Were the “sons of God” of Genesis 6 angels?

05.16.2020

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Overview

• What is an angel? (distinction in names)
• “Sons of God” in OT with Hebrew definition
• Angelic encounters in the OT
• “Sons of God” in NT with Hebrew definition 
• Angelic encounters in the NT
• Genesis 6 implications 

The Sethite view and other interpretations like it will say that angelic beings having intercourse with humans is not possible, because angels are spirits that would not have the ability to copulate with humans, with Matthew 22:30 (For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.) as part of their support. They will also say that the Strong’s lexicon defines Nephilim as bullies and tyrants, not as supernatural creatures that are the offspring of angels and human intercourse.

Scripture says otherwise:

Genesis 6:1-4 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,

That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

• The notion that “sons of God” is referring to the line of Seth is incorrect. (1. Seth’s line was to replace Abel, since Cain killed him (the righteous seed). (2. Seth and the other first born sons (Enos, Cainaan, Mahalaleel, etc.) all begat sons and daughters that are not mentioned by name, neither are they mentioned as being special through the line of Seth, and are not mentioned as “sons of God” before Genesis 6. (3. Genesis 6:1 makes no distinction in the type of humans (in regard to blood/seed line) that multiply on the Earth, it  simply talks about all humanity, with the “sons of God” being a clear distinction between the men that multiplied on the earth and their daughters. 

What is an angel?

In both Hebrew and Greek, the definition of an angel is a messenger. Every instance of angels being referenced in the scriptures pertains to them being a liaison between Yah and a human. 

• general angel (mal’awk), 
• Seraphim (saraph) which is described as being a fiery serpent, surrounding Yah’s throne (Isaiah 6:2-6) 
• Cherubim (kerub), who are described as having four faces (human, lion, ox, eagle) with a human likeness that also surrounds Yah’s throne (Ezekiel 1:5-10, Ezekiel 10)
• Archangels, who are the chief angels (Daniel 10:13, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, Revelation 12:7). 

What is a “son of God”?

Let’s look at the instances in scripture where the phrase is used, what context the scripture is used in and who it is referring to:

Old Testament

• Job 1:6 (Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.) and 2:1 (Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD) use the phrase “sons of God” in reference to Satan (Lucifer) and his angels, that they present themselves before Yah, and in that “presenting themselves” before Him, they would need to leave the Earth and have the ability to go into Heaven, where Yah resides (something that humans cannot do). 
• Job 38:7 (When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?) uses “morning stars” and “sons of God” in reference to the heavenly host when Yah created them, Isaiah 14: 12 (How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!) references Lucifer as “son of the morning” who is known to be an angel. 

New Testament

It should be noted that, the greak meaning for angel means messenger (aggelos ang’-el-os from aggello (to bring tidings); a messenger; especially an “angel”; by implication, a pastor:–angel, messenger.), and just as the “sons of God” are angels/messengers, we are messengers of the Gospel

• John 1:12 (But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:)– Those that believe in the name of Ha’Mashiach are given the power to “become the sons of God”. Later in John (John 14:8-12) Yashua tells Philip that the Father is in him, and to let his works show it as proof, and that whoever believes in him will do greater works than Yashua did on earth (healing, exorcising, raising from the dead, etc.)– Mark 16:17-18  
• Romans 8:14 (For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.)– Those led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. We can compare this verse to Hebrews 1:6-7(And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.) where it is declared by God to let “all the angels worship him,” and that the angels are spirits (made and lead by God, thus having His spirit) and are ministers, a flame of fire (just as we are baptized w/the fire of the Holy Ghost– Matthew 3:11, Luke 3:16, Acts 2:1-4) 
  • It should also be mentioned that in Romans 8, Paul tells the Romans that not being the flesh, but rather the spirit, makes one a son of God, which appears to be the reverse of what happened in Genesis 6 (angels in the flesh) 

• Romans 8:19 (For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.)– The suffering of this physical, fallen flesh is nothing compared to what the glory inside of us will reveal (verse 18) for the creature (human being) waits for the “manifestation of the sons of God.” We can conclude through verses 20-23 (For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.) that this manifestation is a “redemption of our body” from the fallen state it is currently in (with a new, perfect body as the angels in heaven)
• Phillipians 2:15 (That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;)– Working by the Spirit, producing good fruits that show that us to be “blameless and harmless,” allow us to become the “sons of God” 
• 1 John 3:1-2 (Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.)– Although it does not appear to be that we are the sons of God (because of our current state in the flesh) we will be like Ha’Mashiach when he appears. We can get a glimpse of this from when Yashua rises from the dead and visits Mary and apostles (Luke 24:36-43, John 20:20)

From looking at the usage of the word “sons of God” in both old and new testament, we can see that it is in reference to angelic, celestial beings, and how we become as the angels, being messengers of the gospel, just as angels are the messengers of important news. 

The Sethite view and others that refute the idea of angelic beings reproducing with humans will say that angels do not have the necessary traits to reproduce. 

Let’s look at the angelic encounters in both old and new testament, and what they are able to do in the physical realm (scriptures used will be angels affecting reality, not just giving messages):

Old Testament 

• Genesis 19:1-3 (And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night. And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.) 
• Numbers 22:21-33 (And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way. But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side. And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again. And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee. And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay. Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face. And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me: And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.)
• 2Chr 32:21 (And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword.) 
• 1 Kings 19:5-7 (And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.)
• 2 Kings 19:35 (And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.)

New Testament 

• Luke 22:43 (And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.)
• John 5:1-4 (After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.)
• Acts 5:19-20 (But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.) 
• Acts 12:6-10 (And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.)

In these scriptures, we can see that angels have the ability to affect the physical realm and take on a physical body. If they can touch humans, wash their feet and eat food, it can be assumed that they have everything else the human body has, including genitalia. 

Genesis 6 implications

Genesis 6:1-4 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. 

1. There were giants (nphiyl nef-eel’ or nphil {nef-eel’}; from 5307; properly, a feller, i.e. a bully or tyrant:–giant.) in the earth in those days (pre-flood) and also after that (post-flood). The definition of Nephilim being a giant, tyrant, and bully due to their increased stature and ability to rule over the normal sized humans 
2. There are several accounts in the scriptures that tell about the giants. Emims (Genesis 14:5 ; Deuteronomy 2:10 Deuteronomy 2:11), Anakim (Numbers 13:28-33 ; Deuteronomy 1:28 ; 2:10 ; 9:2, Joshua 11:21-22, Joshua 14:12 Joshua 14:15, Joshua 15:13-14, Judges 1:20), Zamzummim (Genesis 14:5 ; Deuteronomy 2:20-21), Og of Bashan (Deuteronomy 3:11) and the classic Goliath (1 Samuel 17)
3. The giants that were mighty men which were of old, men of renown surprisingly fit the description of the demi-gods of the world mythologies. 
   1. Hercules was the son of the affair Zeus had with the mortal woman Alcmene, with Hercules marrying 4 mortal women. (depiction of Zeus next to a Nemean lion)
   2. Tityos, a giant in Greek mythology, was the offspring of Zeus and Elara, a mortal princess 
   3. King Khasekhemui, the last second dynasty pharaoh, was believed to be 8ft 6in (14ft 7in if we go according to the “royal cubit) check the rest of the article (https://www.ancient-origins.net/unexplained-phenomena/giants-ancient-egypt-part-ii-physical-evidence-giant-characters-008745)
   4. (Narmer palette depicting Narmer defeating his enemies) Read about giants of ancient Egypt: https://www.ancient-origins.net/unexplained-phenomena/giants-ancient-egypt-part-1-lost-legacy-pharaohs-008739
   5. Top 10 giant discoveries in North America: https://www.ancient-origins.net/unexplained-phenomena/top-ten-giant-discoveries-north-america-005196

Genesis 6 tells the brief story of how the sons of God (angels) procreated with humanity. It was Noah, his sons and their wives who were not genetically corrupt (hence why the scriptures say he was “perfect” in his generations). If there were a “godly” Seth line of humans procreating with the “wicked” line of Cain, abnormally large humans would not have sprung from this union, simply because the DNA of both humans (regardless of their mental and spiritual condition) would still produce a normal sized man. The mythologies and histories of the world all give accounts of giants, scripture gives accounts of giants, and there are/have been archaeologists discovering massive sized human bones during excavation (often covered up as dinosaur and other large animal bones). Any other interpretation of Genesis 6 lacks significantly in the explanation of all these phenomena, often claiming they aren’t true or exaggerated depictions of mighty warriors. 

Here is a last piece of evidence: 

Jude 1:6-7 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

2 Peter 2:4-7 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

It’s no coincidence that both Jude and Peter reference Sodom and Gomorrah with the angels that sinned in Genesis 6. Going after strange flesh and Lot being vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked are certainly reference when the inhabitants of Sodom wanted to “know” or have intercourse with, the angels that were with Lot

Genesis 19:4-9 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof. And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door.

Where the “sons of God in Genesis 6 angels? Yes, they were.

Sources

• http://sydhav.no/giants/overview.htm
• https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/mythic-creatures/land/greek-giants
• https://www.ancient-origins.net/