The fallen ones of Genesis 6

[Bold Believer]

The question of whom the Nephilim were and are causes a lot questions, legitimately so, in the minds of Believers. It is therefore important that we as Believers look at the text and see just what is being said. Hopefully, it will give us all a greater understanding.

Gen 6:1-4 Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose. Then the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years."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.

The first verse tells us that men have gotten to the point where they have multiplied and fathered daughters. Now presumably they have fathered sons as well, but it seems that daughters are important in the context, so they are a focus. As we continue, we find a second category...bene Elohim or sons of God. It is here that the questions begin. Just who are the sons of God? And more precisely, why are they being given that name? Some will be quick to point out that the use of the term bene Elohim refers to angels rather than men, so I looked up the specific term bene Elohim. It's used 4 times in Scripture, once in Genesis 6 and 3 times in the book of Job. Two of the Job references refer to angelic convocations, the last to a point in time when the angels were praising God.

One could try to make a case by the hermeneutic law of first usage that bene Elohim means angelic beings every time. At first glance, this seems correct. HOWEVER...Genesis 6 is literally the first usage of the term. We have no previous use to draw from, so we're back to square one.

We could have a look at the equivalent term in the New Testament. The first usage there is Mt 5:9 about the peacemakers being blessed and that they shall be called the sons of God. They are being called so because an action they are taking. Making peace. Ehh, not much to go on there. It's apparent that men have assigned that title to these people for the good deed of making peace. The second usage is in Luke.

Luk 20:34-36 Jesus said to them, "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; for they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection."

Mankind in the resurrection is angel-like, neither marrying (male) nor being given in marriage (female). This passage has a clear implication that we will be in the resurrected state as angels are currently...neuter beings. Strike one for the bene Elohim being angels. Angels are neither male nor female, but neuter.

In Luke's genealogy of Jesus, the Holy Spirit inspires the good doctor to use the term Son of God for Adam. This despite Adam's failing. (Luke 3:2) So then by extension, the sons of God could be men in Genesis 6, rather than angels.

Now I will show definitely that the sons of God of Genesis 6 are IN FACT men. Look carefully at Genesis 6:2:

Gen 6:2 that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose.

To take a wife is the word loqach meaning to marry. ANGELS DON'T MARRY. Jesus said so. Therefore, the bene Elohim of Genesis 6 are MEN. Furthermore, there is one other problem with equating the Nephilim with the sons of God. Let's look at it, shall we?

Gen 6:4 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.

Read this passage carefully and you will come to the same conclusion I have, I believe. THE NEPHILIM WERE ALREADY ON THE EARTH when the sons of God started marrying. The Nephilim and the sons of God are not the same! Moses speaks of them separately from the sons of God. The sons of God were marrying and the Nephilim were already present. The Nephilim were the mighty men of old, men of renown.

Who on earth are these guys, these Nephil? The word means bully or tyrant. Furthermore, Moses says they were the mighty men of 'olam' or ancient time and that they were men of renown (shem: name or reputation. People KNEW of these guys. They were not unknown, but rather WELL KNOWN. The term gibbowr (from which we get the name Gabriel) means mighty and brave and physically strong. I believe we can ascertain a clue as to who they were from an earlier chapter and an earlier story.

We all know Cain and Abel's story. Cain murdered his brother...and then went into exile with his own wife and started making a lineage of his own. God put a mark upon Cain so no one would kill him in retaliation for the murder of Abel. Let's look at Genesis 4:16-24.

Gen 4:16-24 Then Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden. Cain had relations with his wife and she conceived, and gave birth to Enoch; and he built a city, and called the name of the city Enoch, after the name of his son. Now to Enoch was born Irad, and Irad became the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael became the father of Methushael, and Methushael became the father of Lamech. Lamech took to himself two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other, Zillah. Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and {have} livestock. His brother's name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. As for Zillah, she also gave birth to Tubal-cain, the forger of all implements of bronze and iron; and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah. Lamech said to his wives, "Adah and Zillah, Listen to my voice, You wives of Lamech, Give heed to my speech, For I have killed a man for wounding me; And a boy for striking me; If Cain is avenged sevenfold, Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold."

Ol' Cain has a pretty impressive lineage. And having killed his brother, undoubtedly a pretty impressive REPUTATION as well. He and his descendants were there early on. They would have had a reputation. Lamech bragged about killing a man for injuring him and a mere boy for hitting him. Tough guys. Mighty men. Brave men. Bad dudes. Tubal-Cain was a forger of various kinds of implements of bronze and iron. Anyone want to bet knives, and swords were amongst the things he was able to make? They have the bully reputation. They have strength and bravery. They are fallen in character. The Nephilim are none other than the sons of Cain. They would have had several years head start before Seth would have been old enough to father children, who would have had to grow up before they could father children. Their reputation would have made them giants in the minds of men. The shoe fits rather well I think. Far better than the notion that demonic angels fathered kids.

[EricH]

Here is my take on the Nephilim and sons of God:

The Nephilim (literally from the Hebrew verb meaning "to fall") were a group of men considered to be giants because of their physical prowess. The Nephilim were on the earth before and after the time that the "sons of God" interbred with the daughters of men in Genesis 6:2.

The sense of Genesis 6 is a description of the general evil of the day. Here is my take on the meaning:

1. The "sons of God" was probably a reference to the Godly line coming from Seth. They did evil in God's sight by interbreeding with women outside the Godly line.

2. The Nephilim were a group of men that due to their physical size were able to "fall" upon others using violence.

3. The irony is that both the evil Nephilim and the "sons of God" were intermarrying and interbreeding with the same women. The offspring of the line of Seth and the daughters of men produced children who were well thought of by the world (6:4), but not by God (6:5)

4. Genesis 6:5 says that God looked upon these events and others and saw that mankind was basically heading headlong onto evil.

It should be noted some feel that the term "Sons of God" refers to demonic beings that interbred with humans. They conclude this because the term "sons of God" is frequently used for angelic beings.

I have concluded that the term refers to the offspring of Seth, because of the following:

1. Genesis 6 follows immediately on the heels of a contrast the ungodly line of Cain (Genesis 4) and the Godly line of Seth (Genesis 5) Genesis then begins with the idea that women were being born outside of the Godly line of Seth, and the offspring of Seth began to desire them.

2. In no place in scripture are angelic beings described has having the ability to reproduce. In fact Jesus indicated that angelic beings are in fact asexual in nature (Mark 12:25)

3. In Genesis 6:9-13 a new "Godly line" is established that begins with Noah. His line is now pure and undefiled.

Summary

1. The Nephilim were a race of physically superior people that used their advantage to "fall" upon people.

2. The Godly line of Seth began intermarrying with women outside the Godly line.

3. The evil Nephilim also began intermarrying with the same women.

4. This dissolution of the Godly line was evil in God's sight (this is a theme that will follow Israel throughout her existence), but produced offspring that were well thought of by the current populace.

5. Because of this, God determined to judge the world by wiping out humanity except for those who belonged to the new Godly line beginning with Noah

[Bold Believer]

Here is my take on the Nephilim and sons of God:

The Nephilim (literally from the Hebrew verb meaning "to fall") were a group of men considered to be giants because of their physical prowess. The Nephilim were on the earth before and after the time that the "sons of God" interbred with the daughters of men in Genesis 6:2.

The sense of Genesis 6 is a description of the general evil of the day. Here is my take on the meaning:

1. The "sons of God" was probably a reference to the Godly line coming from Seth. They did evil in God's sight by interbreeding with women outside the Godly line.

2. The Nephilim were a group of men that due to their physical size were able to "fall" upon others using violence.

3. The irony is that both the evil Nephilim and the "sons of God" were intermarrying and interbreeding with the same women. The offspring of the line of Seth and the daughters of men produced children who were well thought of by the world (6:4), but not by God (6:5)

4. Genesis 6:5 says that God looked upon these events and others and saw that mankind was basically heading headlong onto evil.

It should be noted some feel that the term "Sons of God" refers to demonic beings that interbred with humans. They conclude this because the term "sons of God" is frequently used for angelic beings.

I have concluded that the term refers to the offspring of Seth, because of the following:

1. Genesis 6 follows immediately on the heels of a contrast the ungodly line of Cain (Genesis 4) and the Godly line of Seth (Genesis 5) Genesis then begins with the idea that women were being born outside of the Godly line of Seth, and the offspring of Seth began to desire them.

2. In no place in scripture are angelic beings described has having the ability to reproduce. In fact Jesus indicated that angelic beings are in fact asexual in nature (Mark 12:25)

3. In Genesis 6:9-13 a new "Godly line" is established that begins with Noah. His line is now pure and undefiled.

Summary

1. The Nephilim were a race of physically superior people that used their advantage to "fall" upon people.

2. The Godly line of Seth began intermarrying with women outside the Godly line.

3. The evil Nephilim also began intermarrying with the same women.

4. This dissolution of the Godly line was evil in God's sight (this is a theme that will follow Israel throughout her existence), but produced offspring that were well thought of by the current populace.

5. Because of this, God determined to judge the world by wiping out humanity except for those who belonged to the new Godly line beginning with Noah

Basically Eric, we agree. I specifically believe the Nephilim to be Cain's descendants for the reasons I outlined. The fallen line was there first, they had the reputation of being rough, tough and not taking stuff off anyone. Cain's kiddos were the bad guys taking right after daddy. Lamech's brag in the last verse of the context "Cain is avenged seven times, I, Lamech am avenged seventy times!" is more than ample proof to me of their ferocity and ruthlessness. Interestingly enough, one of the definitions of the word loqach (to marry) also implies being taken captive, as though perhaps some of the Godly women were taken off in raids and forced to marry into the Cainic line. In some places in the Middle East and Afghanistan, I have no doubt this sort of thing still takes place.

[Matthitjah]

I think you gentlemen are spot on.

[Miss Elly]

Here is my take on the Nephilim and sons of God:

The Nephilim (literally from the Hebrew verb meaning "to fall") were a group of men considered to be giants because of their physical prowess. The Nephilim were on the earth before and after the time that the "sons of God" interbred with the daughters of men in Genesis 6:2.

The sense of Genesis 6 is a description of the general evil of the day. Here is my take on the meaning:

1. The "sons of God" was probably a reference to the Godly line coming from Seth. They did evil in God's sight by interbreeding with women outside the Godly line.

2. The Nephilim were a group of men that due to their physical size were able to "fall" upon others using violence.

3. The irony is that both the evil Nephilim and the "sons of God" were intermarrying and interbreeding with the same women. The offspring of the line of Seth and the daughters of men produced children who were well thought of by the world (6:4), but not by God (6:5)

4. Genesis 6:5 says that God looked upon these events and others and saw that mankind was basically heading headlong onto evil.

It should be noted some feel that the term "Sons of God" refers to demonic beings that interbred with humans. They conclude this because the term "sons of God" is frequently used for angelic beings.

I have concluded that the term refers to the offspring of Seth, because of the following:

1. Genesis 6 follows immediately on the heels of a contrast the ungodly line of Cain (Genesis 4) and the Godly line of Seth (Genesis 5) Genesis then begins with the idea that women were being born outside of the Godly line of Seth, and the offspring of Seth began to desire them.

2. In no place in scripture are angelic beings described has having the ability to reproduce. In fact Jesus indicated that angelic beings are in fact asexual in nature (Mark 12:25)

3. In Genesis 6:9-13 a new "Godly line" is established that begins with Noah. His line is now pure and undefiled.

Summary

1. The Nephilim were a race of physically superior people that used their advantage to "fall" upon people.

2. The Godly line of Seth began intermarrying with women outside the Godly line.

3. The evil Nephilim also began intermarrying with the same women.

4. This dissolution of the Godly line was evil in God's sight (this is a theme that will follow Israel throughout her existence), but produced offspring that were well thought of by the current populace.

5. Because of this, God determined to judge the world by wiping out humanity except for those who belonged to the new Godly line beginning with Noah

Basically Eric, we agree. I specifically believe the Nephilim to be Cain's descendants for the reasons I outlined. The fallen line was there first, they had the reputation of being rough, tough and not taking stuff off anyone. Cain's kiddos were the bad guys taking right after daddy. Lamech's brag in the last verse of the context "Cain is avenged seven times, I, Lamech am avenged seventy times!" is more than ample proof to me of their ferocity and ruthlessness. Interestingly enough, one of the definitions of the word loqach (to marry) also implies being taken captive, as though perhaps some of the Godly women were taken off in raids and forced to marry into the Cainic line. In some places in the Middle East and Afghanistan, I have no doubt this sort of thing still takes place.

So glad some of you folks posted these explanations and I agree! How could fallen angels marry women and have children with them without human DNA? Any scientist in his right would tell you that it takes HUMAN DNA from the father and mother for a baby to form. It sounds like many well-meaning folk are superstitous and don't look closely enough at the scriptures to adequately explain about this topic, so they assume wrongly that is women and fallen angels.

[ColleenLovesMischief]

Here is my take on the Nephilim and sons of God:

The Nephilim (literally from the Hebrew verb meaning "to fall") were a group of men considered to be giants because of their physical prowess. The Nephilim were on the earth before and after the time that the "sons of God" interbred with the daughters of men in Genesis 6:2.

The sense of Genesis 6 is a description of the general evil of the day. Here is my take on the meaning:

1. The "sons of God" was probably a reference to the Godly line coming from Seth. They did evil in God's sight by interbreeding with women outside the Godly line.

2. The Nephilim were a group of men that due to their physical size were able to "fall" upon others using violence.

3. The irony is that both the evil Nephilim and the "sons of God" were intermarrying and interbreeding with the same women. The offspring of the line of Seth and the daughters of men produced children who were well thought of by the world (6:4), but not by God (6:5)

4. Genesis 6:5 says that God looked upon these events and others and saw that mankind was basically heading headlong onto evil.

It should be noted some feel that the term "Sons of God" refers to demonic beings that interbred with humans. They conclude this because the term "sons of God" is frequently used for angelic beings.

I have concluded that the term refers to the offspring of Seth, because of the following:

1. Genesis 6 follows immediately on the heels of a contrast the ungodly line of Cain (Genesis 4) and the Godly line of Seth (Genesis 5) Genesis then begins with the idea that women were being born outside of the Godly line of Seth, and the offspring of Seth began to desire them.

2. In no place in scripture are angelic beings described has having the ability to reproduce. In fact Jesus indicated that angelic beings are in fact asexual in nature (Mark 12:25)

3. In Genesis 6:9-13 a new "Godly line" is established that begins with Noah. His line is now pure and undefiled.

Summary

1. The Nephilim were a race of physically superior people that used their advantage to "fall" upon people.

2. The Godly line of Seth began intermarrying with women outside the Godly line.

3. The evil Nephilim also began intermarrying with the same women.

4. This dissolution of the Godly line was evil in God's sight (this is a theme that will follow Israel throughout her existence), but produced offspring that were well thought of by the current populace.

5. Because of this, God determined to judge the world by wiping out humanity except for those who belonged to the new Godly line beginning with Noah

Basically Eric, we agree. I specifically believe the Nephilim to be Cain's descendants for the reasons I outlined. The fallen line was there first, they had the reputation of being rough, tough and not taking stuff off anyone. Cain's kiddos were the bad guys taking right after daddy. Lamech's brag in the last verse of the context "Cain is avenged seven times, I, Lamech am avenged seventy times!" is more than ample proof to me of their ferocity and ruthlessness. Interestingly enough, one of the definitions of the word loqach (to marry) also implies being taken captive, as though perhaps some of the Godly women were taken off in raids and forced to marry into the Cainic line. In some places in the Middle East and Afghanistan, I have no doubt this sort of thing still takes place.

So glad some of you folks posted these explanations and I agree! How could fallen angels marry women and have children with them without human DNA? Any scientist in his right would tell you that it takes HUMAN DNA from the father and mother for a baby to form. It sounds like many well-meaning folk are superstitous and don't look closely enough at the scriptures to adequately explain about this topic, so they assume wrongly that is women and fallen angels.

Ummmm then explain the virgin birth please.

[Boash]

I guess that would place me in the minority here then as I see it the other way. Otherwise the sons of Seth would have been eliminated at the time of the flood. But it clearly states "and also after that"

[Matthitjah]

Grace to you,

There's only one problem with the summation that these Nephilim survived the flood. In the scenario that they were angel human hybrid they would indeed be flesh.

However;

Ge

[Boash]

Grace to you,

There's only one problem with the summation that these Nephilim survived the flood. In the scenario that they were angel human hybrid they would indeed be flesh.

However;

Ge

[Matthitjah]

Grace to you,

There's only one problem with the summation that these Nephilim survived the flood. In the scenario that they were angel human hybrid they would indeed be flesh.

However;

Ge