Who were the Sons of God?

Source: Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Subject: Sons of God Article written by Francis Kimmitt Pp. 1519-1521 Kimmitt defines the Sons of God: The literal rendering of a phrase that refers to a class of beings in some relationship to God. Its meaning and translation vary according to context. Kimmitt writes, the Hebrew phrase beney haelohim is found in several Scriptures. Further writes the sons of God in Job are angels according to 38:7, in poetic parallel with the morning stars or heavenly court. Kimmitt gives three views on the sons of God mystery. The first position is that sons of God were princes or civil rulers, and the daughters of men were commoners or socially inferior women. The support for this view is a comparison with the Babylonian Gilgamesh Epic in which king, Gilgamesh has the right to have sexual relations with a new bride. Kimmitt argues the primary objection is that nowhere else in the OT does the phrase sons of God refer to royalty. The second position is that sons of God should be translated as gody sons and thus refers to the godly descendants of Seth. Based on the rules of good exegetical principles concerning men/mankind they have the same meaning in 6:1-2 Haadam refers to the entire race to include descendants of Cain and Seth. Thus the Scripture would be repeating mankind/ humankind. The final position is that sons of God were angels or supernatural beings, and thus the daughters of men were human women. The writer provides two presuppositions about the nature of angels that are not supported by Scripture (1) angels are without gender, and (2) the understanding of sons of God is mythological rather than an historical event. The writer offers several lines to defend this interpretation: (1) angels referred to sons of God elsewhere in the OT. (2) 3rd century B.C. Greek translation records angels of God for the Hebrew sons of God. (3) Giants in the land as Nephilim, the mighty men of old 6:4. (4) The sexual union prompts God to judge the world by a flood. This sin is such a terrible act of rebellion. Would the cohabitation between godly Sethites and ungodly Cainites or kings and commoners have warranted this complete and utter destruction? According to Francis Kimmitt, The unholy union between angels and women appears to be the best explanation for the heinous sin that resulted in judgment by flood.

Source: Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary Subject: Sons of God Commentary written by: Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] Genesis 6:2. The sons of God saw the daughters of menBy the former is meant the family of Seth, who were professedly religious; by the latter, the descendants of apostate Cain. Mixed marriages between parties of opposite principles and practice were necessarily sources of extensive corruption. The women, religious themselves, would as wives and mothers exert an influence fatal to the existence of religion in their household, and consequently the people of that later age sank to the lowest depravity. Genesis 6: 4. GiantsThe term in Hebrew implies not so much the idea of great stature as of reckless ferocity, impious and daring characters, who spread devastation and carnage far and wide.1
(1) Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown, Commentary, Wickedness in the World [1882]

Sons of Elohim and Daughters of Men Genesis 6:1-2 C. Geikie, D. D. The Biblical Illustrator, Electronic Database. Copyright 2002, 2003, 2006, 2011 by Biblesoft, Inc. Opinions have differed greatly as to the meaning of the name "Sons of God," or rather of "Elohim." The rabbis, as was natural, from their love of the marvellous, took for granted that the fallen angels are meant; since "nephilim is derived from the verb to fall." Hence Apocryphal Jewish literature assumes this constantly, while not a few writers of the most opposite schools still support this explanation, which, nevertheless, seems fanciful and ungrounded. The giants are not said to have been "the sons of Elohim," and their name may as fitly be explained as referring to their "falling upon" their fellow men as by any mysterious connection with the rebel angels. Nor does the name "sons" of "Elohim" necessarily refer to angels at all; for the word "Elohim" is used elsewhere in Scripture of men. Thus, in Psalm 82:1, we read that God "judges in the midst of the Elohim," who are shown in the next verse to be those who "judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked." The name is evidently given them from their office, in which they represented, in Israel, the supreme judge of the nation Jehovah. Jewish interpreters generally adopt this meaning of the passage, believing that the "great" or "mighty" sons of Cain are contrasted with the lowlier daughters of Seth. It is, moreover, very doubtful if the word be ever applied in the Old Testament to angels. On the other hand, it is continually used of heathen idols, and hence it may well point in this particular case to intermarriages between the adherents of idolatry and the daughters of the race of Seth, and a consequent spread of heathenism, far and

near, with its attendant violence and moral debasement. If, however, by "the sons of Elohim" we understand the worshippers of Jehovah, the "daughters of men" would mean those of the race of Cain. This interpretation, indeed, is now very generally adopted, and seems the most natural. We should, then, read "the sons of the godly race" took wives of "the daughters of men." The children of such marriages sadly increased the prevailing corruption. They became "gibborim," or fierce and cruel chiefs, filling the world with blood and tumult. It was to prevent the final triumph of evil, Scripture tells us, that the deluge was sent from God. 1
(1) This article was taken directly from C. Geikie, D. D., The Biblical Illustrator, Electronic Database. 2011

Ruthie Moores view Sons of God It wasnt until recent years that I came to realize there was such a controversy regarding the sons of God mentioned in Genesis chapter 6. As a child I was taught that there were once giants in the land and this was due to angels coming from heaven to sleep with women in the earth even then I thought howd that happen. While reading during my own personal time I came across the text and it was clear to me that the sons of God were the righteous seed in the earth which were descendants of Seth. The name Seth is spelled the same as Hebrew (shet), foundation, If the foundation be destroyed.. as used in Isaiah 19:10 and Psalm 11:3. It comes from the Hebrew verb (shit), to put, set, appoint which Eve uses when she names Seth "God has appointed me another offspring..." (Genesis 4:25).1 It was then that I wanted to know how the different interpretations came about. Gen 6:2 suggest to me that the sons of God were not being particular at all but selected women that was appealing to their eyes and flesh and not in accordance to Gods will. God didnt change his mind as it relates to who his children are to connect with according to 2 Corinthians 6:14. Matthew 22:30 says to me that angels do not marry nor are given in to marriage and if there were ever any to have broken that standard then the Scriptures would have clearly pointed that out. Francis Kimmitt offered strong arguments of which I would consider somewhat valid but not sound. To assume that righteous men sleeping with ungodly women would not be horrid enough for God to unleash his wrath on all the earth is like suggesting judgment due to the one mans sin Adam was uncalled for after all it was just a piece of forbidden fruit. Furthermore, I must consider the end of time of when the earth will be destroyed with fire. God is Sovereign. Romans 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creation waits for the manifestation of the sons of God. 1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

(1) Meaning and etymology of the name Seth, abarim-publications.com