Genesis 6:1-7

2006.Aug.23 22:07

The case for a Biblical editor

Read Genesis 6:1-7 | Full Chapter

Maybe I’m just tired, but I’d like to contend that this passage is unnecessarily confusing. For example:

Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose. Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.”
(Genesis 6:1-3, NASB)

For instance, what exactly does “the sons of God” mean. This is one of those rare phrases in which most translations seem to agree on the exact phrase. Well, the Contemporary English Version says “supernatural beings”. That is my initial reading, but I also figure my reading is influenced by church tradition. So, let’s just put that one aside. But, then, are we supposed to be surprised that daughters were born to men? And are the erstwhile ‘sons of God’ raping these women, marrying them in mutual love, something in the middle? How relevant is that to understanding the passage?

Because it’s immediately followed by Jehovah’s comment about not striving with man forever, and days numbering 120 years. Does this have some link to the previous comments? What’s with 120 years? Young’s Literal doesn’t include the bit about man’s days being limited within the quote.

Let’s try to clarify shall we? (answer: no)

The Nephilim [fallen ones, says Young’s] were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
(Genesis 6:4-5, NASB)

Never mind, forget trying to understand it all. I think most of this passage is trying to explain something, but I don’t know what. Here’s the key, though, in verse 6: “every intent of the thoughts of his [humanity’s] heart was only evil continually.” Whatever is going on here, God is probably a lot of grieved and lot of pissed. He’s watched generations from Eve and Adam pass, and it’s gotten to the point where pretty much everybody (possibly including some angels) is out for themselves and doesn’t give a flip about Jehovah.

The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. The LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.”
(Genesis 6:6-7)

This is powerful. God is so sorry about what has become of humanity that he actually wishes to destroy creation. Okay, I’m betting that part of this is that he wanted to show his vengeance early knowing that we humans would have to see that to take his love and grace seriously (we are an odd lot). But I can’t even really get my head around God feeling that awful. And do I make him feel that way?