The Sons of God and the Nephilim (Genesis 6:1-4)

[GandalfTheWhite]

I still lean towards the fallen angels theory because of the Hebrew word Nephilim but that is me personally

 

[Bowhunter2394]

Look at the construction of the text. "Which likewise indulged in sexual immorality" is not linking Sodom and Gomorrah to the angels who left their first estate, it is linking the behavior of the "surrounding cities" to the like behavior of Sodom and Gomorrah. The sin of the angels is specified simply as having left their "own position of authority" not sexual immorality.

"just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire."

the sins of sodom and gomorrah, that sexual immorality, was played by devil possession as , the flesh , fully vexed and exorcised BY the devil, went about driving the Lost soul, spirit, flesh /bone to do what they did, its no different Today, you see those in that environement, I see it today.. full on devil inspired and daimoniōdēs powered.. FALLEN angelic spirits, inhabit flesh /bone, THOSE characteristics are visible outwardly in the flesh, as He allows you to see and discern. the sin of sodom and gomorrah had nothing to do with the angels that left their estate, they were dealt with right after the Flood and were not Present, but already chained in darkness, in Tatarus indeed! these are the ones Jesus went and preached to between the Crucifixtion and Resurrection!

 

[pwrnJC]

Satan is a mimic, among other things. Satan will take anything GODLY or meant to be GOOD and change it..even if if means that those angels that followed him down when he was cast from heaven could somehow change Man. Man was the only thing GOD created out of inert material already existing. Man was not spoken into existence. Angels were. Satan hates anything that can be REDEEMED, therefore, why not tempt, infiltrate, or even go as far as rape to mess up GOD's initial plan? Commanding his cohorts into action by noticing the 'daughters of man" and producing UGLY, non-GODLY beings into existence, something completely opposite of what GOD had in mind, should be NO surprise. I agree with your comments because if follows what the BIBLE says.

 

[Jimbone]

This is not an issue of which one makes the most sense to us it is a matter of allowing the biblical text to define its own terms. You will have a very difficult time finding the terms sons of God applied to angels anywhere in scripture. Angels and 'sons of god' never appear together.

Ok, how about Job 1:6? It reads “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, Satan also came among them” So did the Sethites find a way to go before the throne of God? Clearly this isn’t humans, I mean you’re right it doesn’t say “angels”, but they were with Satan so…

Job 38:7 also uses “sons of God” to describe some beings shouting for joy after God lays the cornerstone of the foundation of the earth.
“When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” Again these were the Sethites?

Also 2 Peter 2:4 talks about the ANGELS that sinned. “For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment”.

What was their sin and why such a hard sentence? This is again restated in Jude 6 “And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day” What sin warranted them this judgement?

It’s not just based on how “I feel”, it’s based on fitting everything in scripture, IMO of course.

 

[Bowhunter2394]

Satan is a mimic, among other things. Satan will take anything GODLY or meant to be GOOD and change it..even if if means that those angels that followed him down when he was cast from heaven could somehow change Man. Man was the only thing GOD created out of inert material already existing. Man was not spoken into existence. Angels were. Satan hates anything that can be REDEEMED, therefore, why not tempt, infiltrate, or even go as far as rape to mess up GOD's initial plan? Commanding his cohorts into action by noticing the 'daughters of man" and producing UGLY, non-GODLY beings into existence, something completely opposite of what GOD had in mind, should be NO surprise. I agree with your comments because if follows what the BIBLE says.

Satan isnt UGLY though, no, man made religion will tell you he is an ugly hideous creature, lol. he has those people decieved, 'full of wisdom and perfect in beauty', indeed, he has not changed..and those who followed him in the Insurrection bear his qualities, I've sat in huge pentecostal meetings, where they teach satan is some old ugly hideous creature with a cane walking around.. No.. his attributes of beauty, wisdom and knowledge still stand today... thats Why God came in Humility and defeated him, Humble in Birth, Humble in appearence, and Humble in Redemption, the Tree. Christ crucified... he does mimic, oh indeed, his mimicing is growing today as he sows his weeds ..

 

[oldhermit]

Ok, how about Job 1:6? It reads “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, Satan also came among them” So did the Sethites find a way to go before the throne of God? Clearly this isn’t humans, I mean you’re right it doesn’t say “angels”, but they were with Satan so…

See post #38

Job 38:7 also uses “sons of God” to describe some beings shouting for joy after God lays the cornerstone of the foundation of the earth.
“When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” Again these were the Sethites?

This is the one possible exception that I had mentioned earlier. This is the one text that might possibly imply angels but not conclusively so. Every other place that I can think of where this term is used it seems to always be linked to man.

Also 2 Peter 2:4 talks about the ANGELS that sinned. “For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment”.
What was their sin and why such a hard sentence? This is again restated in Jude 6 “And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day” What sin warranted them this judgement?

Jude 6 explains what their sin was.

 

[Joshua_Generation]

To this post and the one above.....I will say the following.....

1. I really think is has a lot to do with genetics and Satan's attempt to corrupt the blood line from which Christ would come.
2. That which is going to be has already been....Solomon
3. I really believe there is a world wide conspiracy to corrupt and hide anything that can prove the bible to be true, whether global flood evidence or giant skeletons as the bible also states that the giants were as tall as the cedars of Lebanon. I have read reports of skeletons being destroyed here in the U.S. Smithsonian Institute for the exact reason of discrediting the Bible.
4. There is a definite sexual cannotation tied to the comparison in Jude between the angels which left their first estate and S and G and strange flesh.
5. Satan (Lucifer) was the sum of ALL WISDOM and we see the same genetical attempt today to breed (super men) and the crossing of genes and breeding of abominations between humans and animals, animals and animals etc.....
6. Whether sexual and or by genetics I do believe that the Giants were and are an attempt to corrupt the gene pool and the blood line of Christ, humanity and eve the nation of Israel itself......
7. It is obviously not a matter of salvation and or fellowship but seems to make sense in the grand scheme of things......
8. Noah was PURE....that can be translated and related to a forensic sense which means his three sons would have been the same.....the giants were wiped out in the flood (men of renown) MIGHTY MEN.....if it was just a reoccuring result of genetics (haphazardly) then why do we not see entire races of men 9-12 tall or even as tall as the cedars of Lebanon in this day and age......

even along that line...there are stranger things in the bible....do a study on chariots as applied unto the angels of God......the things they do and the way they move look like and sound just like what one would deem a U.F.O. or how about modern flight in the bible...WHO is this OVERSHADOWING with WINGS....how about the cities that show vitrification which only comes due to a nuclear blast? There are many interesting things in scripture that have nothing to do with fellowship, but put forth some very interesting possibilities for sure.......

This is also why God mandated to Joshua to purge the land.

 

[atwhatcost]

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.


I don't really see any room for interpretation .... but whhhhatever.

You don't? Jesus is the son of God. What's the difference? (I have no idea, but it always seemed to me it does matter somehow.)

 

[just-me]

I still believe it was the offspring of the fallen angels. Just my thoughts. What were the angels kicked out for?

I think they were the fallen angels who are able to take human form that sired the nephilim being their offspring. From what I have researched nephilim were vicious more so than the fallen angels who were "sons of God" in Genesis. Job agrees with this description of the "sons of God" as being the fallen angels.

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. Job 1:6

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. Job 2:1

 

[Bowhunter2394]

See post #38


This is the one possible exception that I had mentioned earlier. This is the one text that might possibly imply angels but not conclusively so. Every other place that I can think of where this term is used it seems to always be linked to man.


Jude 6 explains what their sin was.[/QUOTE

Ive learned this to be the case, as the sons of God, to be Angels, in this text the way it is laid out, as the Key to that is the Truth that 'satan' was amongst them and they were presenting themselves BEFORE GOD, flesh and blood cannot 'stand in His Presence as far as His Glory, 'angelic bodies' CAN.. they are a different type of body.... so being the Word calls them the sons of God, and satan there, I would conclude that they are Angelic in Nature, now these sons of God, (angels) were they Elect or non elect? The Word does not tell us, but it does tell us one non elect angel was there, Satan, I would reckon Job speaks of the LITIGATION ROOM (Jesus is Advocate) in Heaven where the Elect Angels of God and the non elect angels PRESENT THEMSELVES before the LORD , non elect accusing the Saints of God, the Elect Angels, getting their Commands from the Commander of the Hosts , the LORD Jesus the Christ, I believe God Gave us the Book of Job, to see that , which takes place in the Supernatural, as declared in His Word. by the Time Job was written and took Place, Satan had already been kicked out of Paradise, the 3rd Heaven, access only to the 2nd Heaven and the 1st Heaven which is the air , stars you see on a nightly basis. He is slowly being removed from God's Kingdom, like a cornered wolf or rabid skunk, vicious and wanting glory, thats what Daniels 70th week , and the Great Tribulation are all about.. but the 'sons of God' in Job, I have learned they to be Angels as satan is amonst them, these both Elect and Non Elect Angels coming before the LORD. God even has the Powers of Darkness, on a short leash, as they must appear before Him... lolz. what a Great God we serve! to Him be the Glory! especially what He achieved at the tree, Victory!

 

[oldhermit]

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.


I don't really see any room for interpretation .... but whhhhatever.

The presentation of one's self before God is precisely what those in the Levitical system did who brought their sacrifices to the altar. God told them that when they brought their gifts to the altar he would meet them their and bless them and forgive their sins. This is indicative of an act of worship. There is no reason that this is not simply referring to the worshipers of God - sons of God who lived in the time of Job. It seems rather obvious that Job is one of these and God points him out to Satan and asks have you considered my servant Job? Would this not seem to better fit the context?

 

[Bowhunter2394]

The presentation of one's self before God is precisely what those in the Levitical system did who brought their sacrifices to the altar. God told them that when they brought their gifts to the altar he would meet them their and bless them and forgive their sins. This is indicative of an act of worship. There is no reason that this is not simply referring to the worshipers of God - sons of God who lived in the time of Job. It seems rather obvious that Job is one of these and God points him out to Satan and asks have you considered my servant Job? Would this not seem to better fit the context?

yah but was this on Earth or was Job speaking of another place, a Supernatural place, thats the question, I believe Job is talking and revealing to those in the Spirit the reality of the place where the Accuser of the Brethern comes to present his case to God , accusing and throwing his slander and pride at God, When was the last time you saw a Person in the flesh worshipping the LORD and Satan right beside him/her.. manifesting himself to take 'turns' to worship or seek God'.... no Job shows us the Reality of the Litigation Room in Heaven, its where the Accuser of the Brethern, comes to accuse, and the Elect Angels receive their Commands from the Commander in Chief of the LORD OF HOSTS Indeed..

 

[Jimbone]

See post #38


This is the one possible exception that I had mentioned earlier. This is the one text that might possibly imply angels but not conclusively so. Every other place that I can think of where this term is used it seems to always be linked to man.


Jude 6 explains what their sin was.

Well to each his own, I think these are very clear, I didn't however go to any school or have any teacher to teach it to me otherwise, which honestly I am very grateful for. I guess I'm really done here, and don't have much to add. I think the scriptures here are very clear, and to me this is what it says. I am just so very thankful that I wasn't raised in the church or have any bible school teach me how to interpret these things, that just seems too much like the RCC. Like this and the whole pre-trib rapture thing, I am just glad that God is the one that’s taught me about His word, so far for the most part anyway. I know that probably sounds like an insult to some and a boast to others, but I didn’t mean it that way I just meant “for me”. I still have a fire in me burning to learn more and draw closer, LOL heck I’m trying to learn Koine Greek now on my own, (not the fastest process, and school might have helped in this endeavor) just to be able to read the older text, and if I ever get that down I will move on to Hebrew God willing. So I am sure anyone that was raised in a church, or that did go through school, are just as grateful to God for leading them that way, but for ME I am glad He worked it how He worked it. Thank you for the conversation and it’s already had me opening the bible and looking stuff up so was very much worth it, thanks Old, and I hope you have a great rest of day.

 

[atwhatcost]

I still believe it was the offspring of the fallen angels. Just my thoughts. What were the angels kicked out for?

What happened to them? And, yeah, you can go with they got washed away by the flood, but they're back later.

Num. 13:29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.
31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.
32 And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.
33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
There were more than a couple, so if it was offspring of angels, it had to have happened more than once -- pre and post flood. What happened to them? You'd think we'd notice a species not quite human, and big enough to feel like a grasshopper next to them, even today. And what changed that they are no longer mating with humans? (And, if I had an answer, I wouldn't be asking. lol)

 

[oldhermit]

yah but was this on Earth or was Job speaking of another place, a Supernatural place, thats the question, I believe Job is talking and revealing to those in the Spirit the reality of the place where the Accuser of the Brethern comes to present his case to God , accusing and throwing his slander and pride at God, When was the last time you saw a Person in the flesh worshipping the LORD and Satan right beside him/her.. manifesting himself to take 'turns' to worship or seek God'.... no Job shows us the Reality of the Litigation Room in Heaven, its where the Accuser of the Brethern, comes to accuse, and the Elect Angels receive their Commands from the Commander in Chief of the LORD OF HOSTS Indeed..

Well, for one this is not a vision of Job's nor is he recounting this story. Also, the book of Job was written more than likely by Moses, not Job. So, are you assuming that because Satan and God are having this conversation that this "presentation" of the sons of God is something that is taking place in heaven? If so, what could this possibly have to do with Job and why would one automatically assume that Satan must be in heaven for this conversation between Satan and God to be taking place? Leviticus defines the terminology for us about one's presentation to Jehovah.

 

[atwhatcost]

"Sons of God" is a term that seems to always applied to men. There does not seem to be any place in scripture where this term is ever applied to angels as many suppose with one possible exception.

​(Trust this as an "I don't know, so I'm asking" question.) Jesus is the son of God. Does that make him either an angel or a homo sapien? I get he came down in human form and was human, however, was he also not the son of God? I've simply never quite caught on to what Sons of God means.

 

[MarcR]

When people began to multiply on the face of the ground, and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that they were fair; and they took wives for themselves of all that they chose. Then the LORD said, “My spirit shall not abide in mortals forever, for they are flesh; their days shall be one hundred twenty years.” The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went in to the daughters of humans, who bore children to them. These were the heroes that were of old, warriors of renown.

GENESIS 6:1-4 (5-8 must also be read for context, so...)

The Lord saw that the wickedness of humankind was great in the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that he had made humankind on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the Lord said, “I will blot out from the earth the human beings I have created—people together with animals and creeping things and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the sight of the Lord.


I've heard/read four views concerning the 'sons of God' in this most mysterious of Bible passages.

The sons of God:
1. Refers specifically to 'fallen' angels.
2. Represents the 'godly' descendants of Seth, one of Adam's sons.
3. Were kings or rulers who were described as 'gods'.
4. Were human beings possessed by demonic fallen angels.

Ever since my childhood, I've held to the first option being true. But in the past few years, I've reconsidered my position. I was possibly more influenced by Greek mythology than what the text truly said. The second option doesn't seem viable in my opinion, nor the other two, although I did consider them for a time. I'm going to propose a fifth option.

Taking into consideration the preceding chapters and the verses following Genesis 6:1-4:

5. a) We know Adam and Eve had many children (both sons and daughters) following the births of Cain, Abel (deceased) and later, Seth. Cain, after killing his brother, Abel, greatly feared God, while Seth followed in His ways. The two patriarchs would've passed their beliefs/attitudes/values onto their children eg. Enoch, Enosh). As numbers increased, some of Adam's children fell away from God (not just Cain's bloodline). It's very likely the different families moved away (Cain before all others) and that they later encountered each other in their travels/trade. During this time, the men of God fell for the ungodly women and married them (remember Sethites weren't all godly and all Cainites weren't evil). Therefore, the sons of God turned from God.

b) 'Nephilim' is an untranslated word meaning 'fallen ones'. This probably means nothing more than those people who followed their own hearts rather than God's. In one word: sinners - people who only did what was right in their own eyes. A pre-Flood example is the proud and violent Lamech (not Noah's father) who was the first to take two wives (Genesis 4:17-24 - Adah and Zilla), not one as God had commanded. Post-Flood examples abound: descendants of Shem, Ham and Japheth (Noah's sons) and their wives, made names for themselves through their tyrannical rules or ferocious military exploits and were recognised as great heroes. As we can see from history, many ancient cultures made religions of violence and war. Finally, possibly 'heroes' and 'warriors of renown' refer to early post-Flood descendants who lived considerably longer lives than their children and could be seen as 'great' for that reason alone.

Thoughts?

In all other OT occurrences of 'sons of God', the reference is clearly to angels (NOT necessarily fallen).

In extra-biblical Jewish writings, 'sons of God' is consistently used to signify angels. Why should this particular usage be different?

 

[atwhatcost]

It tells me that these Nephilim are more than a simply "bad or tall humans", and this, to me of course, suggest that there was something much more sinister going on for God to wipe out the whole world save Noah and family. It also make the orders to wipe out entire groups of people down to the children and animals make a lot more sense in my head. To me the fallen angels mating with human women accounts for so very much and again “to me” makes all of history, the other world religions (most given by the wise serpent BTW), the technology explosion from the beginning of the 19[SUP]th[/SUP] century, and much more I’m missing in such a quickly put together comment fit together like a glove.

This also makes Jesus word in Matt 24:37 "For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.”, and Luke 17:26 "And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man” make so much sense. If this was a case of fallen angels genetically changing humans to corrupt the bloodline, then we see the same thing today with scientist trying to change out genetics and mixing animal DNA and such. To be honest the whole scenario fits together seamlessly in my honest opinion in a way the Sethite Theory never could. Again and one last time, in my opinion.

​If they were a separate species wiped out by the flood, then what's going on in Number 13:31? Theeeeey're baaaaaaack!

 

[oldhermit]

​(Trust this as an "I don't know, so I'm asking" question.) Jesus is the son of God. Does that make him either an angel or a homo sapien? I get he came down in human form and was human, however, was he also not the son of God? I've simply never quite caught on to what Sons of God means.

Sons of God is a possessive term that identifies the people of God and belonging to God. Does being the Son of God mean that Jesus was an angel?

 

[Jimbone]

What happened to them? And, yeah, you can go with they got washed away by the flood, but they're back later.

Num. 13:29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.
31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.
32 And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.
33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
There were more than a couple, so if it was offspring of angels, it had to have happened more than once -- pre and post flood. What happened to them? You'd think we'd notice a species not quite human, and big enough to feel like a grasshopper next to them, even today. And what changed that they are no longer mating with humans? (And, if I had an answer, I wouldn't be asking. lol)

To:"And what changed that they are no longer mating with humans?" I would answer because of the judgement God gave to the first angels that did it. Chained in darkness until the judgement doesn't sound fun for anyone. After the first incursion "Genesis 6" and after the flood I think they learned how to open gateways and still had entities whispering to them through the shadows to instruct them. That's what some think the tower of Babel was, a gateway to the other realm. I also think this ties into modern day and the whole Alien abduction thing and why they are always said to be interested in our eggs and sperm. They can’t just have sex anymore because either, they know what will happen, or God made it where it can’t happen at all that way anymore? Also it never says the Nephilim could reproduce themselves, so they could have kids too. Plus once their bodies died they became the disembodied spirits we call demons, so they could still relay anything they know to humans that open themselves up to them.

That’s just a couple possibilities, but I’m not trying to present it like I KNOW or anything like that.