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NASB | Genesis 6:2 that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Genesis 6:2 that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful and desirable; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose and desired. |
Bible Question:
Gen 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. Concerning the sons of God; I have heard two different answers to this. First, the sons of God could be the sons of Seth, while the daughters of men are the offspring of Cain. Second, the sons of God were fallen angels that were looking upon the daughters of men. It seems to me that the second is a more accurate account. Is this right? |
Bible Answer: Genesis 6:2 New English Translation (Translators' Notes) 'The Hebrew phrase translated "sons of God" occurs only here (Gen 6:2, 4) and in Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7. In the Book of Job the phrase clearly refers to angelic beings. In Gen 6 the "sons of God" are distinct from "mankind," suggesting they were not human. This is consistent with the use of the phrase in Job. 'Since the passage speaks of these beings cohabiting with women, they must have taken physical form or possessed the bodies of men. An early Jewish tradition, preserved in 1 En. 6-7, elaborates on this angelic revolt and even names the ringleaders. '(2) Not all scholars accept the angelic interpretation of the "sons of God," however. Some argue that the "sons of God" were members of Seth's line, traced back to God through Adam in Gen 5, while the "daughters of mankind" were descendents of Cain. But, as noted above, the text distinguishes the "sons of God" from mankind (which would include the Sethites as well as the Cainites) and suggests that the "daughters of mankind" are human women in general, not just Cainites. '(3) Others identify the "sons of God" as powerful tyrants, perhaps demon-possessed, who viewed themselves as divine and, following the example of Lamech (see Gen 4:19), practiced polygamy. But usage of the phrase "sons of God" in Job militates against this view. For literature on the subject see G. J. Wenham, Genesis (WBC), 1:135.' (http://www.netbible.com) |