Genesis 6:2

Genesis 6:2

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

a. NLT: The sons of God saw the beautiful women[fn] and took any they wanted as their wives. [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

b. ASV: That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all that they chose. [Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.]

c. YLT: And sons of God see the daughters of men that they are fair, and they take to themselves women of all whom they have chosen.  [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

d. Classic Amplified: The sons of God saw that the daughters of men were fair, and they took wives of all they desired and chose.  [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

e. Septuagint: And it came to pass when men began to be numerous upon the earth, and daughters were born to them,

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/ Writings: The sons of the rulers saw that the daughters of man were good and they took themselves wives from whomever they chose. [The Artscroll Series/Stone Edition, THE TANACH--STUDENT SIZE EDITION Copyright 1996, 1998 by Mesorah Publications, Ldt.]

1. “That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair…”

a. [That the] sons [Strong: 1121 ben bane from 1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like 1, 251, etc.)):--+ afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-)ite, (anoint-)ed one, appointed to, (+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-)ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, X came up in, child, colt, X common, X corn, daughter, X of first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, + kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+) people, + rebel, + robber, X servant born, X soldier, son, + spark, + steward, + stranger, X surely, them of, + tumultuous one, + valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.]

b. [of] God [Strong: 430 'elohiym el-o-heem' plural of 433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:--angels, X exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X mighty.]

1). There are 5 Scriptures in the Old Testament that refer to the “sons of God.” The expression “sons of God” show that they are a product of God. 

a). Genesis 6:2, 4

b). Job 2:1 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

c). Job 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.

d). Job 38:4-7 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

38:5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who hath stretched the line upon it?

38:6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner stone thereof?

38:7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

c. saw [Strong: 7200 ra'ah raw-aw' a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative):--advise self, appear, approve, behold, X certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, X indeed, X joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, X be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), X sight of others, (e-)spy, stare, X surely, X think, view, visions.]

d. [Strong: 853 'eth ayth apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).]

e. [the] daughters [Strong: 1323 bath bath from 1129 (as feminine of 1121); a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively):--apple (of the eye), branch, company, daughter, X first, X old, + owl, town, village.]

f. [of] men [Strong: 120 'adam aw-dawm' from 119; ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.):--X another, + hypocrite, + common sort, X low, man (mean, of low degree), person.]

g. that [Strong: 3588 kiy kee a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet.]

h. they [Strong: 2007 hennah hane'-naw prolongation for 2004; themselves (often used emphatic for the copula, also in indirect relation):--X in, X such (and such things), their, (into) them, thence, therein, these, they (had), on this side, whose, wherein.]

i. [were] fair [Strong: 2896 towb tobe from 2895; good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well):--beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, X fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, X most, pleasant, + pleaseth, pleasure, precious, prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well ((-favoured)).]

1). The expressions “sons of God” and “daughters of men” show that one is a product of God and one is a product of man. These “sons of God” are fallen angels that followed Lucifer in his rebellion against God. There are two classes of fallen angels, some are loose and some are bound. Those that are loose:

a).  Revelation 12:7-9 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels.

12:8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

12:9 n And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

2). Some are bound.

a). 2 Peter 2:4 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;

b). Jude 6 And the angels that 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.

3).  If both groups fell, why are some in hell and some loosed, given that God is no respecter of persons in judgment? A logical explanation is the angels that are bound committed the additional sin of fornicating with human women. Jude 6 tells of the angels which, “kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation.”

a). first estate [Strong: 746. arche ar-khay' from 756; (properly abstract) a commencement, or (concretely) chief (in various applications of order, time, place, or rank):--beginning, corner, (at the, the) first (estate), magistrate, power, principality, principle, rule.] [Same Same Greek word as ‘principality’ in Ephesian 6:12.]

b). Ben Adam, Origin of Heathendom: “The Ephesian context is clear to these ‘principalities’ being companies of angels occupying positions of great power and authority among the world-rulers in the heavenly places; and we learn from Jude that a proportion of them failed to keep their positions…in the heavens.

c). habitation [Strong: 3613. oiketerion oy-kay-tay'-ree-on neuter of a presumed derivative of 3611 (equivalent to 3612); a residence (literally or figuratively):--habitation, house.] 

d). This Greek word occurs only twice in the NT., Jude 6 and in 2 Corinthians 5:2 where it is translated “house”. In 2 Corinthians it refers to the spiritual bodies of believers when raised or changed at the return of Christ.

4). Looking at Jude 6 & 7 together shows the common link between the angels and the cities of the plain was their fornication with ‘other’ flesh, i.e., flesh not like their own.

a). Jude 6 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.

Jude 7 EVEN AS Sodom and Gomorrah, 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.”

5). There had to be two eruptions of fallen angels, one before the flood and one after. The angels who were in this second eruption were also angels who had previously participated in the original rebellion mentioned in Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28. The Emims were giants and dwelt in Moab. The Horims were giants and lived in Seir before the children of Esau.

a). a). Deuteronomy 2:9-12 And the Lord said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle: for I will not give thee of their land for a possession; because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a possession.

2:10 The Emims dwelt therein in times past, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims;

2:11 Which also were accounted giants, as the Anakims; but the Moabites called them Emims.

2:12 The Horims also dwelt in Seir beforetime; but the children of Esau succeeded them, when they had destroyed them from before them, and dwelt in their stead; as Israel did unto the land of his possession, which the Lord gave unto them.

6). The Zamzummims were giants and dwelt in Ammon and the Avims were also giants and dwelt in Hazerim.

a). Deuteronomy 2:19-21 And when thou comest nigh over against the children of Ammon, distress them not, nor meddle with them: for I will not give thee of the land of the children of Ammon any possession; because I have given it unto the children of Lot for a possession.

2:20 (That also was accounted a land of giants: giants dwelt therein in old time; and the Ammonites call them Zamzummims;

2:21 A people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims; but the Lord destroyed them before them; and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead:

2:22 As he did to the children of Esau, which dwelt in Seir, when he destroyed the Horims from before them; and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead even unto this day:

2:23 And the Avims which dwelt in Hazerim, even unto Azzah, the Caphtorims, which came forth out of Caphtor, destroyed them, and dwelt in their stead.)

7). Using the measure of 18 inches for a cubit Og, the king of Bashan was a giant and had a bed thirteen and a half feet long and six feet wide. Bashan was referred to as “the land of the giants.” Using that same unit of measure Goliath was nine feet and 9 inches tall.

a). Deuteronomy 3:11-13 For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants; behold his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man.

3:12 And this land, which we possessed at that time, from Aroer, which is by the river Arnon, and half mount Gilead, and the cities thereof, gave I unto the Reubenites and to the Gadites.

3:13 And the rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, being the kingdom of Og, gave I unto the half tribe of Manasseh; all the region of Argob, with all Bashan, which was called the land of giants.

b). 1 Samuel 17:4 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

8). Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai were three famous giants of the Anakims. They lived in present day Hebron in 1400 B.C. Caleb drove these three from Hebron.

a). Joshua 15:13 And unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a part among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the Lord to Joshua, even the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron.

15:14 And Caleb drove thence the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.

2. “...and they took them wives of all which they chose.”

a. [and they] took [Strong: 3947 laqach law-kakh' a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications):--accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, X many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.]

b. [them] wives [Strong: 802 'ishshah ish-shaw' feminine of 376 or 582; irregular plural, nashiym {naw-sheem'}; a woman (used in the same wide sense as 582):--(adulter)ess, each, every, female, X many, + none, one, + together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English.]

c. [of] all [Strong: 3605 kol kole or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever).]

d. which [Strong: 834 'aher ash-er' a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number); who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.:--X after, X alike, as (soon as), because, X every, for, + forasmuch, + from whence, + how(-soever), X if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), X though, + until, + whatsoever, when, where (+ -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, + whither(- soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun expletively, used to show the connection.]

e. [they] chose [Strong: 977 bachar baw-khar' a primitive root; properly, to try, i.e. (by implication) select:--acceptable, appoint, choose (choice), excellent, join, be rather, require.]

Additional Notes

1. There are a number of noncanonical books (books not accepted as writings inspired by God, they are referred to as the Pseudepigrapha), that mention the “sons of God” or “watchers”. The Book of Enoch is one of them. Though the Book of Enoch is not recognized by the church as part of the inspired canon of Scripture, a verse in the book of Enoch is found in in the book of Jude.

a. Jude And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,

Jude 15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

b. The book of Enoch 1:9 “And behold! He cometh with ten thousands of His holy ones, to execute judgment upon all, and to destroy all the ungodly, and to convict all flesh, of all the works of their ungodliness which they have ungodly committed, And of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”

c. Concerning the Book of Enoch, Dr. Edward F. Hills writes: “One of the best known of the Pseudepigrapha is the Book of Enoch, and Ethiopic version of which was discovered in Abyssinia by James Bruce 9c. 1770). This book is of special interest because Jude is commonly thought to have quoted it in his Epistle. AND ENOCH ALSO, THE SEVENTH FROM ADAM, PROPHESIED OF THESE, SAYING, BEHOLD, THE LORD COMETH WITH TEN THOUSANDS OF HIS SAINTS TO EXECUTE JUDGMENT UPON ALL, AND TO CONVINCE ALL THAT ARE UNGODLY AMONG THEM OF ALL THEIR UNGODLY DEEDS WHICH THEY HAVE UNGODLY COMMITTED. AND OF ALL THEIR HARD SPEECHES WHICH UNGODLY SINNERS HAVE SPOKEN AGAINST HIM. (Jude 14, 15; Enoch 1:9) Among early Christians there were three reactions to this seeming quotation of The Book of Enoch on the part of Jude. First, there were those like Tertullian, who accepted both the Epistle of Jude and the Book of Enoch as canonical. Second, there were those (mentioned by Jerome) who rejected both the Epistle of Jude and the Book of Enoch. Third, there were those like Origen and Augustine, who accepted the Epistle of Jude as canonical but rejected the Book of Enoch. This third position was adopted by the Church at large and is undoubtedly the true one. For it is not certain that Jude actually did quote from the Book of Enoch. He may have been quoting a common source, a traditional saying handed down from remote antiquity.”

2.The Book of Jubilees

a. Jubilees 4:15 And in the second week of the tenth jubilee [449-55 A.M.] Mahalalel took unto him to wife DinaH, the daughter of Barakiel the daughter of his father's brother, and she bare him a son in the third week in the sixth year, [461 A.M.] and he called his name Jared, for in his days the angels of the Lord descended on the earth, those who are named the Watchers, that they should instruct the children of men, and that they should do judgment and uprightness on the earth.

b. Jubilees 5:1 And it came to pass when the children of men began to multiply on the face of the earth and daughters were born unto them, that the angels of God saw them on a certain year of this jubilee, that they were beautiful to look upon; and they took themselves wives of all whom they chose, and they bare unto them sons and they were giants.

4. Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book I, Chapter III, Section 1. “But what degree of zeal they had formerly shown for virtue, they now showed by their actions a double degree of wickedness, whereby they made God to be their enemy; for many angels of God accompanied with women, and begat sons that proved unjust, and despisers of all that was good, on account of the confidence they had in their own strength, for the tradition is that these men did what resembled the acts of those whom the Grecians call giants.”

a. Note in Josepheus under this section: “This notion, that the fallen angels were, in some sense, the fathers of the old giants, was the constant opinion of antiquity.”