoughts to add.

    Where in the Bible does it say that the \”sons of God\” are fallen angels?
    I\’m not aware of any place!

    Then how can it be proposed that the \”sons of God\” were some form of life higher than humans?
    If these were angels then they would be disobeying God making them fallen angels and then they would not be \”sons of God\”.
    Conclusion: these were not anything but humans.

    There is a very clear pattern from Genesis to Revelation of two groups of humans,
    those who worship and serve the creator God and those who remain in their carnal fallen state and by default are sons of Adam and self-serving and lost, and are therefore the seed of the serpent.
    We have two seeds in Gen 3:15 those of the woman (the called out ones, who re redeemed by the blood of the lamb) and those who follow their fallen nature and worship Satan (knowingly or unknowingly Rom 6:16, Matt 3:7)
    So could it be that the men who were from those worshiping God (sons of God), were drawn by lust to the worldly women (daughters of men) because of their sensuous clothing (because it says that they saw the daughters of men) that they intermarried and gave rise to a larger wicked bunch of people.
    This to me makes sense because as people worship God and obey His health laws they are larger and healthier and as people disobey Him and live their lives against His instructions (Ex 20:5) their progeny suffer as a result.
    So the daughters of men were wicked and could have been smaller, and less impactful as far as having an evil influence but if they were large and wicked then they could have more impact in brutality (becoming men of renown)

    Just a thought, but I am convinced that the sons of God were not anything but humans since there is NO EVIDENCE in scripture that angels can reproduce!!!
    So why do we think that fallen angels would be able to reproduce with humans? It goes contrary to scripture however goes in line with extra biblical writings like book of Enoch etc…

    • jacqueline says:

      Brett, thank you so much for your reasoning. That is what this website is about to push people to think critically! I didn’t answer right away because we have thousands of readers and I wanted them to see your comment. Thinking that maybe they might answer back.
      When I post interesting articles it is not necessarily my belief but something to jar the mind of people that have always read books from the 18th century from the viewpoint of one man or a handful that interprets scripture for them. So again thank you for your comment.

    • Lee Anthony says:

      Brett,
      Your reasoning is sound and based in the idea that God made all things to reproduce after their kind. This is part of the order of creation. This subject, like most, have various theological interpretations. This dialogue goes back thousands of years before Christianity, as you mentioned Enoch which is pre-Messiah. Many did not agree with this thinking then. It is interesting that much of Christianity have never heard this different viewpoint.
      There is no end of topics on this site where opposing thoughts can be found

      Lee Anthony
      https://bibletalkwithleeanthony.org

  5. jacqueline says:

    As we are learning not to read words into the text of the Bible, this scripture came up. Were those Angels in Genesis 6 chapter that had relations with the daughters of men?

    Is every creature in the invisible realm an ANGEL? Are all of them Messengers or are there lesser gods and rulers?

    In Revelation, so thinks the stats that fell came to earth but the actual words do not say that. Earth is so tiny We doubt that with all that empty space they would hit earth.

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