What does the sons of God marrying the daughters of men mean?

Author: BibleAsk Team


“And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose”.

Genesis 6:1, 2

Sons of God

Some claim that the sons of God mentioned in this verse are heavenly beings or angels that had intimate relations with human women. But let’s allow the Bible to interpret itself. Luke, in giving the chronology of Jesus, said “Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God” (Luke 3:38).  Here, Luke refers to Adam as the son of God. Also, John refers to the believers as the sons of God: “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not” (John 3 : 1). So, the “sons of God” is a term referring to the saints.

There’s nowhere in the Bible that gives the slightest indication that Angels procreate. Angels are spirits (Hebrews 1:14) and spirits don’t have flesh and bones (Luke 24:39). In fact, Jesus Himself said, “For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven” (Matthew 22:30). Therefore the idea that angels intermarried with human women is not biblical.

What Does Genesis 6:1,2 Mean?

After Cain killed Abel, Adam and Eve had another son named Seth. Seth and his descendants feared the Lord while Cain and his children did not worship the Lord.  As long as these two groups remained separate, the truth of God was preserved. But when the sons of God (Seth’s male children) began to marry those that did not worship God (Cain’s daughters), sin spread without restrain.  That’s why the next verse says God said, “My Spirit will not always strive with man” (Genesis 6:3). This widespread of sin led to the flood and the destruction of the wicked.

In His service,
BibleAsk Team

Leave a Comment