Genesis 6:1-4: Sons of God and Human Beings

These four verses provide a rather unusual interlude, coming between the genealogy of the patriarchal line in chapter five, and the story of the flood that truly begins in verse 5. I’m attributing them to the redactor who combined the J and P sources of the flood, though I think they work better with the P source. This is not the standard interpretation. The reason I suggest it is that:

1. The style is neither that of J or P, despite the use of YHWH as the divine name.
2. The instance of YHWH could well be the work of the redactor.
3. The J source has explained the presence of evil in the world through the fall of chapter 3 and Cain’s sin of chapter 4.

I could easily be wrong about all that, but it’s just a quick suggestion. Now to the interpretation.

Wherever it started, this passage fits quite well into the final form of the story, giving us a reason for God’s action in sending the flood.

¹Now when human beings began to get numerous all over the land, and they gave birth to daughters, ²the sons of God {or “sons of the gods” or “divine beings} saw the daughters of the human beings. They saw that they were good looking, and they took wives for themselves from whomever they chose.

There are three major suggestions for the meaning of “sons of God.” Before I list those, let me note that the translation could be “sons of the gods” as well, and that this would present the option of “divine beings.” The three major options are:

1. The sons of the gods are divine beings such as angels. (The New Bible Commentary)
2. The sons of God are the descendants of Seth and followers of God (Matthew Henry)
3. The sons of God are human beings who are possessed by or under the control of demonic powers (The Bible Knowledge Commentary)

(Commentary listings are just examples. There may be many more commentators who hold the same position.

If the “sons of the gods” are divine beings, then the “sons of men” should be translated “human beings” or something similar, as I have done. If they are the descendants of Seth, then the “sons of men” would be the Kenites or descendants of Cain. If you take the third option, that they are human beings controlled by demonic forces, you would reverse the situation in option three, and in terms of physical form, at least, the sons of God would be the Kenites, while the sons of man would be the descendants of Seth.

I think that the best parallel to the use of the term in this passage is Job 1:6, in which it is clear that supernatural beings are intended. In this case, the marriages between these supernatural beings and the human women result in ancient heroes and the “nephilim.” At the same time, wickedness increases, with very little in the way of limitations, because people live for so long. The long lives, as noted in chapter 5, help with passing on the patriarchal tradition, but this long life also allows some pretty incredible planning for evil.

³Then YHWH said, “My spirit will not always work among human beings, considering that they are flesh. Their lifespan will be 120 years.” ⁴There were giants {Nephilim} on the earth in those days, and also after the sons of God went to the daughters of the human beings and bore children by them. These were heroes, the famous men of ancient times.

God quickly reminds everyone that he is the one that is in charge. There’s to be a reduction in the lifespan, but don’t miss the way it happens. God withdraws his spirit, his breath of life.

(29) You hide your face, and they are disturbed;
You bring their breath to an end,
And they return to their dust.

(30) You send forth your breath, and they are created;
So you renew the face of the ground.

— Psalm 104:29-30 (from my paper Psalm 104: God, Creator and Sustainer

It’s easy to forget as we rebel against God that all life, and even all existence depends on him. So rebellion against God, while it may seem to be a liberated way to live, is actually simply the way to death. As we look at the flood, we will want to consider this option of God withdrawing himself, and at the same time withdrawing his protection.