Sons of God
Sons of God in Job and the Psalms
In the books of Job and Psalms, the phrase 'sons of God' clearly refers to heavenly or angelic beings. In Job 1:6 and 2:1, the sons of God present themselves before the Lord, and Satan comes among them. In Job 38:7, God reminds Job that "the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy" at the creation of the earth. The Psalms use related expressions: Psalm 29:1 calls on the "sons of the mighty" (or "sons of God") to ascribe glory to the Lord, and Psalm 89:6 asks, "Who among the sons of the mighty can be compared to the Lord?" In these passages, the phrase simply identifies beings who belong to the heavenly realm, without any implication of physical descent from God.
The Controversial Passage: Genesis 6:1-4
The most debated use of the phrase occurs in Genesis 6:1-4, where "the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose." This union is associated with the appearance of the Nephilim and is followed immediately by God's declaration that human wickedness had become great, leading to the flood. Three major interpretations have been proposed throughout history.
The Angelic Interpretation
The oldest known interpretation identifies the sons of God as angelic beings who transgressed their proper boundaries by entering into sexual unions with human women. This view was held by most ancient Jewish interpreters, including the authors of 1 Enoch and Jubilees, as well as by early church fathers such as Justin Martyr and Clement of Alexandria. It draws support from the consistent use of the phrase "sons of God" for angelic beings in Job, and from the New Testament passages that seem to reference this tradition: Jude 6-7 speaks of angels who "did not stay within their own position of authority" and committed sexual immorality, and 2 Peter 2:4 mentions angels who sinned and were cast into chains of darkness.
The Sethite Interpretation
A second view, favored by Augustine and many Reformed interpreters, identifies the sons of God as the godly descendants of Seth and the daughters of men as the ungodly line of Cain. In this reading, the sin was intermarriage between the faithful and the unfaithful, leading to a general corruption of humanity. Supporters point to the immediately preceding genealogies of Cain (Genesis 4) and Seth (Genesis 5), and to Old Testament passages where God calls Israel his "son" (Exodus 4:22; Deuteronomy 14:1; Hosea 1:10). Critics note that the phrase "daughters of men" seems to refer to human women generally, not specifically to Cain's line, and that this interpretation does not adequately explain the Nephilim.
The Royal or Dynastic Interpretation
A third view, common in ancient Jewish rabbinic tradition, identifies the sons of God as powerful rulers or tyrants who took multiple wives by force. In the ancient Near East, kings were sometimes called sons of their patron deity, and the Hebrew word for God can occasionally mean "judges" or "rulers" (Exodus 21:6; Psalm 82:6). In this reading, the sin is the abuse of royal power through polygamy and oppression. While this view has historical support, it struggles to explain why the phrase "sons of God" everywhere else in the Old Testament refers to supernatural beings.
Sons of God in the New Testament
The New Testament transforms the concept of divine sonship. Jesus is uniquely the Son of God (Matthew 3:17; John 3:16), and through faith in him, believers become children of God. John writes, "To all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:12-13). Paul teaches that believers receive the "Spirit of adoption" by which they cry "Abba! Father!" (Romans 8:14-15; Galatians 4:6). Jesus himself taught that peacemakers "shall be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9) and that those who love their enemies show themselves to be "sons of your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:45). The concept thus moves from describing angelic beings and the covenant nation to describing all who are united to Christ by faith.
The Scope of Divine Sonship
The biblical trajectory of the "sons of God" concept reveals a broadening vision of God's family. From angelic beings in the heavenly court, to Israel as God's firstborn son among the nations (Exodus 4:22), to Jesus as the unique Son, and finally to all believers adopted into God's family through Christ — the phrase traces the expanding reach of God's redemptive purpose. Paul captures this ultimate vision: "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God" (Romans 8:14).
Biblical Context
The phrase 'sons of God' appears in Genesis 6:2-4 (the pre-flood narrative), Job 1:6, 2:1, and 38:7 (angelic beings before God), Psalms 29:1 and 89:6 (heavenly beings praising God), and in various forms throughout the New Testament for believers in Christ (John 1:12; Romans 8:14; Galatians 3:26). Related passages include Jude 6-7 and 2 Peter 2:4 regarding fallen angels.
Theological Significance
The concept of 'sons of God' illuminates the relationship between Creator and creatures at multiple levels. In the Old Testament, it establishes that certain beings have a special relationship with God — whether angels in the heavenly court or Israel as God's covenant people. In the New Testament, divine sonship is redefined through Christ: believers become God's children not by nature or descent but by grace through faith. This teaching is central to the doctrines of adoption, regeneration, and the believer's identity in Christ.
Historical Background
The interpretation of Genesis 6:1-4 has a long and complex history. The earliest known Jewish interpretation (found in 1 Enoch, 3rd-2nd century BC) identified the sons of God as fallen angels. This view dominated in Second Temple Judaism and influenced New Testament writers. The Sethite interpretation gained prominence through Augustine in the 5th century and became the dominant view in Western Christianity for centuries. Ancient Near Eastern parallels include Mesopotamian traditions of divine-human interaction, such as the Sumerian King List's references to antediluvian rulers of extraordinary longevity. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain multiple references to 'sons of God' in both angelic and human senses.