I always have a degree of hesitation in addressing this topic, because it can quickly spiral into what Paul warns against in 1 Timothy 4:7: “Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”
At the same time, the topic is a worthy one for one simple reason: it’s in the Bible. As one who firmly believes in the doctrine of the sufficiency of scripture, we cannot ignore this passage. If God sees fit for it to be in the canon, then we have to do something with it.
That said, Genesis 6:1-8 is one of the most debated passages in the Old Testament. It introduces the enigmatic “sons of God,” the mysterious Nephilim, and God’s decision to judge humanity with the flood. Scholars and theologians have offered various interpretations of these verses. In this post, then, we’ll explore the leading views and what they reveal about this fascinating passage.
The Text of Genesis 6:1-8
“When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. Then the Lord said, ‘My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.’ The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.”
Interpretation #1: The Angelic View
The earliest and most traditional interpretation is that the “sons of God” refer to fallen angels who took human wives, producing the Nephilim as hybrid offspring. This view is supported by ancient Jewish writings, such as the Book of 1 Enoch, and by New Testament references (Jude 6 and 2 Peter 2:4-5), which speak of angels who sinned (more on 1 Enoch below).
Most importantly—in my opinion—the fact that the Septuagint translates “sons of God” as angelos (angels) is kind of a mic drop fact on the issue. If the New Testament authors understood the Septuagint to be divinely inspired (which they clearly did because they quote it more than the Masoretic text), then don’t we have to just go with the LXX’s interpretation here?
Strengths of This View:
- The term “sons of God” (bene Elohim) in the Old Testament (Job 1:6, 2:1) typically refers to divine or angelic beings.
- The ancient Jewish and early Christian tradition overwhelmingly favored this view (as evidenced in the LXX).
- It explains why God’s judgment in the form of the flood was so severe (maybe).
Challenges of This View:
- Angels, as spiritual beings, do not typically reproduce (Matthew 22:30 may suggest this).
- The idea of angelic-human offspring is speculative and not explicitly confirmed in the Bible (a big deal).
Interpretation #2: The Sethite View
This view argues that the “sons of God” were the descendants of Seth, the righteous lineage, and the “daughters of men” were the descendants of Cain, who had turned away from God. The intermarriage between these groups led to moral corruption and widespread wickedness, provoking divine judgment.
Strengths of This View:
- It maintains a human focus without requiring supernatural beings.
- The contrast between the godly and ungodly lines is a common biblical theme.
- It avoids the problem of angels physically mating with humans.
Challenges of This View:
- The term “sons of God” is rarely used in the Old Testament to describe humans.
- It does not fully explain why these unions resulted in giants (Nephilim) or why God’s judgment was so extreme.
Interpretation #3: The Royalty/Tyrant View
Another interpretation suggests that the “sons of God” were powerful rulers or kings who claimed divine status and took multiple wives, abusing their power. This view aligns with ancient Near Eastern culture, where kings were often seen as semi-divine figures.
Strengths of This View:
- It fits historical and cultural contexts where kings and rulers called themselves “sons of God.”
- It explains the oppressive conditions that led to divine judgment.
- It avoids supernatural elements, making it more palatable to modern readers.
Challenges of This View:
- It does not fully explain who the Nephilim were or why they were described as “mighty men of renown.”
- The term “sons of God” is not commonly used for human rulers in the Old Testament.
Who Were the Nephilim?
The Nephilim are described as being on the earth both “in those days and afterward.” Some take this to mean they were the offspring of the unions mentioned in Genesis 6, while others argue that they were merely a race of mighty warriors.
- The term “Nephilim” likely comes from a root meaning “to fall” (suggesting they were fallen ones or mighty ones who caused others to fall in battle).
- Later biblical references (Numbers 13:33) mention the Nephilim in connection with the Canaanite giants, though this may have been an exaggeration by the fearful Israelite spies.
The Story of 1 Enoch and Its Biblical Connections
So, what is the book of 1 Enoch and what does it offer in terms of helping us understand what’s going on in Genesis 6:1–4?
The Book of 1 Enoch (you can read it here, it’s not that long) is an ancient Jewish text that expands upon themes found in the Bible, particularly the mysterious events of Genesis 6:1-4 regarding the “sons of God” and the Nephilim. While not considered canonical in most Christian traditions, 1 Enoch was widely read in Jewish and early Christian circles and is even referenced in the New Testament books of Jude and 2 Peter. This post explores the content of 1 Enoch, its connection to biblical texts, and its interpretation of Genesis 6.
What Is 1 Enoch?
1 Enoch is a collection of writings attributed to Enoch, the great-grandfather of Noah. Though it was not included in the Hebrew Bible, it was influential in Second Temple Judaism and remains part of the Ethiopian Orthodox canon. The book is composed of several sections, but the most famous is the Book of the Watchers (Chapters 1-36), which provides an expanded narrative of Genesis 6.
The Story of the Watchers and the Nephilim
According to 1 Enoch, a group of 200 angels, called the Watchers, descended to earth and took human wives, producing giant offspring known as the Nephilim. These angels, led by Semihazah and Azazel, taught forbidden knowledge to humanity, including warfare, sorcery, and astrology. Their rebellion led to widespread corruption, violence, and sin.
In response, God sent the archangels Michael, Raphael, Gabriel, and Uriel to intervene. The Watchers were bound and imprisoned until the final judgment, while the flood was sent to cleanse the earth of their wicked influence. This expansion of Genesis 6 emphasizes divine justice and the consequences of sin.
1 Enoch in the New Testament
Jude 14-15
The Epistle of Jude directly quotes 1 Enoch:
“Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: ‘See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.’” (Jude 14-15, NIV)
This passage is nearly identical to 1 Enoch 1:9, demonstrating that the author of Jude regarded this tradition as relevant for understanding divine judgment.
2 Peter 2:4-5
Peter also alludes to the fallen angels from 1 Enoch:
“For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people…” (2 Peter 2:4-5, NIV)
The reference to angels being bound and awaiting judgment closely aligns with 1 Enoch’s depiction of the Watchers’ punishment.
The Relationship to Genesis 6
The angelic interpretation of Genesis 6:1-4, in which the “sons of God” are seen as fallen angels who fathered the Nephilim, is heavily influenced by 1 Enoch. While other interpretations exist—such as the Sethite view (which sees the “sons of God” as the godly line of Seth intermarrying with the daughters of Cain)—1 Enoch provides a detailed supernatural explanation that was widely accepted in early Jewish thought.
Why Does This Matter?
1 Enoch provides insight into how Second Temple Jewish thinkers and early Christians understood Genesis 6, the nature of evil, and divine judgment. Though it is not part of the biblical canon in most traditions, its ideas shaped biblical interpretation and influenced Jude and 2 Peter. Whether one accepts its historical accuracy or not, 1 Enoch remains a valuable resource for understanding the worldview of ancient Jewish and early Christian communities.
