The "sons of God" weren't just men of high status, but rather individuals who, by lineage or adoption, held a special connection to God, setting them apart. Their sin wasn't simply choosing attractive partners, but a deliberate turning away from God's established order by marrying whomever they desired, disregarding any spiritual or moral discernment.
the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown.
English Standard Version (ESV)
As humanity begins to spread and multiply, a disturbing trend emerges. The line of Seth, who had been set apart to carry on God's worship, starts to intermarry with the descendants of Cain, whose lineage was already marked by violence and rebellion. This mixing of the godly and the ungodly, driven by attraction to outward beauty rather than inner character, sets the stage for the pervasive corruption that God witnesses.
Genesis 6:2 speaks of 'sons of God' mingling with 'daughters of men.' But who exactly were these 'sons of God' and why does this distinction matter so much?
The Bible uses 'sons of God' in a few ways, but in this context, it refers to the lineage that was meant to carry on true worship and relationship with God, often identified with the descendants of Seth. This is contrasted with the 'daughters of men,' who are seen as belonging to the lineage of Cain, a line that had already turned away from God.
They saw the daughters of men were 'attractive.' What does this seemingly simple observation reveal about the dangerous allure that led to widespread corruption?
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The phrase 'sons of God saw that the daughters of men were attractive' points to a specific kind of attraction: a focus on outward beauty and physical desire. This wasn't just an innocent admiration; it was a desire that bypassed God's design for relationships and marriage.
Understand the original words
benei ha'elohim · Hebrew Noun phrase
Refers to a group of beings often interpreted in the Old Testament as angelic beings or members of the heavenly council. In this context, their interaction with humanity is presented as a transgression against the created order.
ruach · Hebrew Noun
The third person of the Trinity, the active presence of God in creation, sustaining life and convicting humanity. In this context, it refers to the divine life-force that sustains human existence.
basar · Hebrew Noun
A term used to describe humanity in its fallen, limited, and mortal state, distinct from the eternal nature of God. It highlights the frailty and corruptibility of human nature.
nephilim · Hebrew Noun
A group of beings described as giants or mighty men, often associated with violence and the corruption of the pre-flood world. Their presence marks an era of exceptional turmoil and rebellion.
The spiritual and moral divide between the godly line of Seth and the increasingly secular descendants of Cain created a cultural chasm. This verse captures a pivotal moment when the 'sons of God,' drawn by superficial beauty, crossed this sacred boundary, leading to widespread corruption and ultimately, divine judgment.
c. 300,000-200,000 BC
Emergence of Homo Sapiens
The earliest evidence of Homo sapiens appears in Africa, marking the beginning of anatomically modern humans.
c. 10,000 BC
Neolithic Revolution
Humanity shifts from nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyles to settled agricultural communities, leading to population growth and societal development.
c. 3500 BC
Rise of Mesopotamian Civilizations
The development of cities, writing, and complex social structures in Mesopotamia, marking a significant leap in human civilization.
c. 4000-2000 BC— this verse
Early Human Society and Spiritual Separation
As human societies developed, distinct groups emerged with differing spiritual orientations. Some maintained a focus on divine worship (later termed 'sons of God' or Sethites), while others embraced worldly pursuits and detached from spiritual devotion ('daughters of men'). This period saw growing divergence in their ways of life and worship.
c. 2350 BC
Sargon of Akkad's Empire
Sargon of Akkad unites Mesopotamian city-states, creating one of the world's first empires and ushering in a new era of political and military power.
c. 1792-1750 BC
Reign of Hammurabi of Babylon
Hammurabi consolidates Babylonian power and promulgates his famous law code, influencing legal systems for centuries.
This passage speaks of angels who did not keep their positions but abandoned their proper dwelling, directly referencing the concept of heavenly beings transgressing their boundaries, which aligns with the 'sons of God' narrative in Genesis.
2 Peter 2:4Similar to Jude, this verse mentions God sparing 'angels when they sinned,' linking divine judgment to a transgression by angelic beings, echoing the theme of fallen heavenly beings introduced in Genesis.
Deuteronomy 7:3-4This passage explicitly warns against intermarriage with foreign nations, highlighting the danger of people being led astray from God by their spouses' influence, paralleling the corrupting effect of the 'sons of God' marrying the 'daughters of men'.
1 Corinthians 15:47-49Paul contrasts the 'first man' Adam (earthly) with Christ (heavenly), drawing a parallel between earthly and heavenly origins. This distinction can shed light on the Genesis narrative's contrast between 'sons of God' and 'daughters of men'.
Malachi 2:10-11This prophetic passage condemns profaning the covenant by marrying foreigners, emphasizing the sacredness of the covenant people and the consequences of mixing with those who do not honor God, which resonates with the spiritual implications of the unions in Genesis.
calvinGenesis 6:1-22: "And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,"
There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
Gigantes fuerunt in terra in diebus illis: et etiam postquam ingressi sunt filii Dei ad filias hominum, genuerunt eis: isti sunt potentes, qui a saec…
gillGenesis 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."
That the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were fair,.... Or "good" (k), not in a moral but natural sense; goodly to look upon, of a beautiful aspect; and they looked upon, and only regarded their external beauty, and lusted after them: those "sons of God" were not angels either good or bad, as many have thought, since they are incorporeal beings, and…
The "sons of God" weren't just men of high status, but rather individuals who, by lineage or adoption, held a special connection to God, setting them apart. Their sin wasn't simply choosing attractive partners, but a deliberate turning away from God's established order by marrying whomever they desired, disregarding any spiritual or moral discernment.
As humanity begins to spread and multiply, a disturbing trend emerges. The line of Seth, who had been set apart to carry on God's worship, starts to intermarry with the descendants of Cain, whose lineage was already marked by violence and rebellion. This mixing of the godly and the ungodly, driven by attraction to outward beauty rather than inner character, sets the stage for the pervasive corruption that God witnesses.
As humanity begins to spread and multiply, a disturbing trend emerges. The line of Seth, who had been set apart to carry on God's worship, starts to intermarry with the descendants of Cain, whose lineage was already marked by violence and rebellion. This mixing of the godly and the ungodly, driven by attraction to outward beauty rather than inner character, sets the stage for the pervasive corruption that God witnesses.
"the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” The Nephilim were on…" — The "sons of God" weren't just men of high status, but rather individuals who, by lineage or adoption, held a special connection to God, setting them apart. Their sin wasn't simply choosing attractiv…
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Last reviewed October 2026
