False gods are not the appropriate translation of elohim in Gen. 6:2. In this translation the elohim of this verse is translated “leaders.” False gods do not have incarnate, fleshly, bodies. The false gods exist only in wood, stone, metal, or some other material, being made and fashioned by human beings and having only the qualities that humans attribute to them. We are not to accord any powers to false gods. Psalm 115:5. They have mouths, but they do not speak: they have eyes, but they do not see: 6. they have ears, but they do not hear: they have noses, but they do not smell: 7. they have hands, but they do not handle: they have feet, but they do not walk: neither do they speak through their throat. 8. Those who make them are like them, so is everyone who trusts in them. See footnote on Gen. 1:1.
Hello, brother Morford
Shalom! Your translation is trully a blessing! Regarding this topic… I agree with your explanation on flase gods. An idol is nothing. Very, VERY true. There is but one God, the father, and one Lord, Y’shua! But… I can’t help but ask you a few questions. The opposing view does not believe that these were false gods being talked about in Genesis 6, but fallen angels. Angels are not gods, there are heavenly beings, persons. God has given them special abilities and tasks to carry out on earth. We know that one ability given to angels is, they can and do manafest some type of physical bodies. They can speak, eat, and interact with objects in the physical world. An example of this can be found in Genesis 19:1-3 where angels do dine with Lot and his family. The opposing view states that angels abused this ability to manifest physical bodies and left their heavenly bodies (“oiketerion” as found Jude 1:6/2 Chorinthians 5:2). If you are willing to view facts from the opposing view. I have wriiten on subject below…
I have been through a rigorous study on this topic and was shocked, but also quite interested with my findings. The phrase “b’nai ha Elohim” would properly be translated as “Sons of God,” and always in reference to angels. Not once is this phrase used to designate human leaders in the old testament. It is not until the new testament that men are called “sons of God” through adoption by our faith in Y’shua Messiah.
Here’s some info:
“__B’nai ha Elohim (Sons of God).
Genesis 6:1-4
1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, 2 That the SONS OF GOD (b’nai ha elohim) saw the daughters of MEN (Strong# H0120 “adam” meaning: man, human being, humankind) that they were fair: and they took them wives of all, which they chose. 3 Then the LORD said, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days will be a hundred and twenty years.” 4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days–and also afterward–when the sons of God (b’nai ha elohim) went to the daughters of men (“adam”) and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.
As I always say, and I’m sure that you would agree with this approach. Let’s let scripture difine scripture…
Sons of God = םיהלאה ינב // b’nai ha Elohim (Hebrew) = The Angels (Job 1:6, 2:1, 38:7). Daughters of men = bath/benoth adam (Hebrew) = Daughters of Adam
The exact term/phrase “sons of God” (b’nai ha Elohim) used in Genesis 6:1-4, is used also in Job 1:6, 2:1 & 38:7 always referring to angels.
Job1: 6
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
Job 2:1
Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.
Job 38:7
When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?____”
This is not the current held view of orthodox Judaism, nor do the majority of Christians hold this view today, but history shows that the angelic view was the only view held during the time of Messiah and the “righteous sons of seth theory wasnt introduced until the 5th century AD by Julius, who resorted to the Sethite interpretation as a more comfortable ground. I believe that you would admit that the more ancient view, is more than likely the proper view. Even Josephus writes…
“For many angels of God coupled with women, and begat sons that proved unjust, and despisers of all that was good, on account of the confidence they had in their own strength; for the tradition is, that these men did what resembled the acts of those whom the Grecians call giants.”
http://www.israel-a-history-of.com/flavius-josephus.html
If you indeed are willing to look at an in depth view of the opposing view, a good article on the changing interpretation of Genisis 6 can be found in this article by Chuck Missler, a very intelligent man, with a great love for God and our Lord:
http://www.khouse.org/articles/1997/110/
This is another area, although strange, where scripture interprets scripture, and one can see that other scriptures hold true to the story of Angelic beings sinning, and coming to earth. The book of II Peter (while on the subject of lust) speaks about the same incident chronologically, refering back to Genesis Chapter 6.
“For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but, after He held them in pits of darkness in Tarterus, He gave them over, guarding them until judgement. Nor did He spare the ancient world, but when He brought a flood on an ungodly world He guarded Noah, a preacher of rightiousness, and seven others.” (ONM – II Peter 2:4,5)
The passage goes on to talk about the lusts of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the thought is concluded with verses 9-10 saying…
“(9) the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trial, and to keep unjust ones for a day of judgment when they will be punished, (10) and the most punished of all will be those who go after defiling lust and despise authority.”
The whole passage was about judgment passed upon rebellious people who lusted. The view is also repeated in the book of Jude, saying…
“(6) …and those angels who did not keep themselves from the beginning, but who deserted their own ‘dwelling place,’ He has kept those angels in eternal chains in darkness for judgement on the great Day.” (ONM – Jude 1:6)
the passage goes on to talk about the preverse sins and lusts that went on in Sodom and Gomorrah.
Why are angels being included in discussions regarding lust? Also, it seems as though these angels cannot be the same angels that followed Satan in his rebellion. The angels that fell with satan are not bound in Shoel, they are going about in the world decieving the world, along with Satan himself. So, who are these angels being held in Sheol awaiting judgement?
An interesting note about the “Dwelling place,” (Jude 1:6) the angels left behind. You say in your foot notes: “They not only left heaven when they followed satan, but they also left their sanctuaries, which were their sanctified bodies.”
The greek word “oiketerion” is only used twice in the new testament; once here in Jude, refering to the heavenly bodies the angels shed, and once in 2 Chorinthians, refering to us followers of Messiah longing to put on our heavenly dwelling (“oiketerion”/Heavenly body)
Another thing I would ask is; Is it logical to conclude that a sinful marraige between a rightious man and an unrightous woman would result in some giant deformed offspring called the Nephilim. I was also unsure why you decided not to leave the word Nephilim untranslated in Genesis 6:4 as you did in Numbers 13:33. The Nephilim in Canaan (the promised land) is what caused the Isrealites to doubt God’s protection and were afraid to fall by the sword of these giant beings who towered over them. This could also explain why God asked the Isrealites to kill all inhabitants of Canaan. The Nephilim remnant found in Canaan proves they were of a corrupt bloodline, and any intermingling could have prevented the pure bloodline required for Y’shua’s sacrifice made on the Cross. The land needed to be purged of the corrupt blood which contained the Nephilim deformaty.
One other undeniable fact is that, all of the most ancient cultures and religions involve tales of “gods” (which they are not, but sure could have portrayed themselves to be as such) descending from the skies, bringing forbidden knowledge to men, and somehow creating children with their women. What are the odds that cultures across the globe from each other, such as Egypt and the Mayas have the same belief in “sky gods” coming from some far away place. This is deception, this is a great deception. How will the world explain away the rapture when it happens? Alien (Sky God) abduction? This is the only explanation they could use. The question is, will God release these angels that are bound in Sheol? I believe Revelation 9:1-11 describes exactly this…
I still do not know what this view entales, however, it does seem to bring clarity to some scriptures. Sometimes the truth is quite daunting… and hard to accept after being led to believe something else one’s whole life. I believed the “sons of seth theory” my whole life, but after engaging in rigorous study on the subject matter, the findings seem to be irrefutable. At first I wasnt sure what to believe, but after putting it all in God’s hands, I am at peace. We can never know ALL of what happened in Genesis 6, and it is strange, that’s for sure, but that is no reason to deny facts. Personally, I’m willing to admit that the more ancient view (historical view) is the original understanding, and so, is closer to the truth.
I hope you found this informative.
Thanks again,
Shalom!
Hi William,
You have certainly done a great deal of study on b’nai elohim. My belief is still that elohim of Genesis 6 refers to the sons of the powerful leaders and not to angels. The book of Job use does not refer to Satan as a son of God, but as the accuser of the saints, who are the children of God. Where in Scripture is there any statement concerning angels being able to procreate? There is no such place although angels do appear in anthromorphic form, as with Gideon, then disappear. Nowhere do angels come to settle on earth. The fallen angels of Isaiah 14:12 are now evil spirits. They are spirit, not flesh and blood. In reading about ancient texts it is important to remember that only Hebrew Scripture and Greek and Roman classics were consistently copied by professional scribes, that hand-copying meant many variations. Josephus and all others were subject to error, either accidental or intentional.
Thank you for very interesting comments.
Blessings, Bill
I have a question regarding Passover. If Jesus was eating Sedar meal on Thursday night with the disciples, was it earlier than usual? Because if Jesus was nailed to the cross the same time a lamb was being sacrificed, then wasn’t the Sedar meal after that, when they roasted the lamb & ate it?
Hi Cathy,
The Synoptic Gospels are clear that the Seder was on Thursday night. Passover is not a Sabbath, per Leviticus 23. See Preparation Day in Glossary, where there is a chart to ilustrate the timing.
Blessings, Bill